Chris should have been able to help you on this, Scott. You would think that whatever probs you had with Flash, Chris would have faced the same on a daily basis and had to overcome them.
Did you specifically ask him how to solve the zoom in/zoom out brush thickness ratio puzzle? Meaning that if there is no indicator or button to fix this, how the heck does CHRIS get around the problem?
So I missed your question about the eraser tool, The easiest way I could recommend for how you work would be to select the three intersecting lines, Expand their appearance and then use unite in the pathfinder before using the eraser tool. Hope that helps
I don't think i got your question, but the new "blob brush" is erasable and act as a bitmap brush because it creates a vectorial fill instead of a single-line path. Basically works like Flash brush.
The Blob Brush is in the Illustrator CS4 toolbar the vertical bar on the left. It's a new feature of CS4 and basically makes unnecessary the good solution AmBoy00 posted.
Dude, great video. I am getting an old 12x12 Wacom in a day or so, so I've been peeping tuts so I know what I'm doing when it arrives. I'll be using it for selling my artwork mainly as stock. If I can convert whatever I create in Photoshop to vector, I'll make way more sales.
Try the Live Paint / Live Trace function maybe, after importing the jpg into Illustrator. It might take some tweaking, but once you get the settings right it should be pretty accurate.
Acutally, there is a way to erase in Illustrator without screwing up your line work. Go to inverse so you can see your path lines, then use the erase path tool
adding to that, Streamline is also an Adobe software, that lets you convert Pixel-orienated (black/white) artwork, into Vector,
Transparantie doesn't work, if you open up the converted files in illustrator, you'll see they are all loose white symbols, laying above one large black symbol that's the "outline" but it works nicely for black & white print.
to erase your lines you need to use the path tool. to split the lines - then you can remove lines you don´use.
also an import of your line art from photoshop does also the trick turn everything into vector art - but i do not recomend you to change other stuff then color in illustrator afterwards - too many points..
i know some illustrators use this method: draw everything on paper, scan, import into cs2 or 3, and then let live trace make the pixels into vectors for you. i'm not sure if this could solve the problem, but, hey it's probably worth considering. good luck dude.
If you scale the bitmap down, the brush scales with it no matter how big or small the sketch is you can't zoom in on the sketch otherwise your brush gets smaller
... if you scale down your bitmap scetch, you might want to allow flash to anti alias it. Otherwise the bitmap will appear very pixeled. How o do that? Just doubleclick on the little bitmap icon of your sketch in the library and allow antialiasing (don't know what it is in english, i use a german version)
Great vid. I have the exact opposite problem - I'm a vector guy trying to get comfortable with PS. If I were to be answering the question, I'd say the same as AmBoy (that's good advice). BTW - I use ControllerMate and have programmed my n52 for my left hand with scripts to do the common drawing functions. Try it, I think you'd like it!
yeah illustraters kinda wonky that way, but I'll bet you can change the properies of individual vector points in photoshop, Illustrater too probably it's been a while since if used them. So for you can change the thickness of lines at points in a vector.
Photoshop can make paths like Illustrator with the pen tool, but Illustrator is really made for handling those paths best. Photoshop is really made for handling bitmaps (pixel images.) You can't really "vectorize" a bitmap just by saving it as an Illustrator file or whatever. Except by tracing over it with paths, but I'm sure that's not what you had in mind. :P
Illustrator has a trace vector function and corel draw has a really good one. If it's neat black line it comes out quite good. I also use a function from an engraving software called engrave lab expert,which works well for some things.
Looking at the vid again a screen magnifier app seems to be the answer? with flash. I must try that :)
Seriously though, I think the whole problem in Flash could be solved by lowering your screen resolution. It should make all the brushes larger relative to the image.
The real key thing I think you're seeing is, Photoshop captures your STYLE or technique more intuitively then ANY of these vector programs, so don't use them. File sizes in this day and age, shouldn't really be THAT much of an issue. But a Cintiq and you will more than double your time inking, which I think would be more beneficial to you.
