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Is illustrator for cartoons?
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| Brenda Romans 2003-12-08, 11:47 am |
| I have bought a Wacom tablet and stylus so that I can draw a pretty basic
compic strip (something like "Peanuts" rather than Marvel style comics)
straight into the computer. I am having some difficulty in deciding what
software I should be using.
Can I draw freehand into illustrator and have the result look smooth and
professional?
An illustrator friend tried to get me to draw vector curves and then tweak
the nodes to get exactly what I want. I don't want to do this as I lose
lose all spontaneity. However we were unable to draw a decent freehand
cartoon without it being unacceptably jagged (at 300dpi).
Can I do something with illustrator? Should I be using some other software?
I would be grateful for any advice.
Cheers
Bren
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| Donna 2003-12-08, 11:47 am |
| Take a look at this. I saw it at Comdex last month and looked fairly
straightforward.
http://www.webreference.com/graphics/sketchbook/
Brenda Romans wrote:
quote:
> I have bought a Wacom tablet and stylus so that I can draw a pretty basic
> compic strip (something like "Peanuts" rather than Marvel style comics)
> straight into the computer. I am having some difficulty in deciding what
> software I should be using.
>
> Can I draw freehand into illustrator and have the result look smooth and
> professional?
>
> An illustrator friend tried to get me to draw vector curves and then tweak
> the nodes to get exactly what I want. I don't want to do this as I lose
> lose all spontaneity. However we were unable to draw a decent freehand
> cartoon without it being unacceptably jagged (at 300dpi).
>
> Can I do something with illustrator? Should I be using some other software?
> I would be grateful for any advice.
>
> Cheers
>
> Bren
>
>
| |
| Martin Chiselwitt 2003-12-09, 9:52 am |
| Sketchbook is alright, but it is pretty basic plus, it is a bitmap
programme.
I think what Brenda wants is a vector result.
In that case I reckon that Flash is the only program that you can get
that allows you to draw vector 'spontaneously'... Illustrator is a great
app., but drawing in it is a very un-intuitive process which is
curious as it is a ..err... illustration program!
Best way is draw your outlines in Flash, then import as AI file into
Illustrator for colouring
hth
Donna wrote:quote:
> Take a look at this. I saw it at Comdex last month and looked fairly
> straightforward.
>
> http://www.webreference.com/graphics/sketchbook/
>
> Brenda Romans wrote:
>
>
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|
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| LauraK 2003-12-09, 9:52 am |
| >I have bought a Wacom tablet and stylus so that I can draw a pretty basicquote:
>compic strip (something like "Peanuts" rather than Marvel style comics)
>straight into the computer. I am having some difficulty in deciding what
>software I should be using.
The Wacom usually comes with Painter Classic. Install that and give it a try.
Very natural medium feel. You can set it for a variety of drawing styles and
types, pen and ink, etc.
The full version of Painter may be another option.
If things are getting "jagged" check your settings. Try using a higher
resolution or look for a "smoothing" or anti-aliasing setting.
laurak@madmousergraphics.com
http://www.madmousergraphics.com
web design, print design, photography
| |
| Paul Asente 2003-12-09, 9:52 am |
| In article <s1%Ab.17334$SV1.1543@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk>,
"Brenda Romans" <bromans@greyseal.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
quote:
> I have bought a Wacom tablet and stylus so that I can draw a pretty basic
> compic strip (something like "Peanuts" rather than Marvel style comics)
> straight into the computer. I am having some difficulty in deciding what
> software I should be using.
>
> Can I draw freehand into illustrator and have the result look smooth and
> professional?
>
> An illustrator friend tried to get me to draw vector curves and then tweak
> the nodes to get exactly what I want. I don't want to do this as I lose
> lose all spontaneity. However we were unable to draw a decent freehand
> cartoon without it being unacceptably jagged (at 300dpi).
>
> Can I do something with illustrator? Should I be using some other software?
> I would be grateful for any advice.
I'd suggest you download the trial version of Illustrator from adobe.com
and give it a try.
The pencil and brush tools in Illustrator are quite good for drawing
freehand paths, and have settings you can adjust to determine how much
they smooth out what you draw vs. how closely they track your stroke.
However, it should be noted that if you want to paint and fill these
paths, it's somewhat challenging to do in Illustrator. Not impossible,
but it does take learning some tricks.
-- paul asente
To reply, make the host be the same as my last name
| |
| Tomislav 2003-12-09, 9:52 am |
| Brenda Romans <bromans@greyseal.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
quote:
> Can I do something with illustrator? Should I be using some other software?
