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Post by onemonk on Aug 21, 2013 15:31:30 GMT -9
The best technique is the one that's easiest for you, although I do recommend copying someone else's techniques to see what you like and don't like.
I use different methods for what my goal is. For fast figures I just sketch at actual size, scan and scale up 200%, trace this as clean pencil art, then trace this again in ink pen, scan this into the vector drawing program, trace in vector format, clean up and color.
For full on production figures I'll do all of the above, but will break the design into parts when I trace it, and trace it in the vector program, making the lines as clean as possible and tweaking the parts to fit nicely.
Just watch my Netherim designs for the contest I'll be posting all the steps there fro those figures, as well as posting the files so anyone can modify them and practice with them.
JIM
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Post by pavaro on Aug 21, 2013 21:22:16 GMT -9
The best technique is the one that's easiest for you, although I do recommend copying someone else's techniques to see what you like and don't like. I use different methods for what my goal is. For fast figures I just sketch at actual size, scan and scale up 200%, trace this as clean pencil art, then trace this again in ink pen, scan this into the vector drawing program, trace in vector format, clean up and color. For full on production figures I'll do all of the above, but will break the design into parts when I trace it, and trace it in the vector program, making the lines as clean as possible and tweaking the parts to fit nicely. Just watch my Netherim designs for the contest I'll be posting all the steps there fro those figures, as well as posting the files so anyone can modify them and practice with them. JIM And if the whole figurines using vector graphics? Or just create using the lineart? |
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Post by onemonk on Aug 22, 2013 17:16:39 GMT -9
Both, or either, depends on what I want the set to look like.
For super clean designs, I trace the pencil drawings in vector by actually drawing vector lines over a scan the of the pencils.
Other times I make a full ink tracing, scan, and use the programs vector trace tool to make the design into vector.
I do this, because I like to color in vector objects and work on a single layer, I REALLY hate layers!
This method is really my own, and I tweak it all the time to see what happens.
The Netherim stuff will be ink traced and direct converted to vector, then colored in so it's done quicker. Just watch that topic, I'll be updating here this weekend with more progress, and I really need to get them finished!
JIM
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Post by spaceranger42 on Aug 22, 2013 20:55:07 GMT -9
Are you using Ai to do the vector tracing? I have not used it as much as I have InDesign and Photoshop but if it is a built in plugin I can find it.
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Post by pavaro on Aug 22, 2013 21:15:34 GMT -9
The Netherim stuff will be ink traced and direct converted to vector, then colored in so it's done quicker. Just watch that topic, I'll be updating here this weekend with more progress, and I really need to get them finished! JIM Then we wait.  |
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Post by onemonk on Aug 23, 2013 10:18:22 GMT -9
Are you using Ai to do the vector tracing? I have not used it as much as I have InDesign and Photoshop but if it is a built in plugin I can find it. Nope, I use an old program Deneba Canvas, like Illustrator and Photoshop combined into a single program, I love it, it's ten years old now, but still works! Other than this I'll be transitioning to Corel Draw, which I use at work all the time and am very proficient. The key thing to remember, the tool is not important, it just needs to do what you need, the real key is to get practice and experiment with your software choice to get the most out of it. This is why I personally prefer vector programs, I'm more comfortable with objects on a single layer than the layer nightmare of Photoshop.  JIM |
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Post by pavaro on Aug 23, 2013 21:51:20 GMT -9
Nope, I use an old program Deneba Canvas, like Illustrator and Photoshop combined into a single program, I love it, it's ten years old now, but still works! Other than this I'll be transitioning to Corel Draw, which I use at work all the time and am very proficient. The key thing to remember, the tool is not important, it just needs to do what you need, the real key is to get practice and experiment with your software choice to get the most out of it. This is why I personally prefer vector programs, I'm more comfortable with objects on a single layer than the layer nightmare of Photoshop. JIM Onemonk can you recommend a program to create miniatures for a beginner ? |
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Post by onemonk on Aug 24, 2013 13:09:29 GMT -9
If you want to make figures like mine, any vector drawing program will work, Inkscape, Corel Draw, Illustrator etc. Preferably you'd want to get a program that has built in vector tracing. If your just getting started I'd highly recommend Corel Draw, which is PC only, but runs well on Mac in virtual PC mode.
I also recommend that you find figures you like, then trace them, hell trace everything, but add your own style to it, over time you'll establish the muscle memory and style do draw them without tracing. I literally got started doing this ten years ago tracing figures from a GW catalog. After a while I just picked up on the poses, details and figure proportions that look good at figure scale.
It all gets easier after you first 100 figures.
JIM
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Post by pavaro on Aug 25, 2013 2:02:16 GMT -9
I make figurines for quite a few years. Always the bitmap (raster). Vectors is something new for me. Thanks for the suggestions.
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Post by Parduz on Aug 28, 2013 6:50:33 GMT -9
Ok, i suspect that i'm dumb like a bag of hammers but i can't cut these figures (it's my first cutting test, i'm writing here just 'cause i'm trying with this set). So, i discovered that the studio files with the set are not for the portrait (after an hour spent trying to read the reg marks ). So (using Silouhette studio, last version) i "removed" the reg marks in the studio file (by just clicking on the "show the marks" checkbox), optimized the miniature PDF in order to export an hi-res PNG, imported the PNG (which magically is centered on the cutting shape), reduced the image size (by moving the nodes) so that there's only the figures without any old reg marks, and "added" the default reg marks (by re-click that checkbox). Printed thru Silouhette, marks are read, cutting initiated..... but everything is misaligned and "rotated" (i mean: the dotted folding line -as example- have an angle to the printed folding line, and also an offset). I tried the process 2 times, and now i don't know what to do. Any help? Am i OT? |
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 28, 2013 7:58:42 GMT -9
Hmm, I haven't worked with the newer machines, I still have a Silhouette. It was my understanding that the Studio software worked the same for both the old and new machines, with the exception of different registration marks. Not sure why the output cut would change, silly question; is it set for landscape or portrait on the output settings? I don't think that would matter if it's looking correct on the screen.
Sorry I can't be more help on this one. :/
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Post by Parduz on Aug 30, 2013 0:08:29 GMT -9
Ok. seems that i've found a workaround.
When the cutfiles are made so the "feed side" is on the top (no "inverted" reg marks) everything works well. The other way (the way all OneMonk set and cutfiles are made) results in not reading the marks or in a vertical misaligment of about 1 cm.
So i need to export everything, import the images and then the cutfiles in S.Studio, and print with the new reg marks.
Better than cutting by hands for sure, but boring.
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 30, 2013 6:29:42 GMT -9
???That's very strange, I wonder why you're having to do that. I'm glad you found a workaround, I'll see if I can replicate the issue this weekend as I haven't had problems with the files.
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 7, 2014 17:01:13 GMT -9
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Post by WackyAnne on Aug 7, 2014 20:04:34 GMT -9
Terrific!
Don't forget to update or duplicate the description above the mods pics "Also included is a multi-colored and multi-layered pdf mod by Sirrob01. ..." - maybe include the date?
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Post by squirmydad on Aug 7, 2014 20:54:58 GMT -9
Thanks.  |
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