Outlining an object- any suggestions?

[melynn44]

Alright, right now I am designing an image to be used on a wedding invitation. Here is a picture of the inspiration, but due to budget, we decided to give it a go and attempt it ourselves:

http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.135955521.jpg

So we found a similar Damask pattern, and imported it into Paint.net. We were able to change the color from black to blue, and able to erase and crop into the bracket shape. The trickiest part is creating an outline that looks professional.

I initially tried to print out a copy, outline it with a pen, scan it back in, then change the pen outline color. It still did not look all that great. The next thing, I have been working on for quite some time: My hand is not too steady, so I zoomed into about 500 and just bit by bit, used the paintbrush to draw along the outline of it. I used brush stroke size 2 at first, and while it looked pretty good in Paint.net, once it got put into Publisher, the line looked weak. So, I went back in and increased it to size 3. This is probably about right. Either way, however, it just looks......hand drawn, which technically it is. There are minor imperfections, but the overall look is that it was hand drawn, which is what we don't want. I've tried feathering; I just dunno.

If this were any other project, this would probably be "good enough," but because it is for a wedding invitation it really needs to be in tip top form. Any suggestions?

[pdnnoob]

@welshy I think (s)he's looking at the line across the bottom...

First off, make sure your image is symmetrical. At the moment, yours has more of the pattern on the right than on the left. I would just select the right side, copy it, then create a new image with twice the width of the selection and paste the half in and align it with the right edge. Then, duplicate the layer and flip the new layer horizontally.

To draw the line, add a new layer and use the line/curve tool to draw half the line, then duplicate the layer and flip the new one horizontally. Clean up whatever mess that leaves with the eraser tool

[melynn44]

Thank you for both taking the time to reply.

I tried both, and here are the results:

I LOVE the grim reaper tool. However, unless there is another way to do it, the Outline feature outlines all of the swirlies, and I am just wanting once single outline along the bottom of the bracket.

Yes, I am aware it is asymmetrical....that's how the jpeg came. Your solution to making things even was just WAY over my head as far as my capabilities at this point. I tried the curve line tool, and it is REALLY close to what we are needing. If you look at the example....the line is thin, but visible. That's what I am aiming for. Not too thick, but visible. I don't know if there is a way to change the thickness of the curved lines.

In Paint.net it looks pretty much exactly like what we need. But, when transporting it to a publishing program, the line starts to look a little jagged, blurry, and uneven. When I print it out, in spots it looks absolutely perfect. In other spots, it looks like someone has taken an eraser to it......just like a line is not even there or very very thin or blurred out.

Of course, if anyone would like to fix it for me, that would be great! (Batting eyelashes)

[melynn44]

Hahaha, the invitation is actually for my sister getting married. I can bat my lashes to anyone I please.

Here is the original image:

http://www.google.co...p=15&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:151&biw=1024&bih=599

I was able to figure out how to make the curved line thicker, but it still comes out a touch hinky in Publisher and in Print. It's still not quite where I'd want it to be but it's miles better than when I was freehanding it. I feel like the erasing part gets really tough, because if I don't erase enough, there is a little shadow, but I am also afraid to erase too much. And, when I have it zoomed in so close, it ALL looks jagged, and it is hard to tell what to erase and what to leave.

Of course, now I am worrying about the symmetry. So, basically, just create a rectangle of the right side is what you are saying?

Do, you have a link to the Mirror plug in?

Edited July 3, 2011 by melynn44

[melynn44]

Okay you officially suck. And, I mean that in a good way.

I do have some minor complaints, but the fact that you were able to come up with that so quickly (especially when I have been spending two days on it) is definitely super encouraging.

The line is thicker than we'd prefer. Could you tell me what thickness you used so that maybe I can attempt to recreate it?

Also, the line is a bit jagged. And, this is something else I keep running into.....below the line needs to be transparent, but when I magic wand/delete it, it does leave jagged edges. I try to use the erase to smooth things out, but it seems to make it worse.

But, I am definitely feeling like things are moving in the right direction.....I will try working on this again this evening.

Nevermind: I am thinking I need to start from scratch......if you look at the Goli Inspiration piece, the bracket is definitely more defined.....it goes up a lot more before it comes back down to the point.....back to square one maybe...

Edited July 3, 2011 by melynn44

[yellowman]

In this one I used 7 pix width for the line, waved it with Sinwaves plugin, Mirrored it then smoothed it with AA's assistant plugin

.

If you like it, then feel free to use it, paste it on a new layer, align it, select the bottom part with Magic Wand, switch to the background layer and hit delete on the keyboard.

[pdnnoob]

...so essentially like this?

EDIT: apologies for the complicated explanation in my previous post xD

Edited July 4, 2011 by pdnnoob