[Helen]

Hi,
Is there an easy way to transfer a flat picture pattern onto a round bird.
I have all these patterns, but something happens in the translation from pattern to round bird.
Thank you,
Helen

[LCorbett]

Helen...there is no way to accurately trace a flat 2D pattern onto a 3D surface. The feather details on the patterns are really meant as a guide. There would be so much foreshortening on the 2D rendering if the layout were drawn orthographically that it would be confusing to decipher what is what.
The patterns are drawn in such a way as to show as much detail as possible in two views...

You are going to have to do some freehand drawing. Here's how I transfer details from my pattern to my bird...
Take a set of dividers and set them on specific areas of the pattern...say from the back of the head to the end of the primaries on the top view, for example. Tranfer this to your bird and mark it with your pencil.
Back to your pattern - place your dividers on the end of the primaries to the tip of the secondaries...transfer this to your bird the same way as above.
Do this with all the feather groups.

Now do the same thing with the side view pattern...
Establish the bottom edge of the wing by measuring from the top of the bird to te edge of the wing at various points...mark these with your pencil. Establish the other feather groups the same way...

Now it's freehand time...basically connecting the dots. I will only be concerned with the OUTLINE of each GROUP at this point (the primaries, secondaries, tertials, coverts, scapulars and cape)...individual feathers come later.
This won't be right the first time, (at least it hardly ever is with me) but you can get a good idea where things should be. You will prolly do some erasing and redrawing until the proprtions look right.

Once you get the proportions right, then you can draw in your individual feathers...

Another way is to lay your pattern on your rounded bird and with a pointed tool LIGHTLY prick the location points of each group thru the pattern onto the wood. Do this for the top and side views. I find this is really not the easiest way (for me anyway), but it may work for you. You still have to do some adjusting and freehanding. There is no way to get out of having to freehand...

Hope this helps...

[BobBlaney]

Lori,
What a great explanation of a topic that fools a lot of folks. It gave me some info that helps solidify all the reading I have done.

[LCorbett]

Glad it helped, Bob! For me, it wasn't a huge leap because I have a background in engineering/drafting (had my own structural steel drafting firm before deciding I'd rather carve full time...grin). It's easy to forget that what is second nature to some is huge for others...