How do I draw spirals?

Chris Messineo

Chris Messineo

Veteran
I am trying to create a new graphic. I would like to add some spirals/curly q's around it. Something like these:

Curly_Q's_TN.jpg


I just want to make some pretty flowing black lines (some thick, some thin, and some that vary and taper in size).

Is there an easy way to create these in PhotoShop? When I try to draw them with the paintbrush they look ragged and horrible.

Thanks,

Chris
 
You want to use the PEN tool and create some PATHS of your design. You can then STROKE the PATHS with a suitable BRUSH.

I will take a look in PS and see what I find and check right back in with ya.


..............


-GageFX
 
Okay....next option. Get a Photoshop book and read it.

I just spent about 1/2 hours trying to figure it out. I dont know what I'm doing wrong, I just cant seem to find the right button to stroke an incomplete path (open as opposed to closed).

I only use the pen and paths to make complex selections and haven't tried what you are doing. Is Illustrator an option? It's cake in Illustrator.

I would suggest futzing around with the path and delve into the Help and see what you can find. I tried and I'm sure I'm close, I just cant seal the deal.

-GageFX
 
Take THIS you Fing Photoshop.

(stabs it with a sharp paths based curve.) (and "Fing" stands for fartknocking)

72228783.jpg


This is just proof of concept, not a final, but it worked.

Basically exactly what I said. Make sure you create your PATH in the PATHS PALETTE. AT the bottom, click STROKE PATH icon and make sure your airbrush or painting tool of choice is already selected with color, size and brush type.

(BTW, this is exactly what I was doing before, it just now decided to work. Or I could be retarded.

Good luck.

-GageFX
 
Thank you so much for your perseverance.

I'm now off to PhotoShop to try it for myself.

Chris

p.s. "Brandonian" is quite funny. :)
 
It was a specific brush I used. I will have to check later. I've been editing a poster - masking a full figure at pixel level detail on a laptop - for the past 2.5 hours. My eyeballs are about to pop.

Play with the different brushes / brush settings and see what you come up with. Honestly I just instictively chose what I thought might work and it did. I have no what those choices were.

-GageFX
 
I am now pretty good at drawing the spirals and I can stroke them with the brush, but I am clueless when it comes to get the strokes tapered. I have tried many brushes and at different sizes, but the line thickness stays the same throughout.

Oh well, maybe it will come to me in the morning.

Chris
 
Matt,

I'm sure you've done something brilliant and I've done something dumb, but when I open up that file all I see is a blank white canvas with 1 background layer.

I am using PS 8.0. Is that the problem?

Chris
 
no, they are paths only. Since thy are only paths, you wont see them unless you click on the path layer containing them. Go to Window>Paths, and the paths box will open. Usually, it is located as part of the Layers, Channels, and Paths main window.

Tthen you shoud see a layer called Path 8 (thats just the name i settled upon when I was finished putting them all together on one) and click on it.

At the bottom of the paths box are options like "Fill Path with Foregound Color", Stroke path with foreground color, Make selection out of path, Mmake new path, and delete path. Clicking on that path main layer will show them all. To use one, select it with the seletion tool (Arrrow) and just click on it inside the document.

They are there, no worries.

Look me up on windows messenger if you have any questions, and I'll guide you through it via remote assistance. My messeger info is in my bio.
 
Matt,

Awesome. I seem them now. You are my personal hero.

I have a couple more questions though (aren't there always more questions).

1. How did you ever draw such perfect spirals? I tried for an hour last night and was ready to put my head through a wall. These are great for a start, but I really need to learn how to draw my own (or is it just lots and lots of patience and practice).

2. I can use the brush to stroke them without a problem. However, I would like line to start out thick and end up thin at the tip. Can I do that by selecting a brush?

Chris

p.s. Have you given any more thought to putting together a PS tutorial dvd. I would buy it yesterday.
 
1. How did you ever draw such perfect spirals? I tried for an hour last night and was ready to put my head through a wall. These are great for a start, but I really need to learn how to draw my own (or is it just lots and lots of patience and practice).
Click to expand...
Did got them as paths from a "friend" with Illustrator, and pasted them in, keeping them paths. There is a sprial tool in illustrator. But you should learn the pen tool in Photoshop, it can be invaulable.

2. I can use the brush to stroke them without a problem. However, I would like line to start out thick and end up thin at the tip. Can I do that by selecting a brush?
Click to expand...
Tapered ends could be done with a little layer masking, or maybe with the shrink tool in Liquify. I can't think of how to apply a brush stroke that grows or shrinks over time without doing it by hand (and with a wacom tablet) That kind of look is more suited to Illustrator, where you can determine that as a brush type.


Chris

p.s. Have you given any more thought to putting together a PS tutorial dvd. I would buy it yesterday.
Click to expand...


Quite a bit, more than you know. There is so damn much to cover.
 
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