Why would satan do that? It's evil. Satan isn't a serpent maybe he's man. He's man in his natural state. Which is wickedness ,immorality, laziness. Rationing and reasoning with are treaspasses. I must be the opposite I must be truth and open mindedness constantly searching for the right. Using the one sure stepping stone surely its there, but what is it?
On the overlap problem, what I tend to do is do lineart in Illustrator, and anything I want to erase I take into Flash and erase there since Flash's eraser is much more forgiving. When you do import work from Illustrator into Flash, each stroke comes in as a different object so you have to select everything an go to Modify- Break Apart. From there everything acts like it was drawn in the brush tool in Flash and can be messed around with as such
So, basically what you're telling me is the PC is doing something that the Mac can't? I think not. The name of the application is less important than the functionality. There's bound to be something similar.
Sorry I'll add something - import existing picture from photoshop to flash. Trace it to vector with ONE BUTTON. And there you have it. Brainz not hurt. :O
As an animator, I've converted plenty of bitmap (pixel) images to vector. Flash has a trace bitmap function, but it's not perfect. You get a better result with Illustrator's live trace or the precursor to that, Adobe Streamline. Streamline is no longer supported, but you can still find it out there. (Message me if you're interested.)
Instead of erasing, try creating an overlapping shape (think of it like white-out,) shift-selecting both, and going down to "Pathfinder - Shape Modes - Subtract." It's a slow business, and I personally prefer to ink in PS. But that's one way to solve your problem.
First off, the eraser tool is really screwy and buggy, and the brush tool isn't much better. They just don't work right
I recommend "drawing" your lines with the pen tool. No stroke, black (or whatever) fill. It's slow, but the pen tool works really well, and then you'll be able to edit the shaped without them "recalculating."
You can draw zoomed in in Flash, then select your lines and do Modify>Shape>Expand Fill. I don't have a tablet, so I don't know exactly what it'll do to your line variance, but it's worth a shot.
what i like to do is to draw stuff in photoshop and then vectorize it in illustrator (using life trace). basically, the program takes your pixel image and converts it into shapes. since it's black and white only you won't have any problems with the vectorizing, illustrator does it by itself.
and while the occassional color strips you make MIGHT become a problem (i highly doubt it, since the color areas aren't that comlicated and illustrator does great even with harder images; besides, from what i've seen, you draw really big, that should make it even easier)
that way you can draw just like you always did (pixels) and then convert your work into vectors when you're done. it's a great technique, i also use it to enlarge logos and symbols without losing quality. go ahead and try it out, couldn't hurt :)
@Legop4o Yup, that's what I was gonna suggest. Illustrator's "LiveTrace" is a godsend, and it's setting are totally adjustable to how it interprets your pixel inks and creates a vector version of it.
Scott, look into Manga Studio Pro. It has vector layers that allow you to do the follow-trough, easy erase, easy panels, tons of options. I can make a vid if you want.
Don't forget editing the vector points in Flash is very different from Illustrator. Unless this changed in the newest version, you can only edit the points of each side of the width of the line, not the whole line as one.
On my computer, Flash's brushes are more than enough for what you're doing. But my screen resolution (1280x1024) is much lower, judging by the size of your icons. I think the brushes might be relative to pixels on screen (which would also explain why it doesn't scale with zoom). Flash just isn't designed to work with a screen on stupid high resolution.
You could try expanding the appearance of the lines, and then erasing after that. Because they're merely stroked lines rather than shapes in the traditional sense. Once you expand their appearance, that's when they become shapes as we generally think of them. At that point, Illustrator will stop recalculating the line weights.
what tablet you using there? ._. I dont think I can vary the pressure that much with bamboo pen, can I?
yksnimus 6 months ago
In flash, you can create your own brush style and/or edit the scale ( i believe there is a slider in the tool properties ).
whalenbrowne 2 years ago
Chris should have been able to help you on this, Scott. You would think that whatever probs you had with Flash, Chris would have faced the same on a daily basis and had to overcome them.
