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here is my current project, but it isnt goin at all how i want it to and it looks like crap. I know it isnt close to being done, but i am having trouble getting correct shapes and colors because the color editor and I dont get along and are currently mad at eachother.
here is what i currently have
please show me what i can do next if possible. Im really havin a hard time with ithttp://www.geocities.com/crazysageda...urtneyface.jpg
the picture is at the bottom
[This message was edited by Nicole B. Charshaf on May 26, 2002 at 15:05.]
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It cannot do the hard work for you.
Nicole
The reason that Vladimyr can do such fabulous portraits is the guy can draw and use colors like there is no tomorrow.
I don't say this to be snide. Portraits and convincing non-chalky looking flesh tones is incredibly hard. (You don't see me trying to do this).
Vladimyr can also paint portraits and has devoted a great deal of time to learning how to make Xara do what he wants it to do. He is also a classically trained fine artist with a college education in fine art.
It did not happen overnight. I'm sure he spent hundreds of hours getting to the point he is at today. And he is one of a very few people who can do really convincing vector artwork.
Don't get discouraged. Keep trying. But don't expect Xara to do what you may or may not be capable of doing on paper or canvas. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
Gary
Gary Priester
Moderator Person
<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>
XaraXone
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I can do this on paper [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]
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Like Gary said; practice, practice and a some talent. But why do you start with one of the most difficult projects possible for Xara X? I'm still trying to learn both Xara X and Photoshop and do rather small projects to build up my experience. I used your approach too years ago and it made me rather frustrated. Now I can honestly say that I love working with both programs. Heck, even if it takes me years before I see some decent results, as long as I keep myself focused and learning something new every day, I know I'm going somewhere.
Good luck.
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im not a very patient person and have been working with xara for about 6 months now, and i can produce graphics that are extreemly simple but Im ready to start pushing myself. Also i am doing a school report on Xara X where I am trying to proudce something that doesnt look basic to show to the class. I refuse to get up there and say "this is a circle, you make it by pressing this button" I want to use my knowledge from what I have learned while learning other things as well. I know I should probably put away this project and find something more in my range, but I hate giving up.
In my original post it made it seem like I wanted you guys to do it for me. That isnt what I want
if I refer back to the first tutorial i used, if you go and look at it, you will see that it isnt clear, and the whole reason I got so frusterated at first is because I couldnt follow those steps. Anyways im rambling again, so im going to stop
later [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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but may I make a suggestion?????? His way isn't the only way...in spite of what Gary says.
If you'll take a look at the portrait mini-tut I posted a while ago when you first looked for info, you'll notice that there is another way to approach the project-----try using filled shapes instead of mainly outlines. All the outlined areas you have included could have used filled shapes for in different flesh tones...after using a basic color for each shape I would have made the lines colorless then used the feathering slider to soften the shapes' edges and this makes them easier to blend together with additional transparent layers of slightly darker or lighter colors over the top. The only "lines" I used were at the lips and eyelash lines...and in the hair....the rest of the face was entirely made with layers of soft transparent shapes.
I have not been using XaraX much longer than you.
If I can do it you can as well. It will require some patience of you though, some perseverence, a bit of practice at first. Please don't give up.
Try my method---fill those shapes, think of each area and parts of the face not as lines but as shapes---shapes of darker and lighter tones of the basic flesh color you want to use. See the shadowed areas and highlighted areas---block them in with transparent shapes of lighter or even white color. Leave the detailing for last.
I wish I could just show you---you'd be breezing along in minutes!
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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could you point me back to that first tutorial?
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Hi Nicole ~ If you need an exact colour repro from your an area of your photie, import it into
xara.
Open 'Colour Editor'. Select your filled shape that you want to recolour.
Drag the wee 'colour picker' over the imported colour sample & watch the colours appear on the selected fill.
Click on the 'yellow tag' on 'colour editor' & save your colour in the colour bar for future - give it any name.
If you already knew all this ~ apologies!.
Try running xara's tracer tool on the photie, play with the setting's and see what it comes up with , might give some ideas?
