Let's Design Some Knives...

[PhilL]

I hope you’ve gone through the Basic Lessons and that you’ve found them helpful. I must have done a pretty good job because there have been very few questions, or maybe people are just looking and not doing. I’m going to assume that some people have come this far and need just a few more techniques to help bring their designs to life.

All through these lessons I’ve been giving you shortcuts you can type on your keyboard, they really do save you time when you’re working. The two most valuable are:

CONTROL + S...To SAVE your work. I can’t stress enough how important this is when you’re working in PS.

CONTROL + Z...UN-DO...Undoes your last Action. It brings you back One Step. EDIT Menu > UNDO, does the same thing, but CNTRL + Z is faster.

What if CNTRL + Z doesn’t bring you back far enough?

Go to the HISTORY Palette and Click on the change before you made a mistake.
Or, go to the FILE menu > REVERT...(This will bring you back to your Last Saved Copy).

Do you see why CNTRL + S is so important?

You may not know this, but when you learned how to use the Pen Tool, you also learned to use one of the best SELECTION Tools PS has.

CREATE DON”T COPY!

Let’s say you have a photograph of a knife, but you’d like to change the background.

Open the pic.
With your Pen tool place your Anchor points.
With your Convert tool make your curves match the subject.
Add points if needed with the + Pen.
Use the White Arrow to move any points.
When your Path matches the Subject, in your Paths palette Save it by Double Clicking on it...then make the ANTS march.
CNTRL + C...to COPY it.
CNTRL + D...to DESELECT it.

You know can Paste it...CNTRL + V...into any Background pic you want.
CNTRL + S.

Use CNTRL + T...to Rotate or Resize either the Subject or the Background.
Making either one Smaller to fit together is fine...Bigger will hurt your image.

”Phil, how does this apply to the blade I just made?”

Patience Grasshopper.

 

[PhilL]

Let’s get a Handle on it!

You’re probably going to want to put a handle on the blade you did, and you may want your viewer to recognize what the handle material is; wood, micarta, pearl, ivory, Frostwood :barf ...
Or my favorite Stag!

I can show you how to make some handle materials in PS, but sometimes it’s just easier to borrow what you need from another pic.

Note...GIGO does apply here

Here’s a pic I saved from Franco Pachi’s website.
http://www.pachi-knives.com/homeita.htm

Here’s My Path around the stag.

I turned the Path into a Selection...and Copied it...CNTRL + C

Opened a New File...and Pasted it in...CNTRL + V

Ya can’t get enough of good Stag so I Pasted it in again.

You may want to Save this in a File Folder with other handle materials you collect

Here’s My Handle Path.

I Copied and Pasted the Stag into my Handle File.

With the Stag Layer active...CNTRL + T to Size and Position.

I turned the Handle Path into a Selection.
Still with the Stag Layer active...CNTRL + C
CNTRL + D

CNTRL + V....will Paste the Stag Handle on it’s own Layer.

Trash the Stag Handle Material Layer...and you have this left.

CNTRL + S

If you’d rather use wood, I made some Virtual Wood that you can use. It’s on my PictureTrail Albums under “Knife Design Tutorial”.

http://www.PictureTrail.com/gallery/view?username=phil0496

Sign My Guest Book to let me know you were there.

Next time...Brass...Shaping a Guard...Adding Depth.:

 

[Ebbtide]

Well PhilL, you're right about using the
'free transform' with the other tools. :footinmou
I don't know what happened to me
I just tried it in '7' and must've not had an area selected last time around...or been working in '5.5' at home.

Then again, my 'puter laughs at me when I boot it up:grumpy:

Another good practice hint is to 'trace' over a photo, to get used to the pen tool. Scan a pic from your fav mag, make a layer over it and draw away.


ps: I'm so glad that there is no shortage of virtual stag!

 

[PhilL]

LESSON #13

OK, here’s what we have.

A Blade and a Handle.

If you want to add a Guard or a Bolster these are the steps.

In Layers palette Make a New Layer.

With Pen tool Make your Anchor points and shape your Guard.

In Paths palette Make the Path a Selection. If your guard is going to be Steel or Silver you can use one of your Steel GRADIENTS. If you want to make Brass you’re going to need a New Custom Gradient.

Here’s three of mine.

Fill you Guard Selection with the Gradient. It should look something like this.

Now, that’s not bad, but it does look like the bottom of the guard is receding and not flat.

We can fix that.

Zoom in with the Navigator palette.

Layers palette...New Layer.

Pen tool...make a Path that starts at the top of where you want the gradient transition to stop and make a shape like this.

Paths palette, make it a Selection.

With EYEDROPPER Tool...Click on the Top Line of the Selection.

With PAINTBUCKET tool...Click inside the shape...to Fill it with the color.

And there you have it.

Merge this last layer with your guard layer. CNTRL + S.

If you’re happy with the Handle & Guard combination you can Merge those Layers also.

Don’t Merge them with the Background or Blade...YET!

 

[Bimjo]

Phil, just found this great thread. As a new user of both an iBook and PS (PC/Paint Shop Pro before) this is going to be very helpful indeed.