Did you specifically ask him how to solve the zoom in/zoom out brush thickness ratio puzzle? Meaning that if there is no indicator or button to fix this, how the heck does CHRIS get around the problem?
EdGauthier1 2 years ago
" illustrator is the best. "
dont say it is impossible to erase the overlaping part of the line, if you simply dont know how to use scissors tool "D"D
banytube11 2 years ago
So I missed your question about the eraser tool, The easiest way I could recommend for how you work would be to select the three intersecting lines, Expand their appearance and then use unite in the pathfinder before using the eraser tool. Hope that helps
M0man 2 years ago
Go for Illustrator, Once you have a work flow and a collection of brushes that's set up for your work it'll be a breeze.
M0man 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
fatty, did you put some make up in your cheeks an'round the eyes before shooting this video?
fabiobit 2 years ago
flah cs4 has the whole brush thing sorted out...
monkeyboy0679 2 years ago
Illustrator CS4 solves the problem w/ the "Blob Brush"
GordanBlake 3 years ago
what do you mean the "blob brush" are talking bout his problem of erasing and the lines turning from variable to consistent width?
angeltread 2 years ago
I don't think i got your question, but the new "blob brush" is erasable and act as a bitmap brush because it creates a vectorial fill instead of a single-line path. Basically works like Flash brush.
GordanBlake 2 years ago
ah. and where do i get this brush... i see there is a solution for the problem as well in the video reply that AmBoy00 made
angeltread 2 years ago
YT comments are making me mad... hehe
The Blob Brush is in the Illustrator CS4 toolbar the vertical bar on the left. It's a new feature of CS4 and basically makes unnecessary the good solution AmBoy00 posted.
GordanBlake 2 years ago
i think i get it now.... ok im going searching right now. thank you very much
angeltread 2 years ago
Comment removed
GordanBlake 2 years ago
Dude, great video. I am getting an old 12x12 Wacom in a day or so, so I've been peeping tuts so I know what I'm doing when it arrives. I'll be using it for selling my artwork mainly as stock. If I can convert whatever I create in Photoshop to vector, I'll make way more sales.
thesupe87 3 years ago
Try the Live Paint / Live Trace function maybe, after importing the jpg into Illustrator. It might take some tweaking, but once you get the settings right it should be pretty accurate.
thesupe87 3 years ago
Acutally, there is a way to erase in Illustrator without screwing up your line work. Go to inverse so you can see your path lines, then use the erase path tool
miatageekscott 3 years ago
Ctrl + b = break apart. Turns lines to fills in Flash, you can zoom in or out, the lines stay the same.
webchameleon 3 years ago
So is there a solution for erasing in Illustrator? There has to be some way to make corrections, right?
SomeRandomGuy123 3 years ago
adding to that, Streamline is also an Adobe software, that lets you convert Pixel-orienated (black/white) artwork, into Vector,
Transparantie doesn't work, if you open up the converted files in illustrator, you'll see they are all loose white symbols, laying above one large black symbol that's the "outline" but it works nicely for black & white print.
Rosalila 3 years ago
STREAMLINE :D
Rosalila 3 years ago
to erase your lines you need to use the path tool. to split the lines - then you can remove lines you don´use.
also an import of your line art from photoshop does also the trick turn everything into vector art - but i do not recomend you to change other stuff then color in illustrator afterwards - too many points..
crazycutz 3 years ago
i know some illustrators use this method: draw everything on paper, scan, import into cs2 or 3, and then let live trace make the pixels into vectors for you. i'm not sure if this could solve the problem, but, hey it's probably worth considering. good luck dude.
fuyukodochi 3 years ago
in flash, after drawing your stuff zoomed in, go to "shape>expand fills"
willobeen 3 years ago
you can draw the art in photoshop, and convert the vector to ink in illustrator.
willobeen 3 years ago
You could try Freehand MX. Although that is kinda falling out of use now. Also get to live your keyboard hotkeys! Save a lot of time in Flash.