Alan [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
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my mini-tut is here in the XaraX forum---just down from this thread a dozen or so places---entitled "Portraiture Mini-Tut". If you have more questions just ask! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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if you want, we could try to do a step by step of your picture---at least as much as it would take to get you going and you felt you knew how to proceed from there. I don't know what your project's deadline is, but perhaps there is time to do this???
If you want to try doing this then the first thing to do is take all the facial parts and set them aside so all you've got to begin with is the plain face shape.
For this shape and most of the others use no line color, at this point there is still a hard edge so for the face shape use a very small amount of feathering---0.3 to 0.8 usually is ok.
I tend to block in all the basic features next with just their simple shapes---again, no line color. For example...draw the white of the eye shape, fill it with a very light gray...do the other and put them in place (I'm assuming you can resize and adjust your shapes...if unclear about it just ask). Draw the eyebrow shapes, fill, and place them.
Next draw and fill a shape for the bridge of the nose right down to the tip of it, and up to where the forehead begins, choose a slightly darker color than the main face color (don't worry about it being just the right shade, that will be changed by other thin transparent layers of color over the top...and besides that, you can always still select down under the added layers to adjust the original color more at any time, which is so helpful. So for now, just use the color picker and choose a darker shade of the same base color.
Draw the outside shapes of the sides of the nostrils---same deal as before, use a slightly darker color, it can be different from the nose bridge, maybe even lighter if it looks to you that that portion will end up lighter anyway and highlighted...then of course do the one for the other side if it shows and in perhaps a darker tone than the first if that's how it will be in comparison.
Draw the nostrils---but don't make them too dark...or it can look kinda awful... :-)
Next make a shape for the upper lip. Give it a tone that isn't too dark---unless you want the "been chewing tobacco" look...
Create a separate bottom lip...same way.
Okay, get these basic parts balanced on the face so they look about right.
Now back to the eyes----
Draw a circle for the iris and fill with a medium shade of the choosen color...here you can also use no color for the line edge or leave the line and perhaps change it later on. Make a circle to fit the other eye white the same way.
Next on the first eye clone that iris shape right on top of it (you'll also see, if you haven't tried it before that cloning a shape will enhance it's color a bit---very noticable with transparent layers)and then immediately select the transparency button which gives all the neat options of types/shapes of transparencies you can now make of the cloned iris. Choose "circular" transparency. If the iris color is dark already you may not see the shading, so you can just choose a darker color for its fill---you can even try choosing black, you will notice then that with the circular transparency the darkest shading is in the center and it fades out nicely towards the edge. You can clone this again--it will be darker, or clone it and try another color, or a lighter shade...play with it till you find the colors you want then create a smaller circle in black for the pupils---leave the hard edge to it, or feather it at 0.3 or so for a softer look. We'll do highlights on the eye in a bit....
Time to create the upper and lower eyelid shapes...again slightly deeper in tone than the surrounding area. For those shadows under or around the eyes use caution and don't make them too dark or it gives a really "tired" look...best to make them lighter than you think you'll need. These shapes need feathering--adjust it a lot if you need to. Don't worry if it doesn't look just right---it's all easily adjustable!!! You may very well change these shadowed area shapes into transparent layers using "elliptical" transparency---which you will find is a very nice way of shading and you will use a lot. Play with the adjustment arrows on the elliptical transparency and notice how you can fade any edges to any degree with it----sometimes a shape can be changed just right by afterwards doing more feathering on it to reduce it in size more and even then just selecting the object and using the object handles to stretch the entire shape or shrink it more---also to rotate it or flip it (or vertically or horizontally using the buttons on the top menu bar)...shapes can be adjusted also using the shape editor button then clicking on nodes and pushing and pulling on the lines. The mould tool I've never needed to use for this as the shapes for shading are controlled well enough using the other ways...but you can try it out!
