Line smoothing / varying size / ???

[J. Mullins]

I draw a lot using mouse + photoshop. I got only one problem. The lineart is horrible. I always use pencil (or sometimes brush). Pen is useless for me.

The problem is that the lines always got the same.... size. Shape dynamics and such only mess things up. It is a bit difficult to explain what I want but... I used to have a program called mangastudio. Trial ran out ages ago and I have also deleted it ages ago. Horrible program but it was really good for making lineart.

The begining of the line is thin, the middle is thick and the end is thin. There was also some kind of smoothing, similar to magnetic lasso tool (but better). I found and old image and cut off a small part of it.

argh can't post "links" or images.

i45.tinypic.com/a1k203.png

The first line was made very fast, just a single, fast swipe with my mouse. Like half second. Manga studio.

The second one I made now, using pencil. It took slight effort. The last one I made with pen tool. I had a bit difficulty with it because I had forgotten how to use it.

How can I produce lines like the first with photoshop? Plugin? Brush? What? I'm even willing to pay a little, though free would be nice.

I googled manga studio and found something, I don't know if the new one has the same features or if it is even part of the same series. There is no trial. Also, it is pain in the ass to switch stuff between two programs. At least with the old one I always had to export, then select some settings, then open it with photoshop. I couldn't change stuff later when I was already doing things with photoshop.

oh and one more thing. I got photoshop cs5.

 

[IamSam]

Hey JM,

Have you tried a graphic tablet?

 

[J. Mullins]

No, I can't use anything like that. I CAN'T. As I already said, there is/was one program that could do what I wanted. One would think that photoshop could do it too or at least someone made a plugin or something to make that possible. Plus, the one time I tried on my friends computer, it didn't create lines like that anyway.

 

[IamSam]

The graphic tablet and pen will do what you want. The one you tried on your friends computer is capable, it may not have been set properly. Mine creates lines like you asking about.

The Pen Tool in Ps is also capable. It just wont behave like a traditional pen.

 

[J. Mullins]

I absolutely cannot hold a pen for longer than a few seconds.

Can you show an example with pen tool? The same line that was in my picture.

Though I would still rather use more "normal" methods.

 

[IamSam]

Sure, these lines are made using the Pen Tool and brush strokes.

 

[J. Mullins]

I followed some tutorial but they still don't look like that. Does it not work with mouse?

Anyway, I'm not going to use pen tool and I did not make this topic to argue if I should use it or not.

I want to know if there is any way to draw like you draw with brush/pencil tools to get the result I want. Plugins/settings/tweaks/anything. In manga studio it was easy. I would think someone made a plugin or something if this can't be done normally.

 

[IamSam]

YES, I used the mouse to make the lines above with the Pen tool!

I hear you. So I will stop suggesting things.

 

[J. Mullins]

I wish I could edit posts... Anyway, I figured out how to do that with pen tool. The tutorial was just missing something.

Anyway, I hope I didn't offend you or anything. It is just annoying when I got a specific question and then the topic gets kind of derailed. Once again I failed to make it clear in the opening post. Sorry about that.

I can draw with mouse, I got no problems with it. I only got that problem with photoshop. I would like to use one program only.

 

[IamSam]

How can I produce lines like the first with photoshop? Plugin? Brush?

Not offended. This was your original question. I did not get derailed. I offered you a way to make lines like your example using Photoshop.

 

[J. Mullins]

Yeah, I failed to explain what I was asking clearly. To my defense, I'm very tired and I got sleep apnea or something.

 

[ibclare]

Incidentally j.mullins, you can upload images at any time. If you go to the reply window, there is a square icon for uploading and a tab that says from computer. Use that to browse.