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How can i get better lines?


smidders

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I have a picture i drew and i'm trying to make it digital? (I don't know the proper term) is there a way i can make it look better, Right now i'm just using the brush tool.
Heres what iv'e done so far, i don't want to continue just in case theres a better way of doing it.
man face.jpg
 
Are you drawing a new image or trying to turn a photo into a line drawing ?
 
Mike said:
Are you drawing a new image or trying to turn a photo into a line drawing ?

Let's try this a different way......

Have you scanned the drawing into a PSD, or are you drawing a NEW Photoshop image based on your "paper" drawing? (i.e., freehanding it)
 
Great! My next question is what are you planning to do with the lines?

I assume your going to try some sort of painting technique. If these are just guide lines, I would not worry to much about them.
 
Ok, one of the many things you can do is to clean up the pencil drawing scan using a layer mask and a white layer beneath it.

Screen Shot 2013-08-25 at 1.00.28 PM.png

It's not done but you can see it's starting to clean up.....

Screen Shot 2013-08-25 at 1.00.43 PM.png

I would then apply the layer mask or merge the masked layer and the white layer, duplicate and merge, and then use a levels adjustment to darken the lines.

There are other techniques as well, all of which are going to require a little work.
 
Do you have illustrator you can scan it in and open the image in illustrator and select Blob brush I dont know why but that is my preference and then trace over it this will give you vector lines and should only take a few mins, and doesnt really need a graphics tablet all though this took me less than 5 mins with a graphics tablet.

man face1.jpg

not sure if you would get results using some of illustrators live trace etc.
 
As I said, there are many ways to do this depending on what you intend to do with the lines.

Cleaned up a little more and the lines are darkened...........

Screen Shot 2013-08-25 at 1.38.32 PM.png
 
After playing with this for awhile, the best result comes from using the Pen Tool (Stroke Path, Simulate pressure)to outline the drawing and grouping different parts of the drawing into it's own layers. Just use the drawing as a base layer guide.

Here's the beard outlined with the Pen Tool (painted).......

img018_002.png

Added to the drawing......

img018_003.png
 
Here is a very simple method for isolating black lines; I've used this tutorial a few times and do it slightly differently but the result is the same.

Once you have your png, you can make a white layer for contrast/viewability underneath.

I agree that the pen tool is the best way to make the shapes, in most cases, but if you don't feel competent to use it at this point, you can isolate areas between the lines with the magic wand at a low tolerance. You'll have to zoom in and see if you need cleanup after filling the space, but for areas like this the wand is fine. Oddly enough, I "never" use the magic wand anymore, but it works in this instance because the areas are flat single color (that white BG layer). Don't bother to do much cleanup till you have all your segments selected since one may cover up spillover from the layer beneath.

Be sure you put each color segment on its own layer. If you want to go back into that area and do something different with texture, color, etc., you only need to cmd/ctl click the thumbnail of that layer to activate the selection. (sorry if you already know that; I don't mean to talk down to you, but I don't know your PS level)

Anyway, just one more method to consider. I like to try different techniques to see which one fits me the best.

BTW, that is a very cool drawing. You have some talent there smidders!

LineDrawing.jpg
 
Excellent job smidders! Love the sky reflection in the glasses, and the colors in the blunt/cigar! The hat shadow would carry around to the hair and ear as well.
 

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