The Self Portrait Thread

**-=Drifter=-** · 29 December 2005, 07:23 PM

Welp, i took a great deal of time and xara'd my face:

here are the lines involved:

I need to learn WHEN to use layers. There were so many lines in this thing, I'm sure layers would have helped, but i also needed to regularly interact with different "levels"

I would also like to know WHY sometimes when using a bezier control handle the adjacent side pops out and has to be moved back in. Am I doing something wrong or is this the way it is?

**-=Drifter=-** · 29 December 2005, 07:59 PM

I've been framed!!!!!

**Craig1128** · 30 December 2005, 07:45 AM

That's Great!

**spondoolix** · 30 December 2005, 09:36 AM

Drifter,
You have obviously put a lot of effort into this and you have achieved a skilled and realistic effect. Bet you too are pleased!

**min** · 30 December 2005, 12:03 PM

Drifter

Well done

Amanda

**-=Drifter=-** · 30 December 2005, 12:56 PM

Thanks Min, Spondoolix, and Craig. I'm just starting down the path of learning. And this particular path was quite frightening as i had to look at my own face so much.
hahahahahahahahahha

**sallybode** · 30 December 2005, 02:33 PM

Wow, Drifter, you really came up with something there.

It is hard to know when to use layers. If starting with a photograph, it is best to put that on the bottom layer and an identical one on the top. That way you don't have to shut down all layers in the middle to have a look-see at your reference photo, just turn the top layer back on for a peek.

That must have been a bit uncomfortable, sticking your head in the scanner. I know my face felt rather flat for days afterwards. (Just kidding).

**-=Drifter=-** · 30 December 2005, 03:10 PM

Well, given it is the holiday season, i'm sure there are people out there sticking a lot worse things in their scanners and thankfully NOT posting those in here.

Sally, can you remark re. my bezier control handles question?

**Soquili** · 30 December 2005, 04:04 PM

Hi Drifter,

Very nice work on the portrait.

Xara Xtreme supports two type of joins (nodes) Smooth and Cusp. The Smooth joins are the type that have the behaviour you mentioned. Move one side and the other moves in the opposite direction. The Cusp joins are the ones that each side moves independently.

I don't recall specifically what are the defaults as I learned to edit the registry to make it use Cusp joins.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Xara\XaraXtreme\Options \ShapeEditorTool
Change CreateCurved to a value of 0 and change CreateCusp to a value of 1.

These settings can be overridden using the toolbar and the Shape Editor Tool. See the example in the attachment.

**Craig1128** · 30 December 2005, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by -=Drifter=-

Thanks Min, Spondoolix, and Craig. I'm just starting down the path of learning. And this particular path was quite frightening as i had to look at my own face so much.
hahahahahahahahahha

Why do you think I just used a filter on my picture?!!!??? (Will learn how to draw a face with someone else's picture! hehehehe!.... that is, someday!)