In an earlier posting on scanner art, I lamented that scanners don't get enough love. Having used quite a few scanners over the years for purposes for which they were never intended, I have learned a few things in regards to their use as a creative vehicle.
1. Depth of field is the area in front of and behind the plane of focus that is reasonably sharp. You can assume that the plane of focus on a flatbed scanner is the surface of the glass. To be sure, this is not always the case and there are special systems of focus determination which involve shims and such to place film closer to the true plane of focus. I am more concerned with the understanding that as you move things further from the glass, the objects appear less sharp. This can be used to great effect. You can use this to provide a sense of depth in your image. If everything is equally sharp in an image, it tends to looks flat. Since the glass prevents us from utilizing the depth of field in front of the glass, we are limited to moving things further above it to make them less sharp. Of course, you can remove the glass if you would like to, put the design of most scanners is such that the scanning mechanism travels just beneath the glass preventing you from having images situated much below the glass surface.
One of the more interesting things pertaining to scanner depth of field is that it varies greater among various scanner models. It all has to do with the optical design of the scanner. For example, the Canon Lide series of scanners have incredibly shallow depth of field compared to say an Epson Perfection 3170 or a Perfection 4990. This isn't intrinsically bad, it is just to be noted. If you want to make a piece with very shallow depth of field, then get a Canon Lide scanner. If you want greater depth of field, get an Epson. This isn't to say they are all the same though. In the previous post on scanner art, I think I mentioned that everyone should have at least one scanner. Depth of field considerations is just one reason why.
2. Light fall off. Light scatters as it travels away from a light source. Opening or removing the scanner lid, less light will be reflected back onto the object being scanned. Usually, opening up the lit results in a black or very dark background as opposed to white. Depending on what you are going for, you can do either.
More to come soon...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Scribbler - online generative art
Scribbler is one of the cooler things that I have come across lately. I have wanted to introduce students to generative art for some time, but hadn't found a readily accessible means to do so until now.
Generative art is digital art in which various algorithms (math formulas) are used to determine the line, composition, color, etc. Basically, it is art created by software. Some of the earliest digital art was generative art.
Anyways, Scribbler takes a neat approach in that it combines user input with generative output. Essentially, it allows you to anticipate and influence its output.
It may seem like a novelty at first, but there are numerous means of modifying the output of the software as it is "scribbling". You can vary the transcerency of the line, the thickness of the line, and the amount of "Scribbleness" which I interpret as a combination of the size of the scribbles and its randomness.
I have included an example of a piece that I began with just six strokes. As it ran, I paused it and added additional strokes in anticipation of Scribbler's inclusion into the larger composition.
The one thing that is missing is a Save command. You have to take a screen grab in order to have a version of your work.
It is a lot of fun. Give it a try.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Just Moved...
Sorry, it has been awhile since I posted. Within the last year I spent a lot of time figuring out how to get my blog hosted on my own site using FTP (File Transfer Protocol, a standard systems of transferring multiple and large files). I had it all working, then www.blogger.com decided to stop supporting FTP transfer beginning in May. So, I have been thinking about how to best go about moving my blog. Ultimately, I decided to have www.blogger.com host it for free. The problem is that if you came to his site via www.sederburns.com, this blog opened in a new window. I really don't think that is ideal, so this is really a stop gap measure. It also required me to modify the navigation on all my pages. As I am planning a major revision of my website for later this summer, I will decide on how to best proceed at that point. I am currently exploring www.wordpress.com in consideration of moving my blog to that platform. Until that time, I will continue to use Blogger. I am working on a post on focus stacking. Focus stacking is a means to combine the sharp parts of an image, those within the photo's depth of field, into a single image with fantastic depth of field.
Image stacking software such as Helicon and Combine ZM (as well as the capabilities within Photoshop) allow you to digitally combine images for seemingly endless depth of field. You can watch these two videos in preparation:
Focus Stacking Explained
and
Video on using Photoshop for focus stacking
Image stacking software such as Helicon and Combine ZM (as well as the capabilities within Photoshop) allow you to digitally combine images for seemingly endless depth of field. You can watch these two videos in preparation:
Focus Stacking Explained
and
Video on using Photoshop for focus stacking
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Digital Painting
Why digital painting? Digital painting allows you to create works in the same expressive way that painting does. I am not suggesting they are the same; however, I would encourage you to give it a try whether you are new to painting or are very proficient in the medium. One of the advantage of digital painting is the low (often free) price of entry. As long as you have a computer, you can use one of many free painting applications. In my experience, digital painting has encouraged many people to explore traditional painting.
