hi, i found a website i would like to copy the drawing from. im interested in copying the rainbow wispy shapes, but my curves are not perfect enough with the pen tool. and mine is blocky and not very transparent. here is the original website, any help greatly appreciated. thank you. derek

original page
http://www.littlestnick.org/



here is my version, its pretty bad.

http://www.derekvanderven.com/photos...es/st.nick.jpg

Well, we don't really know what graphics program you are using?

I use mostly vector based programs but I can see you don't have your nodes set for "curved". The nodes are breaking like a sharp corner. Whatever program you are using, usually when you click on a node(the little boxes along the line path) you have a selection of how you want that to act. Just look further into your manual.

Let us know what program you are using so others can help.

sorry about that! im using photoshop. ok im making progress, notice the green curve in my link below is smoother, i added less anchor points on it, and it required more control and forethought about where i was going, but got better results. is this the proper way to get the smoothest curves in photoshop or is there a better way? do you think the green curve is smooth enough compared to my st.nicks. link above? any more help greatly appreciated. thanks. derek

here is the new green curve.

http://www.derekvanderven.com/photos...es/curves1.jpg

What are you using for your settings on the pen tool ?? Do you have "Rubber Band" turned on ? If not, turn it on, it's under the small dropdown on the top options bar.

Second, instead of just clicking points, click and DRAG to create your curves.
The pen tool takes practice. I put up some advice on this a while ago here, have to find that.

Found it.. http://www.webmaster-talk.com/adobe-...i-just-do.html

cool thank you again very much ladynred. i turned on rubber band and that helped alot. i think you are right, it just takes some practice to get really smooth curves. i am able to do it somewhat now. i read the post you linked and it was very good. the grid helps. basically, as i go, it looks like i just have to practice a lot, because making the curves takes some "predicting" where and how the curve will be located AFTER I've made the anchor point. thank you again for answering my post, always good advice from you. thanks. derek