Flames, Tribals and other intricate graphics?

[Chuggernaut]

It takes me a while, but I can freehand flames and graphics on paper pretty well. I'd like to be able to do that on the computer. Question is -- how? So far, I've been using the polygon lasso tool in Photoshop to outline my designs to create masks from what have typically been scanned in. I've tried the pen tool some, but it's still tedious, especially on the tribals and interlaced flames. I want to be able to actually draw the designs roughly on screen and if need be, go back and clean them up with methods that I'm already familiar with. What do you guys use?

[arista5]

have you tried a pen mouse?

[Chuggernaut]

Never had a chance to. If I were to use one to trace what I draw on paper beforehand, that would consolidate scanning and outlining into one step though... I don't know. I see some sick tribals and flames out there done digitally and I'm just stumped on how they were made.

[gmccsierra]

wow, the almighty chuggernaut asking a question.

, i actually was wondering this myself. it seems that the pen tool would be the best way to do this because of its ability to have perfect curves, and you dont have to connect one end of a path to the the other. you can close the path and stroke it with the brush tool at 1 px.

you might have to wait till toad sees this cuz he had some badass flames on his contest entry. (unless they were C&P)

[hammered65]

it seems that the pen tool would be the best way to do this because of its ability to have perfect curves

We have a winner. The pen tool is the best way to draw in Photoshop. It looks a lot cleaner than anything done with the lasso and its best feature is that it is editable, as long as you don't rasterize the layer.

[gmccsierra]

chuggs got me wantin to play around with graphics so i figured i'd post what i came up with. i used the pen tool for nearly everything.

[toad32]

Yep, its the pen tool. You can make shapes with it or selections or paths... its the multi tool. I did the flames on my contest entry all with the pen tool. Here is a VERY QUICK example of the pen tool in action. I almost never use the lasso tool at all.



Toad

[Chuggernaut]

I should've listened to Lowdown ages ago when he recommended the pen tool to me. But I just didn't have the time to sit down and mess with it nor the drive to even make time. Ray! This thing is the shiznit! And it is having a huge influence on the outcome of the 2007 FSC calendar. Thank you, guys!!

[BlackBowtie350]

There is also something called a wacom tablet, you can free hand anything on the tablet and it draws right to photoshop....also doubles as a mouse

[snoogy17]

For the best results i'd say look into illustrator. We all know what we can do on photoshop.. lol.. But if you want to make sweet paint schemes. Get a copy of illustrator. It's a vector beased program. So with this program you can make the sweetest graphics and then import them into photoshop and that's my o.2 cents on the way i do my renders.. New to the site. Need a compatition to show some of you kids there's new skills in the forum :P cheers

[Nicklessig]

I have to say that Illustrator is the bane of many a graphic artist. While still the standard for vector editing, Its poor development and lack of consistency with Photoshop renders it a difficult-to-use program for many people, especially beginners. It certainly has its place, but if you're just adding graphics to a raster image, stay within Photoshop and use the pen tool. Photoshop's pen tool works better than Illustrator's anyway. And you can always export paths to Illustrator if needed. Happy editing.

[Firestrike87]