Vector/Vexel Tips and Tricks! Options

[T00000]

Here's the place to post your very own tips and tricks to vectoring/vexeling. Just post tips and tricks that you think will be helpful to fellow vectorers and beginners. Please no spam (aka- I wish i could vector, that's a cool trick, etc.)


I guess I'll go first by saying that I'm not very good at vectoring, but one thing that works for me is doing most of it at the same time. For example, the face all in one sitting, the body in another, the clothes in another. Because in one vector of Brittany spears I did, everything else turned out nicely, but the face turned out really F-ed up because I spent like four days of working on it for about 15 minutes on that face, and it didn't really flow well.

See look, the body and everything looks decent, but the face is really messed up because i didn't do it all at the same time. disregard the hair though.



oh and by the way, move this to the appropriate section, i wasn't sure where to put it...

[queen]

before you start your vector, have a layout in your head regarding layer order, and decide what colors will come first. you don't want to waste time making something perfectly intricate when you know that layer will be covered by another. it'd also be more organized if you group your layers according to color. whatever extras come after that, put in one layer all the way on top.

[Mini]

lol i dont even know where to start.

tip 001: patience is the key
tip 002: practice on easier objects like a brush.
tip 003: PATIENCE!!

[Mireh]

First, plot out what to do. Start out with skin, the face, then the articles of clothing, and then the hair.

Vector what you see. I do.

[*[2]Nekked*]

move this to webdesign chat. or tutorials.

• if you're vexelling in photoshop, instead of blindly trying to find the right shades of skin, one after another, just start with your first color, then on your second color, just adjust the brightness by going to image>>adjustments>>brightness/contrast. this way the flow of color will stay consistant.
• never use the magic wand tool
• never use a brush/pencil (sorry mini but to me, this doesnt help at all, but only makes it harder)
• practice making curvy shapes. if you're using pen tool, practice making figure eights, and tracing objects, so u get used to the coordination. if you're using the polygonal selection tool, practice making smooth curves, instead of choppy ones.
• never use the eyedropper to pick a skin color. it always comes out too brown, too red, or too yellow.
• never add a stroke to anything. instead, use the pen tool or selection tool to trace thin outlines; dont be afraid to make it fatter or thinner in some places. an outline that is one uniform weight is sorta boring, and ...blah.
• practice different parts of the face, like lips, eyes and nose, so you get a feel for them, and it doesnt seem awkward on your real vectors.
• dont be afraid to try something new.
• not everything has to be precise - for example the hair. most people think hair is the hardest to vector. just have fun with it, and dont try to make it look exactly like the picture. (if u can though, thatd be great)
• pick pictures that dont have a huge contrast in lighting, because it makes it hard to vector, and it doesnt always come out right.

[expoised]

Nekked,Aug 24 2004, 11:32 PM] [*]never use the eyedropper to pick a skin color. it always comes out too brown, too red, or too yellow.

i always use the eyedropper then adjust the color to something similar...

[dfly112]

its not bad... i dun even kno how to vector.. propz to u

[DIRTYdirt]

- try not to do all body parts at the same time.. for example do the arms first then the legs then the face. when people try to do all the body parts at the same time it will wears u down because you dont see the results quickly, so u say 'forget this' or whatever.
- if u doing a vexel in photoshop, use the polygonal lassol tool rather then the lassol too by itself cuz it gives you a guide.
- when doing hair adjust the brightness by going to image>>adjustments>>brightness/contrast, as trish said, to show the different dimensions of the hair color, rather then having chunks of blondes you picked for the color palette.

[angel-roh]

omg michelle i like ur vexel/vector!! it's reallie pretty

[01-supergirl]

It looks pretty, the colors I likeee it =]

[Mini]

never use a brush/pencil (sorry mini but to me, this doesnt help at all, but only makes it harder)

what i meant was instead of vectoring a person, vector an object like a brush. ^_^

[*[2]Nekked*]

someone wanna move this to webdesignchat or tutorials? btw if u have no tips/tricks to contribute, then please dont post.

[T00000]

yeah it would be good to move this but i don't think anyone is paying attention to my cute little thread.

[xolilkatie]

im not an expert at vectoring/vexeling at all
but i've learned a few things that have helped me. I use psp8 so these may be different in adobe

-After making a selection go to Selections>>Modify>>Smooth .. to make the selction smoother.
-To make the lines smoother.. use the pen tool around the edges.

[iced__cappucino]

errmm...dont use to many shades. -.- i did..it looked horrid.

[*[2]Nekked*]

is people staff ever going to move this thread?

[Alk3]

im not an expert at vectoring/vexeling at all
but i've learned a few things that have helped me. I use psp8 so these may be different in adobe

-After making a selection go to Selections>>Modify>>Smooth .. to make the selction smoother.
-To make the lines smoother.. use the pen tool around the edges.

I guess you can do that, but it's best to just check off "Antialias" so that the edges are automatically smoothened.

[xolilkatie]

I guess you can do that, but it's best to just check off "Antialias" so that the edges are automatically smoothened.

yep.. but doing that too gives it extra smoothness i guess.. .. hehe.. i dont know..
or you can just click the smoothing button:

[T00000]

someone move this! PLEASE! i love my thread dont let it die!

[f00LisH_h3aRt63]

Moved to Webdesign chat.

jackie

[tooeffingcrazy]

To make the skin look smooth, have a couple of different shades on the skin, then go to FILTER>BLUR>GAUSSION BLUR.