There has also been a recent explosion of digital painting using handheld devices such as iPhones/iPod Touches and Nintendo DS gaming systems. Recently The New Yorker magazine featured an illustration painted using an iPhone on its cover. I have numerous links to this below.
Corel Painter is the granddaddy of digital painting applications. It is by far the most powerful and feature rich. It is a true natural media applicaion which is to say that it mimics how the media actually work. You can think of it as a painting simulator is you want. The software mimics the physics of each medium differently. Painting with watercolors is much different from painting with oil paints or acrylics. Plus, the colors of the paints blend in the same manner that real paint does. This in not true of Photoshop. Photoshop is often used for digital painting, but it is not a natural media application. Colors don't blend as real paints do nor do the colors have any of the qualities of natural media.
Painter is available for only $99 to students and faculty. Otherwise it is $399.
Here is a list of links to commercial (cost involved) and free natural media/painting programs that I have compiled over the years. Also included are a number of links to tutorials and related materials. I will try to sort them better as time allows. Have fun!
My Paint- available for Linux and PC
Artweaver- Windows only- supports graphic tablets. Seems very similar to Painter
New Yorker article about Jorge's cover illustration featuring a video showing the process of the painting
LA Times article on Ed Velandria who using ArtRage and a tablet PC to paint quick portraits while riding the subway
Corel tutorials on the use of Painter
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1171405215200
http://www.ehow.com/how_4691734_paint-brown-eyes-photoshop.html
How to paint an eye - involved, but very nice results
http://graphixworld.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/how-to-paint-a-human-eye-tutorial/
Some nice realistic brushes for Photoshop
http://doodle-lee-doo.deviantart.com/art/Real-Brush-Strokes-Set-122699209
How to paint a realistic eye
http://www.artsquared.co.uk/blog/2009/05/how-to-draw-a-realistic-eye/
Conceptart.org - some nice digital paintings here
More tutorials
Downloadable Training Movies (correct link this time) - good content and good production quality
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1170190221936
Super Awesome online color wheel-you can use it to create your color scheme
http://kuler.adobe.com/
Color Harmony- good examples, includes many related links
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/color-harmony/
Divine Proportion/Golden Ration/Phi information- The Abstract Painter Piet Mondrian was said to have made use of the Golden Ration
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio
http://www.markboulton.co.uk/articles/detail/design_and_the_divine_proportion/
http://goldennumber.net/
http://blogs.princeton.edu/graphicarts/2008/05/divine_proportion.html
http://avid.blogs.com/concept_to_creation/2007/05/divine_proporti.html
There has also been a recent explosion of digital painting using handheld devices such as iPhones/iPod Touches and Nintendo DS gaming systems. Recently The New Yorker magazine featured an illustration painted using an iPhone on its cover. I have numerous links to this below.
Corel Painter is the granddaddy of digital painting applications. It is by far the most powerful and feature rich. It is a true natural media applicaion which is to say that it mimics how the media actually work. You can think of it as a painting simulator is you want. The software mimics the physics of each medium differently. Painting with watercolors is much different from painting with oil paints or acrylics. Plus, the colors of the paints blend in the same manner that real paint does. This in not true of Photoshop. Photoshop is often used for digital painting, but it is not a natural media application. Colors don't blend as real paints do nor do the colors have any of the qualities of natural media.
Painter is available for only $99 to students and faculty. Otherwise it is $399.
Here is a list of links to commercial (cost involved) and free natural media/painting programs that I have compiled over the years. Also included are a number of links to tutorials and related materials. I will try to sort them better as time allows. Have fun!
Commercial NATURAL MEDIA/PAINT applications
Corel Painter 11- THE NATURAL MEDIA/PAINT APPLICATION
AutoDesk Sketch Book Pro
AutoDesk Sketch Book Mobile-for iPod touch and iPhone
Studio Artist 3.5 - Mac only -has some crazy autographing features
Corel Painter Essentials 4 - simplified/limited version of Painter
Free NATURAL MEDIA/PAINT applicationsCorel Painter 11- THE NATURAL MEDIA/PAINT APPLICATION
AutoDesk Sketch Book Pro
AutoDesk Sketch Book Mobile-for iPod touch and iPhone
Studio Artist 3.5 - Mac only -has some crazy autographing features
Corel Painter Essentials 4 - simplified/limited version of Painter
My Paint- available for Linux and PC
Artweaver- Windows only- supports graphic tablets. Seems very similar to Painter
Art Rage 2.5 Starter Edition - very intuitive. A more featured version is available for a reasonable cost.