Back to the eyelids---place the upper ones and stretch them, rotate them, resize them to fit properly...they will need a cloning and change the clones to elliptical transparencies in a slightly darker shade, or lighter if the area looks to need to be highlighted---experiment! You can feather this transparency to fit the area and adjust it's size...you can even "duplicate" this shape, make it much thinner and then use it for the eyelids' crease....see how it goes....duplicate it again click the button on the top menu bar to flip it for the other eye and adjust it to fit.
I'll stop here and let you try it out....I don't know if you'll have questions, but just ask and I'll continue...or you can post examples of what specifically you have a prob with.
Don't give up!!!
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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thank you SOOOO much for your patience with me. I have another week to pull this off so i think i have time. my mouse is back on crack so my dad is going to re install my mouse software again while im out tomorrow and when i get back I will try all of these tips.
again you are amazing and thank you sooo much for your help this means so much for me.
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Let me know what answers you need, I'm happy to be of any help!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
---As the Crow Flies!---
Maya
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What are we going to do with you? :-)
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Well, I'm not Vladimyr... but may I make a suggestion?????? His way isn't the only way...in spite of what Gary says. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My comment about Vladimyr is simply he has years of practice and skill as a painter and an artist. Just doing his tutorial, or your excellent mini-tutorial is not going to make up for years of honing one's skill by taking drawing and painting classes and by learning the basics. His use of color is exquisite. His colors are rich and saturated and work to make his images rich and life like. This is not something you can know from just doing a tutorial.
You (Maya) have very good drawing skills and you are learning to translate these skills into Xara with excellent facility. But how long have you been drawing and doing art? Could you draw like you do now when you were Nicole's age? I sure could not. I still cannot draw very well and I'm three times Nicole's age.
Gary
Gary Priester
Moderator Person
<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>
XaraXone
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It's great how you help people Maya!
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Yes, Gary---I was just 17 yrs old when I painted the tiger painting in the attachment here---it is 24X36 inches...see for yourself, a young person can paint and create amazing pieces. It also won first place awards and a people's choice award...just think...I was a teenager, and no one ever told me not to expect to achieve results. I also was able to teach others to paint who had never tried it and thought they couldn't...
Please don't just go on about someone else's abilities and giving a person the idea that if you yourself don't feel you can do it that they ought to not expect to either. It's not helpful. It doesn't take years and years either...
Also, why should everyone feel that if their artwork doesn't look just like another's that somehow it's just not going to be good enough---who said everyone's portrait work, or any other images have to be like anothers????
Don't place your ideas of your limitations on another---please! I painted well as a teen--even without formal training. Vladimyr is good too, but we are not talking Rembrandt here....it's not impossible to do a portrait now for Nicole, and her experience with it will encourage her to improve more as she works with it more. Give her a chance!!! Just answer her questions instead of going on in hero worship about another. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
I will help her as best I can...she will learn---the real object gained.
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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Well, I try!!!
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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That's beautiful!
Don't be too hard on Gary - You know he's only trying to help. It can be discouraging approaching a project that is too difficult. While some do conquest over such discouragement, most retreat in disappointment. Sure we all need to aim high and push ourselves but sometimes learning is well served by taking small steps that progress our skills. I think that is what Gary is trying to say - not hero worship or a belittling of anyone elses abilities.
Nicole, a portrait is an ambitious project. I wish you success. I hope if you find yourself discouraged that rather than give up on Xara you'll give a less ambitious project a go. Gary's tutorials in the XaraXone.com website are excellent at providing detailed explanations of all steps in reproducing the tutorial image. Do a few of them and you'll have a good grounding in most of Xara's tools.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
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i appreciate all of your replies
gary i respect your words very much, and your advice means a lot to me.
I know your purpose was not to bring me down, yet to warn me that I may be pushing myself to hard. I have been drawing very regularly sinse i was very little, and have had a lot of practice with it. My grandmother is a professional artist, and my intrest has grown because of her. I am very into the art programs at my school, and take two art classes during the day. I know that this is very ambitious of me, but I need to give it a try. I appreciate all of your advice, and maya thank you for doing this walktrhough, i am working through it as I speak.