Madmoonie 3 years ago
try expression (i think its name is acrylic today).
rodrigosoldado 4 years ago
Microsoft Expression Design 2 is EXACTLY what I've been looking for! It handles a bit like flash, and the brush size doesn't scale!
Afoxi 3 years ago
use flash to ink, I have 2 videos on my website that might help you, check out artmuffin dot com
ARTmuffin 4 years ago
I seem to have great problems while working with photoshop and my wacom tablet. The lag between my pen motion and the redrawing is annoying.
I am not sure what is the cause for it. I am working on a MacBook G4, 1.67 GHz, 2GB SDRAM. (VRAM 128MB)... Is it a problem because of my machine?
Does anyone know how to optimize it, so I don't have the delay?
escorialtube 4 years ago
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all i gotta say:
FAT MAN RUNNIN!'
TripleCrownSlew 4 years ago
crap
all i have is a computer and mouse....no pen
thx though 5/5
p4cm4n182 4 years ago
"Object>Expand Appearance" on your strokes in Illustrator and you can erase without losing thickness variation.
romeorhino 4 years ago 4
you are using a wrong program. Flash is used for creating eb designs.
GFor this stuff, Toon0Boom will be just right for you!
ive been in the lection of it and i can tell ya it is complicated!
im not sure whether its in stores now tough
SeriousIlya 4 years ago
Flash
scrunchymatic 4 years ago
@ andymaj: you're right, i should have though this through.
i think i was just happy with my quick test because the brushsize was big enough for me.
cheers, max
pigsell 4 years ago
If you scale the bitmap down, the brush scales with it no matter how big or small the sketch is you can't zoom in on the sketch otherwise your brush gets smaller
andymaj 4 years ago
... if you scale down your bitmap scetch, you might want to allow flash to anti alias it. Otherwise the bitmap will appear very pixeled. How o do that? Just doubleclick on the little bitmap icon of your sketch in the library and allow antialiasing (don't know what it is in english, i use a german version)
best wishes from düsseldorf,
keep up the good work,
max
pigsell 4 years ago
Hey,
try to scale down your bitmap (sketch) in Flash,
so as you zoom in your bitmap-sketch the brush
size still is kind of big.
pigsell 4 years ago
Great vid. I have the exact opposite problem - I'm a vector guy trying to get comfortable with PS. If I were to be answering the question, I'd say the same as AmBoy (that's good advice). BTW - I use ControllerMate and have programmed my n52 for my left hand with scripts to do the common drawing functions. Try it, I think you'd like it!
MrGonz2002 4 years ago
USE CORELLLLLLLLLLLL
mellirodri 4 years ago
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NERD!!
Megamason 4 years ago
yeah illustraters kinda wonky that way, but I'll bet you can change the properies of individual vector points in photoshop, Illustrater too probably it's been a while since if used them. So for you can change the thickness of lines at points in a vector.
eyesphere 4 years ago
Good video!
BeechSundowner 4 years ago
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uuuuggggllyyyyyyy
eyesphere 4 years ago
Magnify the screen with zoomit or something like that?
Or still use photoshop and vectorize the finished drawing.
I'm sure there's avideo on youtube that says photoshop is a vector program if set settings, or save the file to a certain format?
Shaun750 4 years ago
@Shaun750
Photoshop can make paths like Illustrator with the pen tool, but Illustrator is really made for handling those paths best. Photoshop is really made for handling bitmaps (pixel images.) You can't really "vectorize" a bitmap just by saving it as an Illustrator file or whatever. Except by tracing over it with paths, but I'm sure that's not what you had in mind. :P
paceetrate 4 years ago
Illustrator has a trace vector function and corel draw has a really good one. If it's neat black line it comes out quite good. I also use a function from an engraving software called engrave lab expert,which works well for some things.
