Monday, October 12, 2015

Another Repeat

After a couple of weeks of playing around with Illustrator, the "need" for a graphics tablet arose.  I put need in quotes because I didn't NEED any such thing.  Instead, after seeing how to use the tablet I had high hopes of being able to emulate my sketching style digitally.  
Chinatown was the inspiration for these patterns.  The sketches were done in pencil, which I prefer to sketch in as opposed to black ink.  Since the tablet would allow me to trace them by hand instead of using Live Trace they didn't have to be so dark.
 After scanning the images, I used the tablet's pen to trace over the sketches in various color.  It was not as easy as it seemed.  My brain and hand didn't always communicate - my brain going one way, my hand another.
The vector graphics were created by the tracing.  From there they could be filled, moved around, etc. At first, the vectors were filled with color and made into repeating patterns.
But I actually really liked the lanterns outlined in white.  After playing around with some color choices, these are my favorite so far.  
I'm still very limited on my understanding of the software and still wish to make the images softer and painterly.  I miss my watercolor washes and drops of color too.  That will be the next skill I want to learn.

10 comments:

  1. All this talk between you and Vince with your digital graphic stuff has opened a whole new world to me. Of course I knew there were many tools out there, but I've enjoyed seeing y'all play around with some of them.

    To my novice eye, this all looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! It's funny that he got his when I was thinking about one - for two different purposes as well. :) While I'm a fan of a lot of technology, this is HARD, and I want it to be how I want it!!!
      Thank you. My novice hand, your novice eyes...I'll take it!

      Delete
  2. Yeah, it's a right B right enough. With me it's one setp forward two back five forward 27 back !.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly. And there are so many capabilities and things to learn. A full time job in itself. Since I've already got one of those, the learning has been slow going. :)

      Delete
  3. These might be helpful to you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1gVVSrjFWY

    He has a voice that I find a but grating but I expect him being from Seattle has something to do with it and probably would pass under your aural filters. He uses Coral but it's only for the tablet I'm pointing him out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, thank you! It was a good one. Somethings I'd already done, but the settings were not something I'd looked having just installed the drivers, plugged in, and started. So that's good to know. It looks like there are 3 all together. I'm gonna go watch the other two when I have some time.
      Ha! I can see where the voice might bother you. It's a bit nasally, but pretty common on the west coast. :)

      Delete
    2. Yes, I intended that you see all three.
      He has more too, but I expect you'll find them if you want them.
      I can hear WC women readily, but this is different.

      Delete
  4. a PSA.

    If you are changing th nibs on the pen do it under something. I was changing out one for another and the last heard was the ping of the thing flying lordy knows where.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no! Did you find it?
      I haven't had a chance to look into the nibs that I have, but I think they are just replacements for the pen it came with as opposed to different writing instruments.

      Delete
    2. Nope, I'm just left hoping I don't stand on the darn thing. I heard it whizz and I heard the rattle of it hitting but where, not a clue.

      Delete