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Hi guys. I have a client that wants a stripe on a cat like the one on http://www.eastwindcats.com (The sailboat in the front, but wants it more flowing, like a ribbon in the wind. I'm having trouble designing it because of how the boat tapers in the stern. (An unravelling ribbon would flow outward)
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Felix.
-------------------- Felix Marcano PuertoRicoSigns.Com Luquillo, PR
Work hard, party like a tourist! Posts: 2290 | From: Luquillo, Puerto Rico, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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I have a couple suggestions. This is how I would work on a project like this, so take it with a grain of salt because most everybody has their own way of doing just about everything.
First, if a design or look doesn't come straight away, I'll either do a line drawing of the boat or simply take a low rez jpg of it and print out a couple pages of it. Small...I might put a dozen on a page. (Another way would be using tracing paper over a photo.) Now, I'll start sketching over the image. The look your customer is wanting suggests long flowing ribbons. Draw loose to get the feel of the shape of the boat, then when you are satisfied with a sketch or two, scan and refine the shapes in the computer.
For a ribbon design, I'll draw the basic shape as a single line...then duplicate that line on top of the first. Now, when you select and move a node, or the entire line, the first line will stay put. This retains the original shapes, while adding thickness and interest with the second line. Once I have the two lines the way I like, I'll join them at the ends, making them into a single object.
Also, marine designs often involve duplicating shapes, which are then given different colors. This can give the end design more cohesion, rather than a random mess.
Have fun with it, and try not to get too mechanical. One trick here, as I believe is true with all design, is to end up with something that doesn't look like it was made with a computer.
Hope I don't sound too much like a know it all here, but marine graphics is all I did for seven years, so I know more about this subject than I care to admit sometimes.
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