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VonDaab · February 23, 2009, 01:46:23 PM

I was asked if I've ever drawn anything in vector...
This was the last thing I've drawn, and its from early '06.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure I havent posted this earlier. My memory fails me at moment...

IanDanKilmaster · February 23, 2009, 01:53:38 PM

O__O Wow, that's really impressive!

Given that I've only recently been frequenting this thread, I wouldn't know about anything from '06 (hmm, looking at my start date, I wasn't even a member then), but I can tell you that I haven't seen this before. So given that this one turned out so well, why'd you stop doing vector (that is, if you don't mind me asking)?

VonDaab · February 23, 2009, 02:09:26 PM

Eh, I stopped it because it started feeling more like programmin, than drawing. There's too much technical stuff involving vectoring.
Layer orders, fills, gradients, closed loops. All the endless tweaking. Eh, I dont have enough patience for vectors.

CaptBrenden · February 23, 2009, 02:23:46 PM

personaly I think more traditional art looks better anyways

Smokey · February 23, 2009, 02:32:33 PM

Well, your usual art looks better than vector art, to be honest...

VonDaab · February 23, 2009, 02:39:53 PM

Quote from: "Smokey"Well, your usual art looks better than vector art, to be honest...

You got to remember that its a 3 years old drawing.

Smokey · February 23, 2009, 02:45:20 PM

ah, yes... forgot about that...
But still if i read it right, and i like to think i did ^_^, traditional art is more fun anyways...
So what is the benefit of vector art anyways?

Aurora Borealis · February 23, 2009, 03:07:58 PM

What are the benefits to vector art?!
....
....
....

BWAHAHAHAHA! You've got some learning to do! Gather around, everybody as I teach you the benefits of vector graphics!

1. Vector graphics are about precision, a benefit if you are looking for precision!

2. They can be resized to any size without any loss of quality! This is something I really like because in my hand-drawn sketches, something always turns out to be too big or too small but in the vectorized version, I can adjust the sizes to what I intended but couldn't draw on paper!

3. Efficiency: Shapes and combinations of shapes can be reused over and over in parts of a picture or even between several different pictures meaning less redrawing to do!

4. By manipulating paths, you color as you go!

5. Because of their sharp look, vector graphics are very good at replicating cartoony and anime art styles!

6. You can change the color (or add or remove the color) of an object without degrading its quality at all. The color of the outlines can be changed just as easily!

7. Mistakes are easier to fix: This is the main reason I switched to vector graphics. I screw up a lot and it was very tedious to try and fix my mistakes when hand-drawing pictures in Photoshop. At least now my screw-ups are easier and quicker to fix!

But of course vector graphics are not without their setbacks:

1. Blurring: It's possible (and easy to do) in Inkscape but it is very taxing on the CPU's performance.

2. Variable-width outlines are possible but difficult and tedious to do.

3. Cannot easily replicate a manga-style.

4. Not ideal if you AREN'T looking for precision, and prefer the hand-drawn look and feel.

But as with any art form, you have to take the drawbacks along with the benefits.

IanDanKilmaster · February 23, 2009, 03:13:16 PM

Aurora beat to me it... (thank you, you provided a much more thorough explanation)

Really, it seems that each one has its own advantages/disadvantages and really whether one is good or bad is more dependent on what you're seeking to accomplish. At the end of the day it all comes down to what you're more comfortable with and what exactly do you want out of it.

To put things in perspective it's kind of like programming languages. For example, people will often complain that one programming language is too bloated, but on the other hand this other programming language is too limited. Things are generally this way because certain languages are just better at writing complicated programs, and then other simpler languages are much better for writing scripts and extensions that the program can use. At least this is the way that I see things.

Smokey · February 23, 2009, 03:25:02 PM

hmm, i guess i should give vector art a shot then... see how bad i am at that... ^_^

IanDanKilmaster · February 23, 2009, 03:30:25 PM

Can't hurt, former forum regular, C-Chan, has a beginner's guide .pdf around here somewhere O__o? I have it on my computer as well if you'd like me to just send it to you (but I do know it's still here in the forum if you don't mind google searching this page).

Aurora Borealis · February 23, 2009, 03:56:21 PM

Here's the thread

VonDaab · February 23, 2009, 04:01:15 PM

Here's some even older vector arts from me. Yeah, I know "eyes bleeding and stuff".
These are from early '05. Also, there's something special with these, as these have been made on an old Mac Performa 5xxx and with its ancient Macromedia Freehand.

Hmm, now that I think about it... I think I colored these in Photoshop...
What a crappy memory I have.

Aurora Borealis · February 23, 2009, 04:17:13 PM

Those are still very good!

My artwork from 2005 on the other hand... well consider yourselves lucky you haven't seen them!

hicamajig · February 23, 2009, 04:45:27 PM

I don't think I have produced coloured artwork in years... XD. Ive never sketched something, scanned it and then coloured it either.. heh. I do have a few random sketches that I could maybe post at some point... they are old though..and not full body pics...

Edit:

There is a custom fire emblem character I made quite some time ago..