Looking at the vid again a screen magnifier app seems to be the answer? with flash. I must try that :)
Shaun750 4 years ago
Seriously though, I think the whole problem in Flash could be solved by lowering your screen resolution. It should make all the brushes larger relative to the image.
Deathregis 4 years ago
just open a larger image to draw over in flash.
WiseWeeabo 4 years ago
Are you inside your washroom?
Fernando2045 4 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Why must you be so polite? Shitter, toilet, crap-hole, the bog, dook depository. I'll bet you say 'bathroom tissue.'
Digeridude 4 years ago
The real key thing I think you're seeing is, Photoshop captures your STYLE or technique more intuitively then ANY of these vector programs, so don't use them. File sizes in this day and age, shouldn't really be THAT much of an issue. But a Cintiq and you will more than double your time inking, which I think would be more beneficial to you.
yirmumah13 4 years ago
I think it's less the file sizes, and more tha capability to blow up the art to any size with no loss of quality which is the real attraction point.
TheTurnipKing 4 years ago
that response video is a really good way to fix the problem.
aniseeker 4 years ago
Increase pixel size of your sketches?
asumazilla 4 years ago
Also, I responded before seeing the Flash part. So nevermind.
Digeridude 4 years ago
Also, with Flash you can erase, blur, blend, and more.
Digeridude 4 years ago
Use Flash for vector art. It's not as versatile as Illustrator, but you can draw in it with pressure sensitivity like Photoshop.
Digeridude 4 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Why would satan do that? It's evil. Satan isn't a serpent maybe he's man. He's man in his natural state. Which is wickedness ,immorality, laziness. Rationing and reasoning with are treaspasses. I must be the opposite I must be truth and open mindedness constantly searching for the right. Using the one sure stepping stone surely its there, but what is it?
Metzrace 4 years ago
On the overlap problem, what I tend to do is do lineart in Illustrator, and anything I want to erase I take into Flash and erase there since Flash's eraser is much more forgiving. When you do import work from Illustrator into Flash, each stroke comes in as a different object so you have to select everything an go to Modify- Break Apart. From there everything acts like it was drawn in the brush tool in Flash and can be messed around with as such
Lijik 4 years ago
use macromedia flash or coreal draw
CUConTheTube 4 years ago
Off the top of my head? Could try Windows Magnifier. It's one of the accessablity tools. That might give you the zoom you need.
TheTurnipKing 4 years ago
I use Mac motherf*cker
no Windows Magnifier biatch
luccafb 4 years ago
So, basically what you're telling me is the PC is doing something that the Mac can't? I think not. The name of the application is less important than the functionality. There's bound to be something similar.
TheTurnipKing 4 years ago
Sorry I'll add something - import existing picture from photoshop to flash. Trace it to vector with ONE BUTTON. And there you have it. Brainz not hurt. :O
CrudityDevArt 4 years ago
Flash?
CrudityDevArt 4 years ago
He looks like a doper
in2gamepro 4 years ago
Good video!
BeechSundowner 4 years ago
As an animator, I've converted plenty of bitmap (pixel) images to vector. Flash has a trace bitmap function, but it's not perfect. You get a better result with Illustrator's live trace or the precursor to that, Adobe Streamline. Streamline is no longer supported, but you can still find it out there. (Message me if you're interested.)
mikeboas 4 years ago
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VECTOR PISSES ME OFF
anarchious 4 years ago
I'm interested, do you have a rational reason? Or do even the most simple computer functions, like the capslock, confuse you?
helmutlord 4 years ago
Live Trace?
hpagnacco 4 years ago
You have my sympathies Scott, hope you find your answer
britbeetle 4 years ago
Instead of erasing, try creating an overlapping shape (think of it like white-out,) shift-selecting both, and going down to "Pathfinder - Shape Modes - Subtract." It's a slow business, and I personally prefer to ink in PS. But that's one way to solve your problem.
foreigncars 4 years ago
Hey Scott.
