to Darla, drawing techniques

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Posted by Alex on October 3, 2001 at 11:24:01:

In reply to: to alex: do you freehand or do you have 'digi' help? posted by Darlahood on October 2, 2001 at 20:27:09:

Hi Darla,
Well here is what I do...
Firstly I draw all the time in my sketchbook, I discovered that it’s
an essential process for me. I tried for a while to draw direct into
the computer but it was very slow and I got frustrated.

So having constructed the pattern in the old-fashioned way on paper,
I re-draw it into my computer. It always changes at this point but
it's still faster than going straight to disk! I use a programme that
allows me to draw freehand, it's called 'Freehand' :-) and it's by
Macromedia. Because I work with this software all the time at work
and have done for a very long time I no longer use a mouse. My
drawing computer has a graphics tablet and a pen, which gives me a
natural drawing environment and saves my wrists from further damage
on the RSI front.

Freehand is a wonderful package but you have to learn how to get
smooth lines and the tools are too complex for me to describe in
detail here. I tend to draw with a tool that resembles an ink pen
with a round nib. It gives me a line that is of variable thickness
and sort of resembles a little drawing with henna. I use a different
tool for creating tribal artwork that duplicates the way I apply
tribal henna, which is quite different from how I draw a traditional
pattern. Strangely I never draw tribal stuff first in my sketchbook
it goes straight into the computer.

I have a collection of body parts and hand shapes that I drew ages
ago, and I use them again and again when creating new patterns.

When I'm done with the drawing I import the image into Adobe
Photoshop. If I need to add text I do that in Photoshop. I scale and
save the drawing at a low resolution for web display from Photoshop.
The freehand drawings are at 300 dpi, which is very crisp and lovely
but the files would be too large for web display.

There you go, want more info let me know, but it’s the pattern that
matters not how fancy the software is that made it.

Take care, Alex

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: Hi Darla, : Well here is what I do... : Firstly I draw all the time in my sketchbook, I discovered that it’s : an essential process for me. I tried for a while to draw direct into : the computer but it was very slow and I got frustrated. : : So having constructed the pattern in the old-fashioned way on paper, : I re-draw it into my computer. It always changes at this point but : it's still faster than going straight to disk! I use a programme that : allows me to draw freehand, it's called 'Freehand' :-) and it's by : Macromedia. Because I work with this software all the time at work : and have done for a very long time I no longer use a mouse. My : drawing computer has a graphics tablet and a pen, which gives me a : natural drawing environment and saves my wrists from further damage : on the RSI front. : : Freehand is a wonderful package but you have to learn how to get : smooth lines and the tools are too complex for me to describe in : detail here. I tend to draw with a tool that resembles an ink pen : with a round nib. It gives me a line that is of variable thickness : and sort of resembles a little drawing with henna. I use a different : tool for creating tribal artwork that duplicates the way I apply : tribal henna, which is quite different from how I draw a traditional : pattern. Strangely I never draw tribal stuff first in my sketchbook : it goes straight into the computer. : : I have a collection of body parts and hand shapes that I drew ages : ago, and I use them again and again when creating new patterns. : : When I'm done with the drawing I import the image into Adobe : Photoshop. If I need to add text I do that in Photoshop. I scale and : save the drawing at a low resolution for web display from Photoshop. : The freehand drawings are at 300 dpi, which is very crisp and lovely : but the files would be too large for web display. : : There you go, want more info let me know, but it’s the pattern that : matters not how fancy the software is that made it. : : Take care, Alex :
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