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  1. #31
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Back in the good old days, we used blends or contours before we had the luxury of the shadow tool. Pure vectors.

    Here are three of my favorite chrome effects, although the fork is really silver and not chrome.

    The pretzel is from the 2000 tutorial, the ampersand (&) from the 2005 and the silver fork from the 2006 tutorials.
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    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #32
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    Dec 2000
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    Hautes Pyrénées, France
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Quote Originally Posted by covoxer View Post
    if you do not want to use Levels, I'm not the one to force you to
    I never said a thing about levels. Maybe somebody else did, but I didn't.

    Tell you what, since this thread is threatening to turn into a discussion of what instead of examples of how, why don't we set a rule. If, on zero picture quality, your vector turns into a rectangle, it's been plugged. If it stays as the original shape, it's still vector for the purposes of this thread.

    Therefore, in the image below, the feathered text to create a shadow remains a vector. The upper one has been plugged.
    Last edited by Big Frank; 16 April 2009 at 01:24 PM.
    If someone tried to make me dig my own grave I would say No.
    They're going to kill me anyway and I'd love to die the way I lived:
    Avoiding Manual Labour.

  3. #33
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    Ukraine
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Quote Originally Posted by Big Frank View Post
    I never said a thing about levels.
    Yes, you are right.
    why don't we set a rule. If, on zero picture quality, your vector turns into a rectangle, it's been plugged. If it stays as the original shape, it's still vector for the purposes of this thread.
    Hmmm, sounds interesting. I support this idea.
    Following this rule, Levels tool preserves vector nature of the object.
    John.

  4. #34
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Quote Originally Posted by covoxer View Post
    Following this rule, Levels tool preserves vector nature of the object.
    I know. That's why I have nothing against the use of levels.

    I never meant for this to turn into to "I betcha you can't do this" challenge. All I wanted to do was try and reproduce the effect Eric achieved in his 2001 post, and when I couldn't, to see if anybody else could. The only people who have come close are HayTay, Nostaw and covoxer. yet, in my opinion, none of them look as realistic as Eric's original. Just to remind you, look at it, it simply looks like chrome!
    Last edited by Big Frank; 16 April 2009 at 01:24 PM.
    If someone tried to make me dig my own grave I would say No.
    They're going to kill me anyway and I'd love to die the way I lived:
    Avoiding Manual Labour.

  5. #35
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    Red Boiling Springs TN USA
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Here is my example.

    Font is Ancestory SF The rectangle in the outline image is the Shadow bitmap created using the Shadow Tool.

    A 2 pixel bevel was applied to the text.
    The beveled text was converted to editable shape. The group was not ungrouped.
    One bitmap of grey cloudy sky was used for the text shapes.
    Another bitmap fill of blue cloudy sky was used for the 'bevel' shapes.
    A shadow was applied to the group.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Soquili
    a.k.a. Bill Taylor
    Bill is no longer with us. He died on 10 Dec 2012. We remember him always.
    My TG Album
    Last XaReg update

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    North Aurora, Illinois
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Gary, your fork tutorial was the first ever tutorial that I tried to do in Xara. I never finished it and when I came back to Xara I didn't know where it was. I've always wanted to try again when I see my unfinished .xar file. Glad you posted it.

    Hey Frank, I love when people post and even when the posts go off topic because I learn so much from other's comments and opinions. I thank you for starting the thread. I also have to say that Eric's chrome looks awesome. Someone above mentioned that the interior image is important to the overall look. I tend to agree with that. It's kind of like trying to create a HDRI atmosphere in 3D. The image you use to reflect on your metal makes all the difference in the end result.

    I'm now curious to try his tutorial to see how he crafted it. Knowing how to make good metal is very useful....especially turning iron into gold
    Things you should never say when pulled over by the police:
    Could you hold my beer while I dig out my license?

  7. #37
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    A couple of other efforts, actually made before the image I posted previously.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Soquili
    a.k.a. Bill Taylor
    Bill is no longer with us. He died on 10 Dec 2012. We remember him always.
    My TG Album
    Last XaReg update

  8. #38
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Thought I'd try again. The font is Alien Bold. One linear fill and an outer contour.
    Saludos,
    Bob.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    ** Detailed "Create A Spinning Logo Tutorial" is available in .pdf format for download at this link **
    Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx.

  9. #39
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Good entries, Bill and Bob, thanks for posting.

    I think Burpee is right. I think the reflection map you use is absolutely critical. Here's my latest effort, and it's certainly not right, but I think I'm getting there.

    I'm wondering whether Eric knew the right image to use or whether he picked the right one by chance. We won't know as he's no longer on the boards.
    Last edited by Big Frank; 16 April 2009 at 01:24 PM.
    If someone tried to make me dig my own grave I would say No.
    They're going to kill me anyway and I'd love to die the way I lived:
    Avoiding Manual Labour.

  10. #40
    Join Date
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    Ukraine
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    Default Re: Pluginless Chrome effects

    Ok. Here's the one with bitmap.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    John.

 

 

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