SpeeDFX

I'm trying to figure out what kind of design I'm going to put on my super sportster. I kept on drawing outlines of the plane on paper and that got annoying very quickly so I whipped these up in Photoshop, which I'm going to print out after I'm done typing this post :-D

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Did you know that Photoshop will open a PDF document?

Did you know that the GP Manuals are available in PDF form?

You know that back cover of the Manual that has the 2-view?

Voila!

And while you have Photoshop open, why not just use that for trying your designs?

SpeeDFX

LOL, I had no idea. I was planning on ordering my Super Sportster this weekend and I always like jumping into the aesthetics :-P. I feel foolish now! BUT, on the bright side, I can have an easier time drawing out ideas before I get my kit! Thanks for the REAL versions of the SS, I knew my outlines were a bit off


((PS: Please excuse my extreme newbiness.))

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

Nice job with the graphics (and advice) as usual Mike.

Welcome to the Site SPeeDFX. Lot of great people here.
Dennis-

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I'm just a master at finding the easy way out of doing work

CafeenMan

You know what I can't figure out? How the heck do you draw a straight line in PhotoShop? In Picture Publisher, you open the pencil tool, click point 1, double-click point 2 and voila! A straight line. In photoshop all I can draw is really squiggly lines. How do I do it????

Jemo

My Feedback: (5)

Hold the shift key

The bottom of the screen will tell you if there are other key options with any tool.

CafeenMan

Thanks Jemo.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

There are several ways actually.

Click point 1, then shift-click point 2 and it will draw a line between the two points

or

Click and hold, then hit shift and move the mouse up and down, or side to side for a horizontal or vertical line

or

Use the line tool with shift.

or

Draw a line with the Pen tool. This will create a path in any shape you draw which can be changed. Once you have the shape you want, go to the "Path" pallet and choose "Stroke Path" It will draw the path with whatever tool you select (It will use that tool's current brush, and will draw with the current color).

DustOffUH1

My Feedback: (2)

This is GREAT! A little photoshop tutorial
Thanks!
Joe

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Here's another trick:

Using the Pen tool, draw a shape (Note, the "Shift + Click" works here too)

Next go to the Path Pallet, and choose "Stroke Path" (Have the color and brush size already selected)

Now you can fill and do some creative shading.

DustOffUH1

My Feedback: (2)

U R Da Man! A full fledged Arteest! Very Cool
Thanks very much!

vasek

My Feedback: (4)

nice job MINNFLYER

the drawing tutorial in photoshop would be a good idea, if you start one, send me a PM!

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

Question for you Mike.
If you use pen & path to draw a line for example, go on to draw another line and find the first isn't what you wanted, how do you get rid of it? I tried using the "eraser" and "painting" over it with white, to no avail. ???

By the way, I'm self taught on this stuff (PhotoShop, AutoCad), and some of these "basics" sure make things easier. (Like not having to lay out all your lines manually! )
Thanks,
Dennis-

CafeenMan

Isn't it on its own layer? Just delete the layer.

SpeeDFX

MinnFlyer suggested the best method (in my opinion). I too use the pen tool to draw lines and curves in photoshop. I used the pen tool to draw my diagrams in my original post!

Geistware

My Feedback: (16)

MinnFlyer I am in awe of your skill.
I know you do this for a living, but you should team up with graphics guy and make templates.
I need a new plane and I am thinking of a WH extra in white but don't know what graphics.

If I had your skills, I would have some awesome planes.

CafeenMan

You know... graphic arts is a big part of model-building. I know we have the CAD forum, but maybe we need a Graphic Arts forum to discuss stuff things like this. In fact, scratch building and CAD aren't very closely related so maybe we need a graphic arts and cad forum.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Dennis, As you draw a path, every time you click, you get an "Anchor Point". If you don't like the last one you did, just hit "Ctrl+Z" to undo it. Also, by holding the Ctrl key, it will turn the pen to a selection tool (I think it's the Ctrl key, I mostly use a Mac and on a mac, it's the Command Key. In any case, experiment, holding different keys will give tools different attributes). you can select points by "Click-Dragging" over several of them (or Shift+Click to select additional points) then hit the "Delete" key.

You can also use the select tool to move, or change the curve of an anchor point. Click and hold the Pen tool in the tool box and you will get a variety of tools.


Giest, that sounds too much like work! LOL

But if you want to send me a 3-view, I'll make up a template for you.

Maybe I should do a "How To" for using PS to design your color scheme

sirrom

My Feedback: (4)

minnflyer,
Let me ask you a really stupid question. I am trying to design the layout for the paint mask on my canopy and i need it to curve down so it will curve with the contour of my canopy and wrap around naturally. Anyway, in photoshop I can draw the lines but when I try and bring them down and make them curved, they end up being 2/3 of a triangle.

Been working on this for 3 days now and can't get it too work. Also, my version of PS is CS.

Patrick.

runover1

My Feedback: (10)

I like the idea of starting a graphic arts forum. I wonder how the RCU staff would feel about it. I know most of us have seen Termagator's stuff and lots of other's cool graphics including MinnFlyer's. You've got my vote.

SpeeDFX

Sirrom, if you are using the Pen Tool, the problem could be with the orientation of tabs that appear with each new anchor point you create. Notice how two little arms with tiny squares at each end appear each time you create a new anchor point. Depending on which way you want your curve, and how straight you want it, they change direction and length. Sometimes it will be hard to get the exact curve you want because the pen tool will automatically arch the line out too much or go in a different direction. In that case you need hold down your ALT key, then click and drag one of the squares at the end of one ot the arms and drag it so that the little arm is in the general direction of where you want to put your next point. Doing this will kind of "reset" the curve so that you can create the arch you want.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Maybe Sirrom is not aware that you can pull tabs out of an anchor point...

Sirrom, with the pen tool selected, click and hold the mouse button while you move the mouse. Little "handelbars" will pull out of the anchor point that can be moved to form or change a curve.

frequent flyer

My Feedback: (6)

WOW, That all looks great . I have Photoshop and when I play with it is one thing but try and color something specific and its a mess . I just can't get it. It not as easy as it sounds.