Bubble Challenge

[AndFarr]

As is our tradition, we always make giant bubbles at family gatherings. They are beautiful and amazingly complex.
I’ve tried to recreate them in Xara X1 without much success. Any ideas on how to tackle this challenging form? ( without copying bitmaps of course!) - Andrew

[AndFarr]

As is our tradition, we always make giant bubbles at family gatherings. They are beautiful and amazingly complex.
I’ve tried to recreate them in Xara X1 without much success. Any ideas on how to tackle this challenging form? ( without copying bitmaps of course!) - Andrew

[AndFarr]

Another reference photo. - Andrew

[jens g.r. benthien]

Andrews,

something we should always keep in mind: we can't copy nature.

Not even with 3D apps and renderings. Though someone might be able to render soap bubbles, the effect would be dull. They would look like some psychedelic paintings of the 70ies, because of the missing natural environment, light, relfection and refraction. Just imagine one of the bubbles on a white background - how boring and meaningless.

Just my two cents...

[Albacore]

Garry had a tut on a bar of soap and bubbles a while back which you might look at in the Xone.

But as Jen's states you can't replicate nature and your attempts will look flat but if it is for print Garry's method can look quite convincing or at least better than AI and FH attempts at it.

[Egg Bramhill]

Great idea and very difficult to reproduce. Here's my effort. The main problem is the bubble changes as per the background so the transparencies which work on a dark background don't work on a lighter one. Here's my effort.
Egg

[Egg Bramhill]

Here's the bubble in wireframe, black an white backgrounds.

[min]

Egg

I thinks that's pretty good

Amanda

[John Rayner]

hi Egg, Looks pretty good. Instead of a mix tansparency try a lighten or darken transparancy. There are several different types...

[gwpriester]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> As is our tradition, we always make giant bubbles at family gatherings. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You guys must be tens of laughs :-)

Here is my attempt. Basically bubbles are more opague around the edges and more transparent in the center. Getting the rainbow refractive quality is the hardest part.

That is my neighbor with the beard at this year's Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

Gary