traditional dragon

**geminiguy** · 17 January 2009, 07:51 PM

Just finished vectorizing this drawing I did some time ago.. scanned it in, then set to the task of using my mouse in XaraLX to trace the lines, and edit them one at a time... took 3 days, but now.. I will be able to do so much more with the image.
I can add more character to the image with Xara, and/or bring it into Gimp and the possibilities are now endless...

**steve.ledger** · 17 January 2009, 08:20 PM

Three days? How time can 'drag-on' (Sorry couldn't resist

)

Good Job Paul.

I have done this many times during my time with the Sign Writing business.
As you say, once you have a vector version, the possibilities are stacked up in your favor.

**geminiguy** · 17 January 2009, 08:51 PM

Thanks Steve...
Yup, it is especially nice that one can then make any variation of changes, without effecting the original piece, or having to draw it all over again.

**steve.ledger** · 17 January 2009, 08:52 PM

Don't forget to make a backup Paul

**steve.ledger** · 17 January 2009, 09:06 PM

Here's one I dug out from a year and a half ago.
I've removed all of the fiddling around from the pasteboard.

Feel free to play with it (bitmap included in the .xar file)

**Ron Duke** · 17 January 2009, 10:47 PM

Fantastic dragon Paul! The results and possibilities make the effort worth while.

**geminiguy** · 17 January 2009, 11:05 PM

Thanks both... oohh nice one Steve.. guess I should put my .xar up as well in case anyone would like to meddle with it

I didn't clean mine up though

**Albacore** · 18 January 2009, 09:35 AM

This thread is more like "show us your dragon" here is mine.
Paul I think the way you have orientated the dragon gives it great life and once finished will bring it to life.

**steve.ledger** · 18 January 2009, 11:04 AM

Nice one Peter, though yours appears to be a finished piece, the others are either work-in-progress or stock graphics.

Where's your .xar

**geminiguy** · 18 January 2009, 05:05 PM

Thanks Peter, It is actually my first attempt at vectorizing a drawing using the mouse.. it was a long process because each line I did, I then used "convert line to shape" and then "group", and then would refresh the "save as" just in case something went wrong

The first night, I wound up having to clean my mouse as it was sticking and had some dust/crud packed onto the wheels... I have a wireless, but prefer the feel of the old ball & scroll.
But, each night, I just did so much at a time, because it would get very old, very fast... and I didn't want to lose patience and start rushing it.
It was a whole new process for me, and with my patience level lately, it was actually quite an achievement

I like your image, it has that silk effect to it, like an embroidered piece.

Sledger's is more complete and clean than my own, but was also done a different way as I can see, so... there are many ways to go about it. I was actually going to try and go for a authentic pencil effect for mine, but after some time of doing over-sized lines and then using the feather tool... I scratched the idea

Maybe at a later date I'll go for it again.