Pixarra Twisted Brush- Windows only - Free and
Krita-simple paint program available for Linux, Mac, and PC
Smooth Draw - very simple drawing program for Windows only
Painting applications for handheld devices and related articles
Jorge Colombo - he painted the cover illustration for the June 1, 2009 New Yorker on his iPhone
Painting applications for handheld devices and related articles
Jorge Colombo - he painted the cover illustration for the June 1, 2009 New Yorker on his iPhone
New Yorker article about Jorge's cover illustration featuring a video showing the process of the painting
LA Times article on Ed Velandria who using ArtRage and a tablet PC to paint quick portraits while riding the subway
Software tailored for Manga and Anime-can't vouch for it, don't know much about it
Deleter Software Comic Works
http://www.deleter.jp/eng/cw_english/
http://deleter-mangashop.com/goods.php?lang_id=en&goods_id=45&tsuka_conv=USD
http://my.smithmicro.com/win/graphics.html
http://my.smithmicro.com/mac/anime/index.html
http://my.smithmicro.com/mac/manga/index.html
Some of the artists here use this software
http://www.tokyopop.com/
http://my.smithmicro.com/mac/anime/index.html
http://my.smithmicro.com/mac/manga/index.html
Some of the artists here use this software
http://www.tokyopop.com/
Here is a link to a website of a magazine that I think many of you would like. www.imaginefx.com
Here is a direct link to numerous tutorials that are posted there:http://www.imaginefx.com/02287754330326480692/workshops.html
Figure drawing techniques
http://mos.futurenet.com/pdf/computerarts/CAP113_tut_bodies.pdf
Collection of 15 of the best ImagineFX tutorials
http://zero2illo.com/2009/04/15-of-the-best-imaginefx-digital-painting-tutorials/
Portfolio with some interesting digital paintings
http://ciaee-art.com/
3D people, here is a new Google 3D program with a free and commercial version. Supposed to be very easy to use. Haven't tried it yet. http://sketchup.google.com/
Here is a direct link to numerous tutorials that are posted there:http://www.imaginefx.com/02287754330326480692/workshops.html
Figure drawing techniques
http://mos.futurenet.com/pdf/computerarts/CAP113_tut_bodies.pdf
Collection of 15 of the best ImagineFX tutorials
http://zero2illo.com/2009/04/15-of-the-best-imaginefx-digital-painting-tutorials/
Portfolio with some interesting digital paintings
http://ciaee-art.com/
3D people, here is a new Google 3D program with a free and commercial version. Supposed to be very easy to use. Haven't tried it yet. http://sketchup.google.com/
Overview of Free Painting Programs
Corel tutorials on the use of Painter
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1171405215200
Tutorial on painting with Photoshop
Nice set of tutorials on painting with Photoshop
Blending colors in Photoshop
More tutorials on painting in Photoshop
http://www.graphicmania.net/10-amazing-photoshop-digital-painting-tutorials/
http://homepage.mac.com/pixlart/main.htm
Sign up for Corel Painter e-newsletter
http://apps.corel.com/painterx/us/community_newsletter.html
Overview of Painter, includes nice breakdown of different brushes
http://apps.corel.com/painterx/us/essence_new_features.html
Downloadable Training Movies
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1170190221936l
Corel tutorials on clone color
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1171405215200
Use filters to modify brush strokes, Surface Control>Quick Warp
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/2057/Making.a.Mini.Poster.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Numerous Tutorials here at the Designer Today website
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/4.aspx
Pastel on Black Background
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/1430/Pastel.on.Black.Background.Freehand.Sketch.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Painting a Loose Style Portrait
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/1826/Painting.a.Loose.Style.Portrait.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Creating Abstract Art in Painter
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/1855/Creating.Abstract.Art.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Mixing Paint
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/1887/Mixing.Colors.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Corel Painter e-newsletter
http://apps.corel.com/painterx/us/community_newsletter.html
Watercolor effect
http://apps.corel.com/painterix/training/tutorial_watercolor.html
Impasto effect
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/painter/ss/impasto.htm
Op Art- possibly use the movement of the image to make flag look moving even when still. Sense of movement symbolic of dynamic nature of humans?