First off, the eraser tool is really screwy and buggy, and the brush tool isn't much better. They just don't work right
I recommend "drawing" your lines with the pen tool. No stroke, black (or whatever) fill. It's slow, but the pen tool works really well, and then you'll be able to edit the shaped without them "recalculating."
foreigncars 4 years ago
I'm telling you Scott, Manga Studio Ex is the way to go. It's a little peculiar, but it's so much better than Flash.
largopredator 4 years ago
You can draw zoomed in in Flash, then select your lines and do Modify>Shape>Expand Fill. I don't have a tablet, so I don't know exactly what it'll do to your line variance, but it's worth a shot.
aronl 4 years ago
langsam, Desouza uses photoshop.
mikeandhisflash 4 years ago
what i like to do is to draw stuff in photoshop and then vectorize it in illustrator (using life trace). basically, the program takes your pixel image and converts it into shapes. since it's black and white only you won't have any problems with the vectorizing, illustrator does it by itself.
Legop4o 4 years ago 6
and while the occassional color strips you make MIGHT become a problem (i highly doubt it, since the color areas aren't that comlicated and illustrator does great even with harder images; besides, from what i've seen, you draw really big, that should make it even easier)
Legop4o 4 years ago
that way you can draw just like you always did (pixels) and then convert your work into vectors when you're done. it's a great technique, i also use it to enlarge logos and symbols without losing quality. go ahead and try it out, couldn't hurt :)
Legop4o 4 years ago
then again, i never tried flash...
hope that was helpful, good luck and keep up the good work (PvP is made of win dude, made of win...)
p.s. sorry for the 4 replies, youtube doesn't let me write comments larger than 500 characters x.x
Legop4o 4 years ago
@Legop4o Yup, that's what I was gonna suggest. Illustrator's "LiveTrace" is a godsend, and it's setting are totally adjustable to how it interprets your pixel inks and creates a vector version of it.
TheStoomie 1 year ago
Hey Victor!
Thanks a lot for that video. It was really interesting and I could learn a few things :)
Sorry for the bad english - I'm from Germany and out of practice ;)
Greetings!
Astaen 4 years ago
Scott, look into Manga Studio Pro. It has vector layers that allow you to do the follow-trough, easy erase, easy panels, tons of options. I can make a vid if you want.
CoffeeStained 4 years ago
Don't forget editing the vector points in Flash is very different from Illustrator. Unless this changed in the newest version, you can only edit the points of each side of the width of the line, not the whole line as one.
amanuo 4 years ago
I'd try lowering your screen resolution.
On my computer, Flash's brushes are more than enough for what you're doing. But my screen resolution (1280x1024) is much lower, judging by the size of your icons. I think the brushes might be relative to pixels on screen (which would also explain why it doesn't scale with zoom). Flash just isn't designed to work with a screen on stupid high resolution.
Deathregis 4 years ago
did you guys say in a WW podcast that manga studio was vector?
coldard 4 years ago
You could try expanding the appearance of the lines, and then erasing after that. Because they're merely stroked lines rather than shapes in the traditional sense. Once you expand their appearance, that's when they become shapes as we generally think of them. At that point, Illustrator will stop recalculating the line weights.
vanmonken 4 years ago
If your using Leopard try using OS's Zooms against Flashs'
SilverRevolution 4 years ago 4
hey tell kris the new site design is good but his text color vs background color needs work
dramthevirgin 4 years ago
Damn maths
SilverRevolution 4 years ago
I love the new garfield strips btw
dramthevirgin 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Hurry up before kurtz disables comments :>
You all know how much he hates random people commenting on his stuff....
Ribbo 4 years ago