|
Post by wyvern on Oct 14, 2013 2:41:39 GMT -9
Seeing that people are moving into Hallowe'en mode generally, I wondered if anyone had come across any good, printable spider webs suitable for paper modelling? Either something that will print nicely onto paper/card with white web lines, or black onto transparent sheets - though preferably the former. A quick Google search today came up with a few black-line possibilities that could be colour-inverted, though most are rather limited in form - typically a bit too perfect for models and dioramas - plus there's a fine-looking "realistic" web by Eddnic available via 4Shared link elsewhere on the CWF, though its background is a little "busier" than I'd have liked. What I'd prefer is something I could copy & paste onto my own choice of backgrounds and then print, or something free-standing like a paper mini, though if there are models or sets available to download that have a "spider web" layer option for walls and floors, those might be of interest too (not if it's just floorplans only, however). And ideally not something with a spider on the image.
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Oct 14, 2013 3:15:32 GMT -9
There's this. Not the most realistic, but you can generate a whole bunch of different ones parametrically, and save out PDFs to your machine for use later.
|
|
|
Post by squirmydad on Oct 14, 2013 8:33:34 GMT -9
That's kind of cool, I can see printing these on transparencies or opening them in Photoshop to add hanging moss and corpses.
|
|
|
Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Oct 14, 2013 8:43:30 GMT -9
If you are motivated to use GIMP or Photoshop, there are a lot of cobweb brushes available (GIMP can use Photoshop brushes). The brushes can be scaled to any size, and you can choose what colors to paint them with.
|
|
|
Post by wyvern on Oct 15, 2013 0:32:12 GMT -9
Thanks Kev. It's a little too regular, like a lot of the online stencil-style graphics, and there aren't any external attachment lines, but it's useful in that you can do a lot of customisation within those limits. If you are motivated to use GIMP or Photoshop, there are a lot of cobweb brushes available (GIMP can use Photoshop brushes). The brushes can be scaled to any size, and you can choose what colors to paint them with. Downside is having neither GIMP nor Photoshop, and being a little reluctant to get involved trying to install and get familiar with new software just for this one project - though appreciating both programs have uses far beyond this, of course. Maybe need to rethink what I'd intended for now, which might make the programs more viable options at some future stage.
|
|
|
Post by WackyAnne on Oct 15, 2013 2:25:35 GMT -9
wyvern Maybe you want something that isn't papercraft at all. If you have some thread or dental floss, you could easily do something very natural looking. What you should try is the dreamcatcher technique of web-building - much easier than it looks. That's what we used to decorate (i.e. entrap and entangle) a whole twisty hallway at art/craft school one Halloween. It looks great, and you can choose all manner of anchor - be it hoop, pins/nails in the walls, or some other rig. This link, albeit for kids, has some other better (ie. clearer) instructions & photos: www.kidzworld.com/article/26775-how-to-make-a-dream-catcherAlternatively, a more grownup how-to: babyccinokids.com/blog/2013/08/13/make-your-own-dreamcatchersDon't think you have to tie yourself to a hoop - any frame, including two or three walls will do, and the initial anchors can be pins stuck into (supported) cardstock or foamcore. Hope this helps!
|
|
|
Post by okumarts on Oct 15, 2013 2:50:00 GMT -9
I usually just use stretched out cotton balls. My players know a spider encounter is looming if I have a cotton ball on my sideboard.
|
|
|
Post by WackyAnne on Oct 15, 2013 6:47:21 GMT -9
Have you checked out the dollar store? Lots of possibilities among the Halloween decorations too. Or you could pick up some cotton balls there too
|
|
|
Post by wyvern on Oct 16, 2013 1:20:15 GMT -9
Thanks for the advice folks. I have made spider webs from fine sewing thread before, albeit many years ago, and with limited success, using glue and/or knots. Also tried with nylon fishing line, but that wasn't as easy, and even thin lines of glue drawn with a cocktail stick - rubber solution cement and PVA/woodworking adhesive laid out on a plastic sheet. (I wouldn't recommend the rubber solution glue though, as it collects dust since it never fully dries, and will keep sticking to anything it touches. The white wood glue dries transparent-ish, but proved too brittle for handling other than quite briefly). Hadn't thought about the dream catcher circle frame though. If I can't find a less-effort alternative, I might give the thread and circle-frame a try.
Part of the reason I thought to ask here about paper options was I'd been checking round the store Hallowe'en decorations locally, but the only "spider web" stuff I could find was large-scale net curtain style material, which won't do at all for miniature model webs. On the upside, I did find some table confetti (albeit cut plastic, not paper) with black bat, black spider, orange pumpkin head and white ghost outlines, of sizes which will work with typical 28mm/30mm minis, though it wasn't really what I was hunting for!
Stretched cotton or kapok will work for masses of cobwebs certainly (done that before!), but what I was wanting was something more defined that would work nearer the foreground for a diorama model.
|
|
|
Post by WackyAnne on Oct 24, 2013 11:09:03 GMT -9
I don't know if this is too late, but I ran across this in my files today. Wizards offered some free terrain for their short-lived Chainmail miniatures game, and it's still available here. There's a circular "tile" black with white webs on it, about 4.5" across. The thumbnail's pretty small, but you can see if it'll work for you.
|
|
|
Post by wyvern on Oct 25, 2013 0:06:16 GMT -9
Not too late at all Anne; the spider webs project was next on the list, but I'm still working on the first one...
That web's very nice, and could be readily cut up into segments as well as used whole. I particularly like that it's imperfect, which is really what I was after.
Indeed there're some other interesting terrain items on that page, including a dense thornbush (as "Briars"), which although just a top-down image rather than a 3D model, could be useful too, as this is something else I was looking out for a while ago - preferably a thick rose hedge, but this one could have rose flowers added to it.
|
|
|
Post by WackyAnne on Oct 25, 2013 2:38:34 GMT -9
I'm so glad I could help! and in a timely fashion too. Good to know my rapacious collecting of most anything interesting pays off
|
|
|
Post by wyvern on Dec 11, 2013 6:22:58 GMT -9
Thought I would update this topic, as I've just had an e-flyer from Fat Dragon Games today (2013 Dec 11) about a new E-Z Dungeons set they have out, Depths of the Drow. Amongst other items, this has arachnid-themed dungeon walls and doors, a 3D giant spider model, a stand-up 3D spider web, and a web-shaped gong, all rather fun. I wondered if they'd been inspired by something they'd read here though
|
|