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There is nothing wrong with it if somebody shows others how he created some good art. Sometimes I would like to know too how Vladimyr created his stuff, even knowing that I will probably never come nowhere close. Maybe you think that the person who asks these questions just ignores the facts that it takes a lot of practice and talent to create this beautiful art, but many times it’s just a general interest for his/her talent to explore some of the mystery surrounding him.
Many people like flying and are interested in what it takes to fly a plane, but should we ignore their interest if we know that they can't even manage to get a kite up in the air?
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I have also found that doing portraits is very challenging, though I think I do pretty well with portraits, on canvas.
What is most frustrating about learning a new tool such as Xara X, is the feeling of starting over at the beginning, as a complete greenhorn rookie. (sorry to be so redundant) [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
I know what pains I took to develop my skills with brushes and paints, and it seems like a long road ahead to be able to translate that level of skill into skill using Xara.
At this point in my Xara training, when I try to do the simplest action with Xara, an action that is soooooooooo simple using brushes and paint, I have to try to figure out the vector way to get the result. That can be frustrating, take a considerable amount of time to get a very simple result, and make me wonder is there are easier ways to do what I am trying to do. Aaaauuuugh!
I know that I will get better and faster with time, but starting over as a rookie can be quite disheartening, especially when translating a relatively SIMPLE image from paint to vector.
We all learn at a different pace. I wish I had Maya's capacity to learn quickly, and the time to spend using Xara. I don't have the time to practice "artistic" images, as I use Xara primarily to design web sites. And when I do submit an image to this forum, it is usually done very quickly, as I could not spend the time to give it my best effort. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]
I have received the tutorial discs, but am discouraged that I haven't had the time to study any of the tutorials.
I did manage to study the entire Online Manual when I was not so busy, and I practiced everything I learned from it, so I know the basics of how to use the program. That is the first step I'd recommend for any new person using Xara, so that they are not constantly trying to find answers in Help. When you are familiar with the tools and functions of the program, you can concentrate on figuring out how to create the images with the tools at hand.
I have been wanting to start a simple portrait in Xara, but I am daunted by the (apparent) enormity of the task, and the amount of time I'd have to invest, knowing my present skill level with Xara X.
Those who have posted their portraits for the forum lately, are an inspiration, and their posting make me want to do my own.
Keep those portraits coming! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Dale
Why, I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir, because I’m not myself, you know...
- Lewis Carroll
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Everyone appreciates Gary's contributions and Gary is well aware of it. He is also someone people look to for encouragement as well as technique help, and he has a lot of influence---he can use constructively. I'm for a more positive approach about some things, however..."as you think, so you are..."
I know Nicole is fully aware of her strengths and she is realistic---she wants a little help is all, I'm willing to give it. I'd do the same for anyone, and it's quite alright for people to email me if they want to see if I could help them out on something too.
There should be no pressures put upon others to feel they must create images the same as someone else's...or do it in some certain set amount of time. Every effort made to learn a skill is in itself a triumph in my opinion. Stay positive, don't be hard on yourself, keep at it and the results will come.
I feel like I shouldn't have to defend this idea of being patient with oneself, being positive and perseverent...especially here [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] but anyway, yes, we all appreciate Gary and his expertise, let's be a bit more positive though.
Nicole---just ask away, I only just got barely started on some explanations last night and there are things yet to describe...and as you go along also remember to save your file frequently, it is also a good idea every so often after many changes you'd hate to lose to use the "save as" and name the file anew so there's other copies in case of a program crash---which becomes more and more possible the more complex the file becomes.
Just think of your shading as patches of darker and lighter tones...as when you are drawing and you think at a spot on the picture that you would need to add a smudge of shadowing or highlighting---then just draw a similar shape for that area, make it an elliptical transparency and adjust its feathering and color tones---stack on more. It's easier to build up very subtle colored layers and get the right look than to try an achieve it with a single layer or two of colors you might fuss over.
You can do it!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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You absolutely have the capacity to do it and I know you can!!! I understand about needing to find time to practice it---time is at a premium for all of us.
Feel free to ask also about anything that has you stalled for the time being.