> I would be grateful for any advice.
I' sugest ToonBoom Studio.
--
Tomislav Car
| |
| Brenda Romans 2003-12-09, 9:52 am |
| Thanks Guys
I had a look at everything you suggested. I don't think Flash is quite
right, or Painter, and I preferred the idea of Illustrator over Freehand.
The next step was going to be pulling down a demo of illustrator with a view
to buying it when I had a look at creature house's Expression 3. WOW!
I liked the look of the stuff on the web site as soon as I opened it. (I
looked up one drawing package last week which contained some awful examples
of artwork). The description of how they use vector and bitmap work was
exciting (although I confess I couldn't quite grasp exactly how it worked).
They had a page of review details from all manner of magazines and
websites)(art and computer) and websites, so I set to reading a whole load
of them. This software is impressive and it seems to have the very best
features for my cartooning aspirations. AND the price is very favorable
compared to Illustrator.
I came off the high though when I tried to purchase it. The Hong Kong based
company has been taken over by Microsoft (in september) and sales (and
downloads) seem to have been suspended - "until mid November".
Aaaaarrgghh! I looked for a place to purchase it and the few I found said
that it wasn't available. I really hope that MS start to sell it again
soon, They bought Visio and that was OK wasn't it? I've Emailed the
company direct and crossed my fingers.
Thanks for your help, I've been struggling with this question for a while.
If Expression 3 doesn't pan out (sigh) I'll have a closer look at
Illustrator. I just saw the recommendation now for ToonBoom Studio, I'll
have a closer look at that too.
Cheers
Bren
| |
| LauraK 2003-12-09, 9:52 am |
| >Thanks for your help, I've been struggling with this question for a while.quote:
>If Expression 3 doesn't pan out (sigh) I'll have a closer look at
>Illustrator. I just saw the recommendation now for ToonBoom Studio, I'll
>have a closer look at that too.
I may still have the free demo zip file I downloaded kicking around. If so,
would you like it?
It's a shame that Microsoft is taking it over. I just played with it for a bit
and it was interesting. Didn't really have any practical application for it
that was worth spending the time to learn it though.
A good place to check on what's going on with Expression is here:
http://www.pixelparity.org/index.ph...;threadid=1529;
start=0
Sara used to be very active in this newsgroup but seems to be hanging out over
there now.
laurak@madmousergraphics.com
http://www.madmousergraphics.com
web design, print design, photography
| |
| Wizard of Draws 2003-12-09, 9:52 am |
| Brenda Romans wrote:quote:
>
> I have bought a Wacom tablet and stylus so that I can draw a pretty basic
> compic strip (something like "Peanuts" rather than Marvel style comics)
> straight into the computer. I am having some difficulty in deciding what
> software I should be using.
>
> Can I draw freehand into illustrator and have the result look smooth and
> professional?
>
> An illustrator friend tried to get me to draw vector curves and then tweak
> the nodes to get exactly what I want. I don't want to do this as I lose
> lose all spontaneity. However we were unable to draw a decent freehand
> cartoon without it being unacceptably jagged (at 300dpi).
>
> Can I do something with illustrator? Should I be using some other software?
> I would be grateful for any advice.
>
> Cheers
>
> Bren
I recommend Photoshop. Although I draw my toons by hand and then scan
them, I only use Illustrator for minor cleanup, knockouts and adding
text *after* the toons have been Streamlined from the Photoshop TIFs.
Occasionally, if the cartoon is small, I will draw directly with the
Wacom, but the feel isn't quite the same as paper and the spontaneity
will suffer. Maybe not so much that someone else would notice, but I
can. Mostly, the Wacom is reserved for final editing once the cartoon is
scanned in Photoshop, and then coloring after the TIF is Streamlined.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
"Cartoons with a Touch of Magic"
http://www.wizardofdraws.com
http://www.cartoonclipart.com
| |
| Martin Chiselwitt 2003-12-09, 9:52 am |
| Brenda Romans wrote:
AAAaaaaarrrrghhhh...
I am REALLY praying that Microsoft don't screw this software up...
Expression is a fabulous and quite unique prog. I think they have
suffered as a company owing to the 'failure' of Living Cels, their
'animation package...
ToonBoom is only really for animation, and it's quite a challenge at
that. I don't recommend it personally..
I only suggested Flash as it is very easy to create fills as opposed to
Illustrator which, as someone has already pointed out, is a very tricky
and laborious process when all you want to do is draw. I hope ,
fervently, that Adobe can pay heed to this when they release next
version as it would be ALL-conquering if they did.
