Dragon Pattern

[dmatias]

I have been looking for a dragon pattern. I checked out a few books but there is nothing there that would fit. I also did the google check for pictures and came up with a couple of pixtures but am having a brain fart in trying to make a pattern from them.

Saying this. Does anyone know an easy way of making a pattern from a picture?

[Claude]

If you have a front view photo, and a side view photo, and photo-editing software, then just change the photos from color mode to B & W (not gray-scale), then increase the contrast/brightness until you have what looks like a line drawing. Size appropriately, then print.
If you don't have the views, then I think next best bet is to buy the book
Great Book of Dragon Patterns
or
Great Book of Dragon Patterns 2nd Edition - The Ultimate Design Sourcebook for Artists and Craftspeople

Claude

[Phyllis Singer]

Deborah, there is software that will make line drawings out of photo's. If you have a scanner or photoshop etc. you can do it.Resize it to what you need and you can flip it for the side views. I am getting a carving ready from photo's. I had a friends grandaughter pose for me and took all angles of her made sure they are the right size and printed them out put them on the wood with out lines on the figure, so I can cut the roughout on the bandsaw. What kind of computer do you have? software for editing?
Phyllis

[carver33]

Deborah,

If you have a picture in electronic format, just convert it to gray scale, print it the size you want and trace the outline - instant pattern.

There is a freeware program that will convert and print pictures to the size you want. It's called Irfanview and can be found here:

Download IrfanView


there is also a plugin executable that allows the program to do much more with digital picture manipulation.

[Curtscarving]

Deborah Not knowing type of dragon you want I say look at Tom Wolfs book Carving Dragons. I have done two and enjoyed them both.
Curt

[dmatias]

Phyllis; The problem is that I only have a front/side view of the dragon I like the best, not a full front or full side view. I have photoshop 6 and know how to do the conversion, etc. But, the problem is to get a full front view and full side view.
Thanks for the help though.

[rickm]

when I did my dragon he was a comliation (sort of) I did tom wolfes and didnt like them, I wanted a dragon that would be more menacing, more in attack mode, so I came up with the idea of him raising one leg and having his head back, like he was about to strike. the rest if kind of free form, I did the tail in a curley que because I did chains before and thought it was kind of intreging.
I tried to keep his body low, like reptilian, and the wings were the easiest, but they are very thin, like carving a rose and almost translucent in spots. Ill see if i can get my son to take some overall pics as he has the dragon now.

[Phyllis Singer]

Originally Posted by dmatias

Phyllis; The problem is that I only have a front/side view of the dragon I like the best, not a full front or full side view. I have photoshop 6 and know how to do the conversion, etc. But, the problem is to get a full front view and full side view.
Thanks for the help though.

Hi Deborah. I draw most everything I carve and just use the photos for reference. Doris and the guys suggested making a clay model of my indian woman and child since I was going loosely from a photo I had seen that had the look and mood of what I wanted. I did the clay model and it gave me the all around perspective of the carving it really helped me. You are so great at this on your other stuff do you ever use clay? Hope you find a solution. Phyllis

[Dileon]

When I made my dragons I had about twenty pictures, plus two books and coloring book of dragons. I use a pattern as a basic outside design, but change everything to my liking....I used about three different dragons head parts...different tails...added things I wanted, tried to make the dragon more lizard like...I had illustrated pictures of lizards...added that all together and the dragon basic outline was a pattern and sometimes even I would redraw that. But a pattern right now helps me get going on the carving and outline design. Later I let go of the pattern and go my own way. Di

[TreeWizard]

I used to think I needed a pattern for everything I carved. I tried carving a few things using the pattern in my head and found that I really liked the effect. Now I'll print a picture off on Google images and use it to get some proportions but let my mind take it from there. I generally like the effect.