I can say, that if I had been told it was too tough to tackle it might have hindered me---nah, on second thought, I'm kinda stubborn and don't give up without a real fight. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] But don't let any discouragement take hold and throw you off track of a goal you want to achieve. There's always a way!!! Maybe we could try sort of a workshop thread on portraiture---anyone who wants to join in start one, yes, sometimes that first step of just setting it up and putting in a few pieces is a big one towards getting going on it. If or whenever you have the time I'd be happy to assist.
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Thanks for the encouragement!
I am not stuck on anything in particular. Starting is the problem, as I feel I need several hours uninterrrupted practice, to make my learning efforts worth the time spent. I don't get much out of an hour here and an hour there.
With a portrait, I feel I would need at least 4 hours minimum to make a good start, to build up some good momentum that would compel me to continue in later sessions, until I had a reasonably acceptable image. It's difficult to find 4 uninterrupted hours with my schedule.
Maybe I'll take the day off and do it today.....
Dale
Why, I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir, because I’m not myself, you know...
- Lewis Carroll
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The last thing I want to do is stiffle anyone's creativity or enjoyment of Xara.
If Nicole wants to do a portrait in Xara, it is fine by me.
But instead of trying to recreate a technique you are not comfortable with at this point Nicole, why not try something different.
For example. You said you don't just want to show off the Ellipse Tool. But maybe you could create a portrait using nothing but ellipses. Big ones, small ones, circles, skinny ellipses. In all kinds of colors. Like the Impressionists did?
There is more than one way to skin a cat as they say. Or in the case of San Rafael, the occassional bobcat.
Gary
Gary Priester
Moderator Person
<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>
XaraXone
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but this---
"For example. You said you don't just want to show off the Ellipse Tool. But maybe you could create a portrait using nothing but ellipses. Big ones, small ones, circles, skinny ellipses. In all kinds of colors. Like the Impressionists did?
There is more than one way to skin a cat as they say. Or in the case of San Rafael, the occassional bobcat." (or here, it is a cougar)
This is what I love---sharing the ideas, and encouraging trying and learning! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] This is why I keep coming back, and you can't get rid of me!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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Something I have learnt from this forum is the need to evolve your own style - it could be photo-realistic but something new and ground-breaking will be admired for its very originality.
Compare and contrast Vladimyr with Tao!
www.bricksandbrass.co.uk
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This is just what I said here in an earlier post---that there's no reason to feel your work has to be like someone else's---and no reason to feel that yours is lacking because it is different...those differences are what leads to your own style! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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you guys are completly amazing. Gary i love your idea and i think i will try it soon. I love being an individual so doing something like that would be very much my cup of tea. as for something to show to my class i want it to be more generic.
one thing that i have realized (again) is that people learn so many different ways. for me i love having every last thing spelled out to me. Maya thank you for being so patient my project is actually coming along. i cant wait to post it on here for the next step.
thank you to everyone again [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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I am so happy for you!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Talk with ya later---
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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ok i got as far as the eyelids and now im getting stuck. i dont understand why/how you would rotate stretch reshape clone etc this to make it look that way.
here is an example of what i have so far.
also, i need a little more guidance on the nose
the picture is at the bottom
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When I see Maya and Gary's work, don't feel I can offer advice, but I would ask Maya how long it takes?
I ask, as (if you have checked out the gallary) I have been working on faces also. It does take time for me to work on this subject mater.
But I agree that if that is what you want to do then don't stop.
However, if you are under a time limit for a school report I would say there are many stunning still life art works that show off more of the features of Xara and take a little less time.
With a face you need to get two things right the technique with the tool and the technique with faces - I think I know how to use he tool by now, but faces are a harder subject.
While I know you can use blends most people doing faces have not. To show off Xara at school you want a picture that has blends, moulds and bevels and all the cool features of Xara.
Just my thoughts. And I look forward to the finished face.