My best suggestion, and the thing that I do more than anything, is scan
as line art, then trace bitmap in Flash or Streamline. Perfect results
every time. Give it a try...
bfn
mart
quote:
> Thanks Guys
>
> I had a look at everything you suggested. I don't think Flash is quite
> right, or Painter, and I preferred the idea of Illustrator over Freehand.
> The next step was going to be pulling down a demo of illustrator with a view
> to buying it when I had a look at creature house's Expression 3. WOW!
>
> I liked the look of the stuff on the web site as soon as I opened it. (I
> looked up one drawing package last week which contained some awful examples
> of artwork). The description of how they use vector and bitmap work was
> exciting (although I confess I couldn't quite grasp exactly how it worked).
>
> They had a page of review details from all manner of magazines and
> websites)(art and computer) and websites, so I set to reading a whole load
> of them. This software is impressive and it seems to have the very best
> features for my cartooning aspirations. AND the price is very favorable
> compared to Illustrator.
>
> I came off the high though when I tried to purchase it. The Hong Kong based
> company has been taken over by Microsoft (in september) and sales (and
> downloads) seem to have been suspended - "until mid November".
> Aaaaarrgghh! I looked for a place to purchase it and the few I found said
> that it wasn't available. I really hope that MS start to sell it again
> soon, They bought Visio and that was OK wasn't it? I've Emailed the
> company direct and crossed my fingers.
>
> Thanks for your help, I've been struggling with this question for a while.
> If Expression 3 doesn't pan out (sigh) I'll have a closer look at
> Illustrator. I just saw the recommendation now for ToonBoom Studio, I'll
> have a closer look at that too.
>
> Cheers
>
> Bren
>
>
| |
|
| Brenda, if you would like to try I have found a method that works well
rendering carttons in Illustrator. First draw your cartoon freehand on a
piece of paper, then scan it into a jpeg file, open it in Illustrator, place
a new layer above the scanned image & use the pencil tool to "trace" over
the top of your image. When finished you can delete the jpeg layer.
Good luck.
in article s1%Ab.17334$SV1.1543@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk, Brenda Romans
at bromans@greyseal.fsnet.co.uk wrote on 12/8/03 7:30 AM:
quote:
> I have bought a Wacom tablet and stylus so that I can draw a pretty basic
> compic strip (something like "Peanuts" rather than Marvel style comics)
> straight into the computer. I am having some difficulty in deciding what
> software I should be using.
>
> Can I draw freehand into illustrator and have the result look smooth and
> professional?
>
> An illustrator friend tried to get me to draw vector curves and then tweak
> the nodes to get exactly what I want. I don't want to do this as I lose
> lose all spontaneity. However we were unable to draw a decent freehand
> cartoon without it being unacceptably jagged (at 300dpi).
>
> Can I do something with illustrator? Should I be using some other software?
> I would be grateful for any advice.
>
> Cheers
>
> Bren
>
>
| |
| stupid_idiot 2003-12-09, 9:31 pm |
| hey, i am all for learning the respective program...but, this new plugin from cvalley will help in addition to scott's advice...
http://www.cvalley.com/products/xtreampath/index.html
"Scott" <swoolf@netins.net> wrote in message news:BBFA1046.FDB6%swoolf@netins.net...quote:
> Brenda, if you would like to try I have found a method that works well
> rendering carttons in Illustrator. First draw your cartoon freehand on a
> piece of paper, then scan it into a jpeg file, open it in Illustrator, place
> a new layer above the scanned image & use the pencil tool to "trace" over
> the top of your image. When finished you can delete the jpeg layer.
>
> Good luck.
>
> in article s1%Ab.17334$SV1.1543@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk, Brenda Romans
> at bromans@greyseal.fsnet.co.uk wrote on 12/8/03 7:30 AM:
>
>
| |
| Martin Chiselwitt 2003-12-10, 12:21 pm |
| This plugin is not available yet. YOu can however do this kind of thing
in Flash quite easily.
The problem with drawing in Illustrator is that it's very difficult to
do fills in a quick and intuitive manner. if illustrator made it more
like Flash drawing tools, it would clean up...
quote:
> hey, i am all for learning the respective program...but, this new plugin from cvalley will help in addition to scott's advice...
> http://www.cvalley.com/products/xtreampath/index.html
>
> "Scott" <swoolf@netins.net> wrote in message news:BBFA1046.FDB6%swoolf@netins.net...
>
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