RE: Nose Art Help
 

Thanks Rodney I'll check it out. I'm really nervous about downloading software probably because I'm not computer wiz. I do have some Adobe Photoshop "started" stuff that works fairly well. I looked at purchasing the full Adobe setup but I feel it's too expensive for the few times I would use it.

Bill

RE: Nose Art Help
 

It doesn't look like an overly complicated logo. can you blow it up to the right size, transfer it over and have someone with a little art time paint it? then clear over it all ...the original was probaly brush painted anyhow....

RE: Nose Art Help
 

One of the problems here is that you are scanning a color image from a book. Your artwork isn't continuous tones, it's been half toned for the printing process. It's made up of a series of dots, so when it is scanned and enlarged they become noticeable.

I would isolate the part of the artwork with the nose art and scan at a high res like 4800 dpi. Your scanning software probably has an option to check for descreening so you may want to make a test scan with that as well. Worry about resizing and reducing your dpi until after you get a scan that captures the amount of detail you're looking for. You can crop to a specific size and reduce the number of pixels once you get a good scan. I don't think you are ever going to get a usable piece of artwork to make a decal from. What I would do is try and get the best scan I can, then use a vector graphics program like Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, or the free Inkscape to redraw or retrace the logo into a finished piece. Once it's vectored you can resize to anysize without any worry of losing detail or affecting the quality of your print.

RE: Nose Art Help
 

Bullseye,

Your correct about the scan and trace.

My guess is, even with terrible art, I can redraw that image in less than 15 minutes.

Charles

RE: Nose Art Help
 

What I do is after I have printed the decal I let the ink dry for 24 hours. Then I clear them with LustreKote flat clear. Let that dry 24 hours and then I put the on the plane. Then they get cleared over again when I clear the plane. Works for me anyway and have not had one run yet.

RE: Nose Art Help
 

If you would like, I can try to go about making a high resolution version of the nose art in Photoshop by tracing the original. Let me know if you would like me to try it, or if you are happy with what you have at the moment.

As previously stated, GIMP is a very powerful, free program that has a lot of the editing tools that Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro have.

RE: Nose Art Help
 

Well, I decided to do it anyway; it didnt take as long as I thought. Here is a low quality .jpg of the finished result. The actual image is around 6 in x 6 in, so theres room for some resizing without loss of quality. I can send you the original Photoshop .psd file, as well as a full resolution, high quality .jpg. Let me know what you think.

RE: Nose Art Help
 

Spitfire,

Like the movie "Hancock"

Good Job!

I think the difference with my drawing program, is that I could do the image in vectored art, not bits. This would allow for printing and a cut vinyl graphic that would be fuelproof.

The vectored art image file can then be brought to any sign shop that does full color printing on vinyl. They could also add the lettering, which, BTW, is part of the Nose Art. An important part of it.

The only difference with using a sign shop would be the cost. Unless you got lucky with a sign shop where the guy was a modeler like I am.

I offered but was never contacted to assist with the art or product. [sm=crying.gif]

Charles

RE: Nose Art Help
 

Hi Charles,

One of my flying friends has a vinyl cutter and also does graphics in vector format. I dont have the program, so I did what I could in Photoshop to get a higher quality version of the nose art for Randy. [sm=shades_smile.gif]. I decided not to tackle the lettering, which I agree is a very important part of the nose art. I figured perhaps Randy could hand paint it for an even more accurate effect!

If you have the time, I'm sure Randy would appreciate another go at it! [sm=thumbs_up.gif] Thanks for the compliments btw.

RE: Nose Art Help
 

Spitfire,

I work in Photoshop every day, but my cutting program cost 3,000.00.

It's not a toy. I have a full sign and graphxis business, which is my living.

I try very hard to educate modelers so they can make their own graphxis and markngs.

I do this because I'm a builder. The Hobby started as a builders hobby, that is, we did "everything" by ourselves. Kits were just wood. We had to make, for ourselves, just about everything.

I don't mind the "out sourcing" that takes place today, spinners, gear, parts, wheels, the list is endless, even model building, just about everything, including professional schools that teach flying R/C. That I don't understand and never will.

Others gave their time up so I could learn, and this was when I was a child.

Others gave their time up so I could learn, and this was when I was in grade school.

Others gave their time up so I could learn, and this was when I was in high school.

Others gave their time up so I could learn, and this was when I was an adult.

Others gave their time up so I could learn, even now, when I'm an old man!

I give my time up also so others can learn. There's something you get from that.

There will always be those that, for whatever the reason, elect to tackle "just about everything" on their own. These guys are the kind of Modelers I like. Reminds me of me!

That's how I was, and in some cases, still am. Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Bark, bark, woof woof, sleep, sleep.

I have this Thread, where I do a graphxis makeover on a H9 Corsair. Explaining how any modeler can accomplish the same results without equipment or spending money.

I'll be adding to it this weekend, if I can find the time. Now where did I put that time?

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_84...tm.htm#8462647