F-15 Jet image

[gbpatriot]

I've not posted any new work for a while having been preoccupied with Comic Book work. However, as I recently completed an image to accompany an article on the recent conflict in Labanon I thought it might interest other Xara artists. The image shown has been slightly modified from the original to avoid political comment (so no political feedback please).

First of all the image is 100% Xara Xtreme vector art - no post-work whatsoever. I created 15 layers to maintain a disciplined approach - essential for this type of technical work. A reference photo was used for tracing shapes and sampling linear fills. The only bit maps in the image are those created by the fractal fills.

The background is a snag taken from Google Earth and vector-traced in Xara, while the cloud/smoke are fractal fills.

I draw ALL my shapes (less circles) using the Shape Editor Tool set to 'L' and then shape the curves using the same tool.

Xara's brilliant fill and transparency then bring the shapes to life.

Anyone that has seen any of my previous posts will be aware that I am a convert from Adobe Illustrator after 12 years loyal following - never to return.

Ray Jones

[Soquili]

Hi Ray,

Very nice drawing. It does come close to being photo realistic. Personally I prefer the illustrative look you have. Shows skill. Photos can be artistic and require knowledge about expose settings, but is easier to achieve than a skillful drawing.

[Intbel]

Yes, I voted it 'obviously a drawing' however, the average viewer would pass it as a photograph without a problem I think.

Still convincing though.


Folks on this forum look at things differently - or at least, I think they probably do. 'Tis only natural that if you spend all your time involved with illustration you're going to cast a critical eye upon every image you see.

That said, I think it is a fine illustration indeed, well worthy of praise.

[-=Drifter=-]

great job!!!!!! i'm not voting. i love your artwork and really don't expect to see that much photography in here

[except for molucca - but his photos serve a different purpose]

[Intbel]

great job!!!!!! i'm not voting.

I nearly didn't - I hate such polls when I am unable to give a 100% positive answer - after all, am I qualified to judge?

On the other hand, I know if I ask for an opinion on my stuff I appreciate honest answers - that's why I ask.

I cannot fault the illustration - it won't pass as a photograph except for the casual observer though - and that was the question.

[stratocast]

I agree with the others, it's an excellent illustration. I think you've been a bit hard on yourself with the poll choices, I think it works well with the illustrative look.

[Ron Duke]

Excellent drawing! Very close to photorealism. The glass on the rear part of the cockpit doesn't seem to quite reach the support frame, yes/no?
Again, great drawing.
ron

[gbpatriot]

Gosh Knightedduke - you are good!

Yes you are quite right about the misaligned rear cockpit. I must have moved it when I edited the image for upload. Your perceptive comment tells me that you must have examined my work pretty closely - thank you. I've seen some of your work and appreciate how meticulous your are with your images.

I know that you really understand Xara graphics - but for any beginner visiting the page I have attached an exploded view of the image to show how it was assembled.

Regards

Ray

[Albacore]

Without being told it was vector and you saw it casually in a mag I would think it would pass the test. Really nice drawing.

[David O'Neil]

First, you have done a very good job!

The only reason I posted is to make you aware of two things that shout 'illustration' to an engineer's eyeballs.

The first item is that the refraction through the glass of the canopy would distort the image behind the canopy, and would also make it so the 'ground' shown in the glass of the canopy would not be the ground immediately behind the canopy.

(Recall that the image on two sides of a fishtank are not matched, and a fish may be fully visible to you in both of the panes of glass, even though the panes are at 90 degrees with respect to each other. - Same principle.)

To more fully simulate this, you might use a copy of the background, and apply a clipview of the entire canopy to that background, using an area below the canopy to align with the top edge of the canopy. Shrink it in the y dimension to skew it, and place it behind the canopy, but in front of the background. (Or apply a bitmap copy of the background to a shape the outline of the canopy, and recenter that background and resize it appropriately.)

I hope that made sense.

Other than that, and that fact that at those speeds, using standard photographic techniques, the 'clouds' would be fairly straight tubes from edge to edge of the picture, and not lumpy, due to their relative speed, it is an excellent illustration. Even as it is, it works very well, and you have every right to be proud of it.

David