Ok, vectorgraphics...

...isn't anything I've been doin at all. The vectorthingie in PS 7 doesnt seem to catch on to me ;) Is there anybody who can explain this to me or point me to a...tut or whatever. 'Cuz frankly, I do not understand or "get" the help file on this subject...

I'm trying to do a "shield" in vector format. You know those shields kids have to put their "medals" on. That shape in a resizable format is what I want. Can't I do that in PS 7 ? Jesus, I'm going bananas here...I bet this is a simpls task for the lot of you, but I'm stuck, am I missing out on something here, am I forgetting something ? Plz, help me if you will

Well, instead of editing my previous post I do Like this...

I've searched the forum for "vector" and came up with a number of answers to my question at hand.
1. Use Illustrator, not Photoshop - Right ?
2. open up the pic in Illustrator, trace it with the pen tool - Right ?
3. Resolution, can't use 72 here now can I...At least 300 - Right ?

Any inputs ? Please...

erhm i try to help out in whatever i know ok? so if other members have better solutions, please do add on to what I have said. Thanx

First thing first, are you going to print out your shield design? If so, i guess 180dpi will more than suffice. If it is for the web, then i guess 72dpi is what you will choose.

Secondly if you intend to draw your shield design on paper and transfer it to computer, I guess you can use vector based drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand. There is a trace bitmap function and after scanning your work( must be in line art, no shading, cause it make things alot more easier), just use that command to get the program trace out for you. If you are more of a perfectionist who like accurate artwork, scan in the work and place it as a guide + locked layer and use the Pen tool to trace out the pic, line by line.

I am a Freehand user and there is a alternate to the Pen tool call Bezigon tool ( I dunno whether Illustratot have it or not) . It is alot more easier to use, but by the end of the day its up to your own preference on how to trace out your line art.

If I am not wrong, Adobe has another product called Adobe Streamline and it is used specifically for tracing line art, maybe you would like to check that out.

If you have chosen the Illustrator/freehand method and done tracing, export it out as EPS or PSD, then proceed on to Photoshop to render whatever you deem fit.

If you choose to start from scratch in PS, then have fun with the Pen tool in it. :D For me, it is not very user friendly when it comes to drawing complex angles and lines.

thx groovylim.

Hi Patteman,
what i can only say is agree with grooovlim.Try to use adobe illustrator or freehand especially on complex design. You can make vector graphics first in illustrator or freehand and just copy and paste it in ps.You have an option in ps to accept it as vector or pixels or shape. I usually do this method especially in complex design thst needs vector graphics.try to do this and explore it. I hope this will help even if it is little. Sagittarius

AutoTrace in ANY application produces innacurate lines and FAR too many anchor points.

FULL STOP.

Hm, yea that I noticed I got me some practice since this post, and think I do better now. But the autotrace function isn't designed to be used on more complexed things I think, hehe. Looked like hell. I do my best and tries to just "paint" over the original pixel pic in this case in order to obtain a vector copy of it...

But thx for the help guy's.

Just get used to manipulating those anchor points. One of the powers of vectors is not always having to draw freehand. I had to make that exact same shield thing for a map (You know those interstate symbols) Took me a few trys but I ended up just hacking off two circles, then creating an arch, duplicating it for the top. Not much else to it =)

One thing that will help is learning to look at an object and mentally break it into component shape primitives, i.e. circles, ellipses, rectangles, polygons. If you're able to fit these primitives to the shape you want to trace, then it's just a matter of using the Pathfinder tools to unite them into one continuous outline. Get as close as you can, then use the pen for compound curves that don't lend themselves to this technique. Learn to use the Reflect Tool for symmetrical objects. (Oops...I'm straying into the tools available in Illustrator)

Ummm...get a copy of Illustrator!

It's because I've got Ill I posted this from the beginning. But since I was more familiar to PS I was trying to do it that way first, but I had to forfeit. And I began to explore Ill in a more...Uhmm, well...(hate to say this) professional way, hehe and got a result that I could, at least, be happy with.

...So your straying into the tools of illustrator is more than welcome U.