I need inspiration... my technique is lacking!

[michaelward]

I'm trying to draw a photo realsitic cricket ball, and I'm getting close to how I'd like it, but I've hit one major stumbling block - I can't, whatever I do, draw a realistic looking seam.

Can anybody help me out with a technique, and maybe post your results?

Below, on the left is my version, and on the right is the photo I'm working from. The .XAR file is posted below.



Michael Ward
http://www.metalandplastics.co.uk
http://www.leighcenturions.net

[Soquili]

Hi Michael,

Here's a quick brush that you can play around with to get the look you want. Currently it looks like I just stuck rice on the ball [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

http://eighthfire.dreamwater.com/Cricket-Ball.jpg

Soquili

[Clements]

I can't recommend a better stitch approach than those shown above. And I do really like the overall look of the cricket ball. Very snazzy.

One detail issue, however. Wouldn't the lions and the ECP be slightly curved around their edges to conform to spherical shape of the ball?

[jclements]

I was wrong! I'm shocked [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

[rssk]

Here's the Xara file

[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Roger

[toograffic]

I never imagined I'd see a pair of red cricket balls!

"I'm not an artist, but I play one on the internet!"

[rssk]

Here's one I did a few years back. It needs a bit of work. Hope this helps.

Cheers

Roger

[Ross Macintosh]

just drawing each stitch by stitch? You could zoom in on the photo and draw them on top (ie a layer on top). The approach would be to use the photo as a guide. In the line gallery you can set your lines to have rounded ends - that seems appropriate for the task. You might also find a 'stroke shape/pressure profile' appropriate too. I'd draw the lines blue so they'd stand out from the background pic. Once the bunch is drawn you could change them all to white. I'd group them too for convienience. On a clone of the group I'd try converting the bunch of lines to editable shapes & applying rounded bevels and shadows.

Picturing the results in my head I think it would be possible to have the drawing quite faithful to the photo. Hope these suggestions help.

Regards, Ross

<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>

[michaelward]

The second of the two balls is an actual photograph, and I drew the lions over the top of the photograph so they should match [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Thanx for the for the great tips, and postive critique guys - I'll try some of the approaches mentioned and get back to you.



Michael Ward
http://www.metalandplastics.co.uk
http://www.leighcenturions.net

[Egg Bramhill]

Another method would be to use a blend along a line. I attach an image created using this method. The large squiggle is the shape that was blended.
Egg