I sure could use a bit of advice...

**Glassdogs** · 11 November 2006, 12:27 AM

I'd like to find a simple (low learning curve) method to take a photograph of "something" and convert it into a simple outline drawing like a kid's coloring book.

I have PaintShopPro, Ulead's Photo Impact, Canvas, and Becker Draw at my disposal. I'm in no way experienced in any of them.

If you could point me to any on-line tutorials, hard copy books, or maybe even spend a few minutes and 'talk" me through this on the forum, I'd be grateful.

Be gentle with me, I'm a newbie.

Thanks!

**pauland** · 11 November 2006, 11:29 AM

Well, to get a simple set of smooth outlines I would trace (draw the lines) over the photograph to get the exact outlines that I wanted. I doubt that any automatic tracing is going to give you exactly what you want. I've attached a quick simple example using Xara Xtreme.

**Glassdogs** · 11 November 2006, 02:19 PM

Wow! Thank you very much, Paul. This is EXACTLY what I was wanting to do. Now, all I have to do is figure out "how" to get as good at it as you are.

**pauland** · 11 November 2006, 03:11 PM

Glassdogs, download the Xara Xtreme trial (http://www.xara.com/products/xtreme/) and have a play. It really is easy. If you have problems I'll try and explain more.

Paul

**Availor** · 11 November 2006, 05:04 PM

pauland, this is the smallest and the most effective tutorial I've seen

Good one!

**pauland** · 11 November 2006, 09:23 PM

Thanks Availor - just messing about..

**Glassdogs** · 24 November 2006, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by pauland

Well, to get a simple set of smooth outlines I would trace (draw the lines) over the photograph to get the exact outlines that I wanted. I doubt that any automatic tracing is going to give you exactly what you want. I've attached a quick simple example using Xara Xtreme.

OK..after several attempts and some practice, I have been able to learn the technique to trace the outlines that I wanted from photos.

This may be the dumbest question ever posted, but I still haven't figured out how to take those outlines and resize them for printing them to a specific size.

I have to believe I can do that, but how ?????

**pauland** · 24 November 2006, 07:12 AM

Select all of the lines (with the pointer drag a selection around the lines) then just drag out the corner until the size is as you want it.

**Glassdogs** · 24 November 2006, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by pauland

Select all of the lines (with the pointer drag a selection around the lines) then just drag out the corner until the size is as you want it.

I should have been more specific. If I want the image to be 6 inches tall, how do I do that? I don't see how to make a ruler or grid.

Thanks for your help, sir.

**pauland** · 24 November 2006, 01:29 PM

OK,

Go to Utilities->Options. You will then get a tabbed dialog. Choose 'Page'. Set the paer size to A4 (or whatever you want). This sets the size of Xaras page.

Next choose the 'Units' tab and set the page units to be inches. Now go for the 'Grid and Ruler' tab and set the Major spacing to be 1in (one inch).

Close the options dialog by choosing 'OK'.

Now go to Windows->Bars->Rulers and set this option on. You will now see a ruler along both axes. If you put the pointer onto the ruler and drag, a guide line will come from the ruler onto the page. I have done this twice to have guideline between the one inch and seven inch marks in my example. Now you can resize to six inches between the marks. Remember that although Xara will show a full page, printer often can't print right to a page edge - they have margins,, hence my robot being six inches high, but one inch away from the edge.

OK?

Paul