Hopefully I'll get a bit of time later this weekend to play.

Great job and thanks!

 

[PhilL]

We’re getting into the homestretch now. We have all of the elements; Blade, Handle and Guard. Now, we need to put them all together, and decide how we want to show it. I like to Save my Elements in seperate files so that I can recombine them later with other elements. I like to Save the Master File of each element with Layers, (either as a .PSD or .TIFF file).

I like to bring the Blade & Handle together in a New File:

Control + N...for a new file...Width: 7 inches Height: 5 inches.

Open your BLADE and HANDLE files.

If you want to keep your file in seperate layers...we need to make a Copy.
Image menu > DUPLICATE.
In the Layers palette...turn off the Background Layer...from the Little Arrow in the upper right corner Select MERGE VISIBLE. CNTRL + S.
You can Save and Close your Original.

You should have Three Files Open on your screen; BLADE, HANDLE...and the New File we just opened. Resize and arrange it so that you can you can see the Blade file and New file at the same time.

With the MOVE Tool (upper right hand corner of toolbox).
Hold the SHIFT Key and DRAG the Blade onto the New File.
Do the same with the Handle.

You now have in the New file the Handle over the Blade...Not the look you were hoping for is it?

In the Layers palette, Click the Eyeball to turn off the HANDLE Layer.

Make sure the BLADE Layer is active...on your keyboard press CONTROL + T.
Rotate the BLADE to a DIAGONAL...using the Corner rotate (curved 2 headed Arrow).
Shift + Drag the Blade closer to a corner.

Now make the HANDLE Layer Visible and Active.
CONTROL +T...Rotate and Move into position.
CONTROL + S

With CONTROL + T...Resize and Position as needed. REMEMBER..To Hold the SHIFT Key while Resizing to maintain Proportions.

Now do the HANDLE.

If you Click in the Box to the right of the Eyeball icon, you can Link the Blade and Handle layers together so that you can reposition the both of them together.
NOTE: the Layers are LINKED...Not MERGED.

You can of course at this point play with the Size and Proportions of the elements.
UNLINK the Layers.
Click and Drag the Layer down to the icon by the Trash and make a Copy.
Turn off the Original Layer and play to your hearts content.

While the Free Transform tool is selecated you can also go to the Edit menu > TRANSFORM > DISTORT...and change the shape of your elements... Try it!

Note: while the Free Transform tool is selected...you can use the Arrow keys on your keyboard to NUDGE your elements into position. Don’t be afraid ZOOM in with your Navigator palette.

Eventually, you should come up with something you like, maybe even several things you like. Save everything you like, so you can come back to them later.

CNTRL + S to Save.
Don't Merge the Layers

Let’s finish one of these up though, and get it Saved as a .JPEG so we can post them on the Net.

Ya’ll come back now...ya hear?

 

[PhilL]

Okay, let’s add some DEPTH to this thing.

This is so easy and so cool, it’s worth the price you paid for these lessons.

Here’s the version I’m going to work with.
There are Three Layes; top to bottom...HANDLE...BLADE...Barckground.

Activate the HANDLE Layer...STYLE menu > LAYER STYLE > BEVEL and EMBOSS.
I can give you the settings I decided on, but yours will probably be different...Don’t be affraid to play around.

(My Settings in Layer Style Dialog Box: Style: Inner Bevel...Technique: Smooth...Depth : 401%...Direction: Up...Size: 10 px...Soften: 3 px...Angle: 120º...Global Light Checked...Altitude: 30º...Gloss Conture: Linear (the Default setting)...Highlight Mode: Screen...Opacity: 75%...Shadow Mode: Multiply...Opacity: 17%).

Note: I liked what was happening with the shadow on the handle, but I didn’t like how dark the guard was getting so I reduced the Shadow Opacity. I’ll add the shadow back to the handle in a minute.

CNTRL + S

I need to put the shadow back in on the handle, you may not have to, but watch any way.

From the Navigator palette, Zoom in on the HANDLE.
From Layers palette, Make New Layer...click on it to make sure it’s Active.
From the Toolbox, select the Paintbrush tool...color Black...Soft Round 35 pixel brush......Mode: Multiply...Opacity: 25-30%
Paint in the Shadow to follow the Bottom of the handle.

”Phil, ya just messed up my Background!”

Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up.

In the Layers palette CONTROL + Click on the HANDLE Layer to make it a Selection.
Click on the New Layer we just painted the shadow on... CONTROL + C to Copy it.
CNTRL + D to Deactivate.
Turn off the layer we just painted the shadow on.
CNTRL + V to Paste the cleaned up shadow as another layer.

From the Toolbox, select the Move tool and put the shadow where it belongs.

CNTRL + S

It’s time to Merge these Layers.
Turn off the Background Layer...click the eyeball.
Ckick on the little arrow in the upper right corner, select Merge Layers.
Turn the Background Layer back on.
We have just one more thing to do to give it more Depth.
Layers menu > Layer Styles > DROP SHADOW!!!!
OK!!!!!

Note: Feel free to play with any of the sliders...I would leave the Angle: at 120º and Global Light checked

 

[PhilL]

Save it for the Web.

I Hate scrolling to see a pic on the Net.

Lots of people have their Screen Size to 800 pixels by 600 pixels, that’s about 11 inches wide and 8 inches high at 72 ppi (Pixels Per Inch). If you post bigger pics than that...somebody is scrolling.

I compose most of my pics Horizontal and keep them between 7 and 8 inches wide.

The pic I just finished is 7 inches wide by 5 inches high at 72 ppi.

To get this onto the Net, File menu > Save For Web...a New Dialog Window will open.

Clcik on the 2-Up Tab...Click the Z key to bring up the Zoom tool...click with it a few times on the .JPEG image.
Type H to get the Hand tool to move the pic if you have to.

Now comes the balancing act of Image Quality and File Size.

Using the drop down menu under the JPEG button...If you start at MAXIMUM which gives you a Quality of about 80...and switch to HIGH (about 60)...even zoomed in I don’t see much of a difference. At MEDIUM (around 30) I start to see some clumping of the pixels, but it’s not bad....This would give me a File Size of 7.741K with a 56K modem it would take only 2 seconds for someone to downlaod this .JPEG.

Usually, I start with a Quality of 50 and work my way down.
IMO, if your setting it at 60 or above, you’re just increasing the File Size.

 

[itrade]

OK I tried, but getting the bolster to look right, but it didn't go so hot. I'll work on that some more.

I grapped the wood from a site that sells stabilized wood. Then I used the effects to create a raised inner bevel. That gave the 3-d effect to the wood. Because I selected the grain from the middle of the block. For the bolster I built a gradient and then tried to match the shading on the wood. I tried a brass color but I think the knife looks better with nickel/silver.

BTW, What kinda steel should I use? I was thinking ATS-34. (See how fast you can move from cyber to real world? Weird!)

Steve

 

[PhilL]

Steve, I'm sorry, but I couldn't help playing with your knife.

Post the URL for the Wood Site.

 

[Dan Gray]

Now if it just had a 1/8" silver butt cap it would be just the touch.

 

[PhilL]

Originally posted by Graymaker
Now if it just had a 1/8" silver butt cap it would be just the touch.

How's thatt?

 

[Dan Gray]

AOK I like it

 

[PhilL]

Steve, fire up the Grisley, I think you have a Buyer!

 

[Dan Gray]

 

[itrade]

Wow Phil!

I'll try and duplicate that, but it ain't easy. The bolster to blade is tricky. Also you increated the 3d effect.

The question I have is how did you get the highlight effect on the bolster to change - it decreases to the right? Did you use the paint brush!?

Funny that graymaker mentioned the butt cap. I tried adding rivets, but didn't like the look no matter where I put 'em. I also thought about adding a butt cap, but didn't take the trouble. I should have. Much easier to try ideas in cyber-land. Wow I almost lost a sale !

I'm gonna play with this one some more and add your ideas. Except the downward swing on the handle. I really like the change to the finger groove and the hollow grind.

Steve

 

[PhilL]

Originally posted by itrade

The question I have is how did you get the highlight effect on the bolster to change - it decreases to the right? Did you use the paint brush!?

Yes, I used a Paintbrush...it is allowed you know?

Here’s your Handle.
In the Layers palette add a New Layer...make it active.
With White as the Foreground Color and a Soft Round Brush...I clicked once by the end of the handle...Press the SHIFT key and Click again on the Bolster.
Filter menu > Blur > Gaussian Blur...move the slider until you see what you like, (mine was about 3.2).
But now the underside didn’t look dark enough.
So, make the Handle Layer active.
Type O on your keyboard until you get the Burn Tool, (it looks like a hand making a circle).
Select a Soft Round 30 Pixel brush...Range: Midtones...Exposure: 75-80%.
Click once at the bottom edge of the handle...SHIFT + Click, by the bolster.
Now, just add a Drop Shadow and you got it...
Layer menu > Layer Style > Drop Shadow.

 

[itrade]

OK Phil, I'm still working on this. I've gotten a little better, but still needs work.

Also, for showing the customer I've made a few variations and a carving knife.

However, I've run into a little snag. I've just sold one of these, but I can't actually make one!

Steve

 

[PhilL]

Originally posted by itrade
I've run into a little snag. I've just sold one of these, but I can't actually make one!

Bwahahahahahaha

Listen carefully Grassshopper, "Close Photoshop....get thee a piece of steel....turn on Grisley...make knife."

Folks, I can't tell you how many knives have been sold by my "Cartoon Knives" that I've rendered for different makers...but it's a lot. Of course I won't be getting any more of that kind of work because I've just shown everyone how I do it.....Hey wait a minute...I've done what?

Kit...Spark....some Goderator....Please DELETE THIS THREAD...I just put myself out of business.

Bwahahahahaha

 

[Reg ELLERY]

Thank you for your great thread. I have not worked all the way through it yet. but what I have done so far you have made seem simple.

Blessed be the brave, not afraid to share the knowledge.