http://www.julianstanczak.net/
Bridge Riley
http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/riley.html
http://www.mishabittleston.com/artists/bridget_riley/
Corel Painter X/XI Links
Home page of one of the original Painter authors, numerous tutorials on using Painterhttp://homepage.mac.com/pixlart/main.htm
Sign up for Corel Painter e-newsletter
http://apps.corel.com/painterx/us/community_newsletter.html
Overview of Painter, includes nice breakdown of different brushes
http://apps.corel.com/painterx/us/essence_new_features.html
Downloadable Training Movies
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1170190221936l
Corel tutorials on clone color
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1171405215200
Use filters to modify brush strokes, Surface Control>Quick Warp
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/2057/Making.a.Mini.Poster.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Numerous Tutorials here at the Designer Today website
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/4.aspx
Pastel on Black Background
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/1430/Pastel.on.Black.Background.Freehand.Sketch.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Painting a Loose Style Portrait
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/1826/Painting.a.Loose.Style.Portrait.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Creating Abstract Art in Painter
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/1855/Creating.Abstract.Art.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Mixing Paint
http://www.designertoday.com/Tutorials/Painter/1887/Mixing.Colors.Corel.Painter.Tutorial.aspx
Corel Painter e-newsletter
http://apps.corel.com/painterx/us/community_newsletter.html
Watercolor effect
http://apps.corel.com/painterix/training/tutorial_watercolor.html
Impasto effect
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/painter/ss/impasto.htm
Op Art- possibly use the movement of the image to make flag look moving even when still. Sense of movement symbolic of dynamic nature of humans?
http://www.julianstanczak.net/
Bridge Riley
http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/riley.html
http://www.mishabittleston.com/artists/bridget_riley/
Digital Painting Links
How to paint an eye - simple tutorial and a simple looking result-nothing fancyhttp://www.ehow.com/how_4691734_paint-brown-eyes-photoshop.html
How to paint an eye - involved, but very nice results
http://graphixworld.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/how-to-paint-a-human-eye-tutorial/
Some nice realistic brushes for Photoshop
http://doodle-lee-doo.deviantart.com/art/Real-Brush-Strokes-Set-122699209
How to paint a realistic eye
http://www.artsquared.co.uk/blog/2009/05/how-to-draw-a-realistic-eye/
Pixel Brush - popular site for digital painting
Introduction to painting (fantasy art)
Introductory tutorials
www.pxleyes.com has some good tutorials including this Incredibly detailed tutorial on how to draw a rose in PS
http://www.pxleyes.com/tutorial/photoshop/1467/How-To-Make-A-Digital-Painting-Of-A-Rose-From-Scratch.html
Digital Painting for Beginners PS
http://clepweb.deviantart.com/art/Digital-Painting-for-Beginners-27802774
Nice, long video on Digital Painting for Beginners PS
http://menoob.com/digital-painting/excellent-digital-painting-video-tutorial-for-beginners/
Overview of Painting Process
http://tutorials.epilogue.net/digital-art/advanced-digital-painting-techniques
How to Paint Clouds
http://tutorials.epilogue.net/digital-art/perfect-clouds-in-5-easy-steps
Galleries for the guy who wrote the two previous tutorials
http://www.epilogue.net/cgi/database/art/list.pl?gallery=98
http://www.gorblimey.com/
Overview of elaborate painting-be sure to check out the other postings as they are interesting
http://www.rob-sheridan.com/sketchblog/stepbystep/mascots.html
Wacom tablet Tutorials
How to set up Wacom Intuos 4 for painting with PS
http://johnderryonline.com/Images/Intuos4_Mapping_PS.pdf
How to configure Wacom tablet on a Mac
http://guides.macrumors.com/Setting_Up_A_Wacom_Tablet_Tutorial
ArtRage Tutorials
Nice set of video tutorials, demonstrates paint blending
http://cartoonsnap.blogspot.com/search/label/ArtRageHow to Paint Clouds
http://ruthlessmoons.deviantart.com/art/Artrage-Cloud-tutorial-86563306
Hack a Nintendo DS to Make an Awesome Digital Sketchbook
Colors! - free painting program for Nintendo DS, inexpensive version for iPod/iPhone also available
More tutorials
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1170190221936
Super Awesome online color wheel-you can use it to create your color scheme
http://kuler.adobe.com/
Color Harmony- good examples, includes many related links
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/color-harmony/
Divine Proportion/Golden Ration/Phi information- The Abstract Painter Piet Mondrian was said to have made use of the Golden Ration
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio
http://www.markboulton.co.uk/articles/detail/design_and_the_divine_proportion/
http://goldennumber.net/
http://blogs.princeton.edu/graphicarts/2008/05/divine_proportion.html
http://avid.blogs.com/concept_to_creation/2007/05/divine_proporti.html
Monday, April 5, 2010
Drawing fur in Illustrator
Let's say you want to draw a cat in Illustrator (who wouldn't want to do that?), how do you make the fur?
