Author Topic: So you want to know how I make patterns?  (Read 3606 times)

Charlie Dearing

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So you want to know how I make patterns?
« on: May 08, 2010, 05:57:26 am »
Well, pull up a chair 'cause here it is.  You'll slap yourself and maybe me because it's that easy.  I spent alot of time writing out how it's done as best I could so bear with the look of commentary.  It's cut and pasted:

"Huh? Layer what? Vector? Click what???" That's right. Making patterns on a computer can be confusing! I had to think of an easier way. I put my two brain cells together and here's what I do.
Find a picture in a magazine, on the internet, scanned on a scanner...anywhere (but respect copyrights). Print that picture out. Get a sheet of carbon paper and a clean sheet of white paper. Place
the printed out picture on top of carbon paper and then the clean sheet. Tape them all down to a flat smooth surface so they won't move. I use painter's tape so it won't tear up the paper.
This is the start of how to make your pattern, but let me explain how I do it.
In making a pattern, you have to know the premise of what makes a pattern cuttable. White is usually representative of what is to be kept in the cutting while grey or black usually represents what is to
be cut out. For examples I use here, white is what to keep. Although my patterns are done on paper, they are colored in on a computer for your ease of seeing the areas to be cut out. When YOU make a pattern the way I do, you can put a colored dot or an x in each area to be cut out or just shade it in with a pencil. The eyes appreciate this more and it's less confusing when you glance at the pattern. One thing we don't want in a pattern is what is referred to as "floaters". Floater is the term given to an area meant to be left in the pattern, yet it isn't connected to anything. All of the white areas have to be connected to other white areas. If they aren't then you'll have a picture that will fall apart when cut. When making a pattern you are basically tracing! It's more comples than mere tracing because you still have to take in mind what makes a pattern work, what makes a pattern appealing and hat can destroy a pattern. All the while keeping in mind that you don't want floaters. There is no law saying that you have to trace exactly what you see. If there are alot of shadows then it is ok to break them up somewhat by tracing them in sections. In my patterns, shadows or dark colors are what I am tracing. This is open to your judgment on how much shadow you want to cut out while taking in mind that you cant shade with a pattern. It's either there or it isn't. This is unfortunate because I love to make realistic patterns. An example of this is someone with a hat on where the shadow is falling over their eyes and some other facial features. More often than not, I pretty much ignore that shadow so I can bring out the detail of the face. My preference is to find large pictures because the bigger it is then the more detail you can see. Smaller pictures, even when enlarged can be blurry and only suggest certain details. Sure it may resemble the subject, but if you're going for realism then bigger is better. Take in mind that no matter how big you make the pattern, you can always take it somewhere to be reduced in size for cutting. If you know you are going to do that then take that in mind when making your pattern because what looks cuttable at one size may be too small when reduced.
Ok, now for the premise of making a cuttable area. Think of yourself as a bird. You're looking down at a shape from above. Let's say we want that shape to hold water. If there is a break in that shape's wall ...well, then you'll have water leaking out! Make sure the area you want to cut out is complete. Think of a simpler shape like a circle. It has no beginning and no end. It's enclosed. It'll hold water, therefore it can be cut out. Think of someone?s eye. You'll also notice that sometimes there is shadow (or just dark color) all the way around the eye. Well, that would make the colored portion of the eye a dreaded floater! That's one sacrifice we have to make is to not draw completely around that eye or it will fall out . Break it up a little. Trace the shadow/darkness in sections. When there is light shining off of the pupil of the eye, I usually connect that light to the nearest light colored area. You can also make that an intentional floater glued to the backer for more realism.  Or put a small dot of white paint there.  YOU are in charge of how much detail is in your pattern. You don't have to trace every single shadow or dark area. If detail intimidates you, then be picky about what you want and don't want. Notice there are still some shadows and darkness not traced? Picking what you want in the pattern and what you don't. Occasionally you will also notice that there are hundreds of little dark spots!! You can basically do a broad area of them as one whole area to be cut out. Suggestion of detail can be just as effective as existing detail. Detail can scare the heck out of some folks, but fear not my sawdust covered friends! Let's say you know all there is to know about how to follow a line with your blade on the scrollsaw. BINGO! That's all you need to do! The ONLY difference between cutting out a simple pattern versus a detailed pattern is time. If you have the time and patience then you can cut any patterns! I am always out to  challenge myself and most of that challenge is in my time because I want the finished product to look as realistic as possible when done. This is easier said than done if you have a deadline to get it done.
That's all???? Yes, folks, that's all there is to what I do to make a pattern. If after reading this, you still have questions...then feel free to ask.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb136/artistic_cowboy30/Fig1.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb136/artistic_cowboy30/Fig2.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb136/artistic_cowboy30/Fig3.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb136/artistic_cowboy30/Fig4.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb136/artistic_cowboy30/Fig5.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb136/artistic_cowboy30/Fig6.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb136/artistic_cowboy30/Fig7.jpg