Turan
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Yes, I think you are coming along just fine!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
The eyes' shading is good and the eyelids now need more in shaping to fit, right? When you clone an object that immediately brings the copy to the front, so then if you click on it the object handles appear around it---if you click on any of those handles and hold the mouse button down and drag on the shape you can stretch or going the other way shrink the shape. If you double click on the selection the handles become rotation arrows and now you can, while holding down the mouse button, rotate the shape to any angle needed, also there is a semi-circular arrow button on the top menu bar which if clicked brings up the rotation arrows on the selection. These will help in shaping and if its not quite right you can use more feathering on the shape to shrink it and maybe clone this a few times stacking these, move the new ones slightly in other directions (it's handy to just nudge the selected shape using the keyboard's arrow buttons) to cover more area and it will look like extended soft blending---sometimes you can use a useful shape such as the eyelid shape on other parts of the face too by just adjusting its size, etc., and using other colors. When a shape still isn't right the best thing to do is make a new one to cover the area over the top which you want shaded---in subtle transparencies these blend together really well. If the color is too dark you can also lighten it up by adding a layer of the basic face color with transparency selected to the opacity you need----I have used such top layers to further blend areas that became darker than I wanted from other layers. It's like painting with acrylics---they dry fast without an extender so what you tend to do is keep building up layers of color one on top of the other---in general with the lightest areas on the top which would be highlighted and that you want to come forward in shaping. Darker ares of course look to be receeding away---just these two shading methods give the object/face form and you know this from when you sketch and work with other media. Sooooo, it's the same thing with the shaped patches used on your portrait---you draw/design the patch, give it color in a lighter or darker tone---imagine it as if you were painting a face in just black and white shades like a black and white photo...you concentrate on those shadows and highlights to build a 3D look.
(That would be an interesting thing to try too---do an image in monochrome and it helps you concentrate on just the shading without interference of other colors).
I will do a small example to add to this post soon and also show some more on the nose---stay tuned!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
P.S. In answer about how long it takes to do a portrait after you have the hang of it, it really depends on the size and how much detail you want to use---less detail and more concentration on just using blocks of shading softened and few lines and it can be 3 to 4 hours. Highly detailed portraits like the one I did of Brandon Lee took more and I probably spent twice that in time, but I was not in any hurry and really took my time as I had to leave the project a lot to do other things too....which has an added benefit that if you take a break and come back later you can often see right away what you want to change. Breaks are very helpful to rest the eyes and mind from the intense focus. The more portraits you do though the faster the process becomes---you learn what works best for you, and there you discover these by doing.
Ok---I'm off to do a little image for you about this shading and the nose...see ya [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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Here's the first image with some examples. The next one will have the nose and other parts---I don't have a copy of your photo you are using...if you could repost that also it would be helpful to see how we want it to look in other areas.
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
P.S. The tut attachments get kinda big in file size so it may take a bit to load here.
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Okay, I just got back---this was done in 15 minutes---takes me longer to figure out the wording! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] I enhanced the contrast quite a bit so you can see the lighter patches---but the actual pic has much lighter tones.
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
I have company coming---but I will be back after 5:00 p.m. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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Here's a bit more done as an example---but without your photo I had to wing it and it can't look like Courtney, but it can serve as more help
on planning shapes and shading. This would not be where I would stop, but that is just me, I would continue to add more shading...but it depends on the time you have. I hope this is helpful! Below this post I will also post the .xar file for you so if you want to take it apart and study it you can work that way too.
Keep asking questions if you have them!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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here is new image
havin trouble with the nose still, but i put more updates to it for next steps when your redy
new updated image
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Thanks for posting that photo again---I used it for this next tut to show where some more shading could go if you want---also that the nose needed a slight shadow near the end of it and under the nose just a bit. I also tried a flat transparent layer over the bridge of the nose to soften the blending more and then did a highlight at the tip.
Anyway, that was my thought on it---hope it is helpful. As you can see, with more and more shading it just keeps developing---keep at it!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] You're doing good!!!
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
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a question. What is the name of this cool font that you used in these examples?
Thanks
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Oh, it's just one of the standard ones which comes with WinXP--called "Papyrus". It has a bit of texture to it also when used in larger scale. I just like the look of it and it's legibility--not too fussy. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya