Vector Graphics

[Ian Mack]

Maybe I have a shaky pen line, maybe I'm not scanning it in @ a high enough resolution...for some reason my line never looks as crisp as I want it to be. I think Vector graphics may be the answer but I don't know how to get it. I've tried the Vector mask in Photoshop but can I export it or something to another program ?

[oglzogl]

You can export your paths from Photoshop to Illustrator.. but you will have to recolor them (unless there is a technique I don't know of). Although you can create vector shapes in Photoshop, I don't think you can open those vectors up in another program. I think that once you save the file everything is converted to pixel. I have not researched this fully because I use a vector program to create my vectors and then maybe bring those into PS.. not the other way around.

I usually use Illustrator to create my artwork and it is vector based. Freehand is good too but I am just too used to Illustrator and got sick of hunting for the same features in Freehand. Fireworks is a vector/bitmap hybrid that may be a good solution for you although PS is more powerful (in my opinion) at editing bitmaps and Illustrator is better at handling vectors.

[Ian Mack]

I'm looking for a good way to scan in my art (usually just black and white because I ink it. I need a good crisp line. The line I always get is either fuzzy, or not smooth. o_O

[oglzogl]

I always scan my work in at 300 dpi minimum.. that may help. Then I stick that on it's own layer.. lock the layer down and go over the top of the drawing with vectors.

One thing that you may like, especially because you ink your work, is Streamline. It is an Adobe product that will convert your bitmap shapes into vectors. Still, a higher resolution of your bitmaps will be required in order to get sharp and true vector lines. You'd just have to play with the settings in Streamline in order to get it how you like it and even then some tweaking of the vector shapes it produces may be required, but it is a time saver. I don't really use it myself much but that is because I get a bang out of making the shapes myself, I guess. And I don't ever ink my work for some reason.

[Fipse]

Yeah, like Oglzogl said Streamline may be the tool of your choice. I scan my lineart normally in Greyscale in 300 dpi or more and do the basic work with contrasts and erasing stuff you don´t need. Afterwards I convert to black and white and save as a Tiff. Last thing is to take Streamline and convert it to vectors. After this you can wor it out in Illustrator or - like myself - in Freehand.

You can blast the picture up to wallsize or whatever you need - I often do the colours in a vector-program, too, but I´m sometimes doing illustrations fur busses etc.

Fipse

[Ian Mack]

"I always scan my work in at 300 dpi minimum.. that may help. Then I stick that on it's own layer.. lock the layer down and go over the top of the drawing with vectors. "

And you would be doing this in a program like Freehand, or Illustrator ?

Thanks for the tips guys, I'm going to look into getting that Streamline, and I'll check out the other two because I'd like to try making my own vector lines. I don't have too much experience in the area. as you know can see. : p