converting full color (or grayscale) to line art?

The idea here is to open a typical jpg and convert it to line-art with something like the pentool - is that the right kind of thinking? I would need to be able to "toggle" the jpg in and out of visibility as I go so I can see how the developing paths look all alone - can you do that easily? I am reading that I can't use "stokes" (outline for a shape) in a shape layer, but I can copy the path to a different layer and then stroke the copy. I am not sure about how to go about this - could anyone share some details about how to do this - say you have a jpg of a dolphin jumping out of the water (in full view), and you just want to create a line-art image of the dolphing (maybe a nearby diving board also) - how would you go about doing this using cs2? thanks, littleberry

wrote:

The idea here is to open a typical jpg and convert it to line-art with something like the pentool - is that the right kind of thinking?

You could do that. You could also trace it off with a Brush. I

would need to be able to "toggle" the jpg in and out of visibility as I go so I can see how the developing paths look all alone - can you do that easily?

I would suggest you just lower the opacity so you can see what you are tracing but it doesn't distract from your line work.

I am reading that I can't use "stokes" (outline for a

shape) in a shape layer,

Yes you can. Layer Style>Stroke.

but I can copy the path to a different layer

No need. Paths are independent of layers anyway.

and then stroke the copy. I am not sure about how to go about this - could anyone share some details about how to do this - say you have a jpg of a dolphin jumping out of the water (in full view), and you just want to create a line-art image of the dolphing (maybe a nearby diving board also) - how would you go about doing this using cs2?

I would print out the image and trace it on paper. But there are lots of ways to do this. Whatever you are comfortable with.

thanks,

littleberry

--
Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html

wrote:

The idea here is to open a typical jpg and convert it to line-art with something like the pentool - is that the right kind of thinking?

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for but I do something similar in Elements by using 3 layers. You need (a) a layered background (or copy) so you can adjust opacity, (b) a blank layer (to paint on) and (c) a second copy of the background. On layer (c) set foreground colour to black and background colour to white then use Filters/Sketch/Photocopy. This will produce a cartoon-like outline. Then its just a case of adjusting the layer opacities as you paint on the blank layer (b).

This also has the advantage that with a few adjustments the 'cartoon' layer can be exported to another painting program or printed out for the kids to colour in!
Steve..

wrote:

The idea here is to open a typical jpg and convert it to line-art with something like the pentool - is that the right kind of thinking? I would need to be able to "toggle" the jpg in and out of visibility as I go so I can see how the developing paths look all alone - can you do that easily? I am reading that I can't use "stokes" (outline for a shape) in a shape layer, but I can copy the path to a different layer and then stroke the copy. I am not sure about how to go about this - could anyone share some details about how to do this - say you have a jpg of a dolphin jumping out of the water (in full view), and you just want to create a line-art image of the dolphing (maybe a nearby diving board also) - how would you go about doing this using cs2? thanks, littleberry

By the way, you should NOT be using Shapes to do this, Just the regular Pen tool is better. You can stroke the paths by picking a Brush and hitting Enter. Better yet, do it in Freehand or Illustrator ifs possible for much better results.

--
Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html

If you need a second opinion, I can affirm Al's recommendation. The best backup disc is two discs. PS files are already compressed. And you know that you can compress TIFF files, of course.