Offline dgman

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2010, 10:51:33 am »
Wow Charlie, That does look easy especially for some one like me  who not computer literate!
I just might have to give it a try.
Dan In Southern California

Firedkm

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2010, 01:36:14 pm »
Excellent description on your pattern making Charlie

saw dust john

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2010, 02:35:09 pm »
little confused on the "eye is a floater" pix.
if you cut out the white area, doesn't that make all the black part of the eye a floater and hooked to nothing?

very new at this type, so maybe I am missing something.


Charlie Dearing

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2010, 02:46:14 pm »
The grey area is to be cut out, so it has to be a floater.  All patterns are "cut out dark areas" unless it specifically says "cut out white"   Silhouette patterns are generally shown dark so you would cut out the white on those. 

Magic

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2010, 03:36:41 pm »
Thanks Charlie. I guess the main thing to have with your method is patience. I appreciate your tutorial.  Magic

chief

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2010, 04:53:58 pm »
Awesome write up!!!  Now I just need to find the time to make my own patterns.

Charlie Dearing

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2010, 04:58:04 pm »
Lol, that's what I'm afraid of.  So many people seeing how, somewhat, easy it is and then I get left in the dust lol.  Good luck!!

Becky

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2010, 11:47:46 pm »
I'm not sure I'd call it easy.  It looks to me like it calls for a lot of artistic judgement and one heck of a lot a patience.  The finished pattern is beautiful but I don't have any illusions about it being easy.

mouse

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2010, 03:07:07 am »
Have to agree Becky. Charlie forgot to say it helps if you happen to be a very good artist with a shed load of patience. ;)

Charlie Dearing

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2010, 03:15:55 am »
Wellllll, heck.  I have to admit, when I look at a pic it's just second nature.  I don't really have to think about it.  I just do it.  In a way, it's a curse.  I can't see any photo, drawing or painting without determining if it would make an awesome pattern lol.  I used to draw my tail off before I discovered scrolling.  I'll probably post those in another topic thread.  Don't be scared folks.  Like anything it just takes practice.

bow152

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2010, 03:29:06 am »
Great tutorial Charles thanks for all that information
bow 152

Offline Lakelad

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #12 on: May 09, 2010, 02:36:17 pm »
Thanks for the tutorial, I have looked a trying on the computer and am frustrated at this point. Don't know that I would do any better with your method, but it's sure worth a try.
Gary
I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam.

kp91

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #13 on: May 09, 2010, 05:43:08 pm »
Lol, that's what I'm afraid of.  So many people seeing how, somewhat, easy it is and then I get left in the dust lol.  Good luck!!

Don't sell yourself short, Charlie!  The pattern you did for me had so much shadow  in it that it took an experienced artist to 'interpret' what could stay and what should go.  I think you'll have a market even after spilling your secrets.

Thanks for a great description of your method.

daneklund

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Re: So you want to know how I make patterns?
« Reply #14 on: May 09, 2010, 06:41:12 pm »
Great tutorial and discussion Charlie.  Keep up the good work.  Cheers.

 

SMF

Teknoromi