Here is a few tutorials on how to do so.
This one is drawing fur for a stuffed animal bear. Doesn't look ultra realistic, but you might be able to modify it to make it look more realistic if that is your desire. It is well written.
These are Photoshop tutorials, but you should be able to apply most/some of the techniques to Illustrator.
http://ballistic-kitten.deviantart.com/ ... l-22997085
http://shadowumbre.deviantart.com/art/F ... -104939086
http://fatal-mantis85.deviantart.com/ar ... l-25125510
http://yellow-eyes.deviantart.com/art/W ... D-32253741
http://venator-somniorum.deviantart.com ... l-36338777
http://www.drawfurry.com/?p=46
Here is one on drawing hair in Illustrator. What is fur after all?
Here is a link to create "cute" looking fur.
Here is a few tutorials on how to do so.
This one is drawing fur for a stuffed animal bear. Doesn't look ultra realistic, but you might be able to modify it to make it look more realistic if that is your desire. It is well written.
These are Photoshop tutorials, but you should be able to apply most/some of the techniques to Illustrator.
http://ballistic-kitten.deviantart.com/ ... l-22997085
http://shadowumbre.deviantart.com/art/F ... -104939086
http://fatal-mantis85.deviantart.com/ar ... l-25125510
http://yellow-eyes.deviantart.com/art/W ... D-32253741
http://venator-somniorum.deviantart.com ... l-36338777
http://www.drawfurry.com/?p=46
Here is one on drawing hair in Illustrator. What is fur after all?
Here is a link to create "cute" looking fur.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
vector portraits - examples
http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-vector6.html
http://chewedkandi.deviantart.com/art/VectorTutorial-for-Illustrator-28952359
http://yajido.deviantart.com/art/CS-Vector-Tutorial-3-18008695
http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/drawing/create-a-vector-style-illustration-in-photoshop/
http://www.vectorportraits.com/
http://abduzeedo.com/20-beautiful-vector-portraits
http://www.illustratorworld.com/contest/vector_portraits/
http://designrfix.com/inspiration/50-incredible-asian-vector-portraits
http://verucasalt82.deviantart.com/art/Self-Portrait-Number-Something-38454040
http://vector.tutsplus.com/articles/inspiration/25-fantastic-vector-portraits/
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/max-2009-design/how-to-create-vector-portraits-with-illustrator-cs4/
http://www.fudgegraphics.com/2010/03/fyi-inspiration-monday-gorgeous-vector-portraits-by-christiano-siqueira/
http://www.renderdemo.com/instructorgallery.html
http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Gradient-mesh_-Portraits/202669?project_id=202669
http://quantum67.deviantart.com/art/beyonce-152793777
http://webitect.net/design/40-magnificent-vector-portrait-examples/
http://www.vectorportraits.com/detailing-eyes/
http://chewedkandi.deviantart.com/art/VectorTutorial-for-Illustrator-28952359
http://yajido.deviantart.com/art/CS-Vector-Tutorial-3-18008695
http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/drawing/create-a-vector-style-illustration-in-photoshop/
http://www.vectorportraits.com/
http://abduzeedo.com/20-beautiful-vector-portraits
http://www.illustratorworld.com/contest/vector_portraits/
http://designrfix.com/inspiration/50-incredible-asian-vector-portraits
http://verucasalt82.deviantart.com/art/Self-Portrait-Number-Something-38454040
http://vector.tutsplus.com/articles/inspiration/25-fantastic-vector-portraits/
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/max-2009-design/how-to-create-vector-portraits-with-illustrator-cs4/
http://www.fudgegraphics.com/2010/03/fyi-inspiration-monday-gorgeous-vector-portraits-by-christiano-siqueira/
http://www.renderdemo.com/instructorgallery.html
http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Gradient-mesh_-Portraits/202669?project_id=202669
http://quantum67.deviantart.com/art/beyonce-152793777
http://webitect.net/design/40-magnificent-vector-portrait-examples/
http://www.vectorportraits.com/detailing-eyes/
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