affinity designer Camouflage II [Vector]

[StuartRc]

Camouflage II

Finally finished the second Camouflage Vector Drawing. 
Completed in Affinity Designer 1.7 with a little help from the 1.8 Beta.
Continued with same theme as Camouflage I but with a completely new set of vector objects.

Original size 1500 x 500mm 300dpi
Uploaded at 3543 x 1181 jpg
Eight layer Composite Embedded file set

 

 

 

 

 

[StuartRc]

Added 2 supplementary images
1. Creature Wireframe
2. Original sketch also in Affinity Designer

Wireframe

Original Sketch/idea using inkBrush Sketch/Vector Paint Brush sets in AD

[StuartRc]

Vector Elements:Mushrooms
Added individual Vector Asset Sheet 1 & 2

[StuartRc]

Vector Elements:Plants
Added individual Vector Asset Sheet 1 & 2

[StuartRc]

Added a collection of vector assets into resources

Camouflage II vector Assets

[v_kyr]

Nice, I like those!

BTW it's also difficult to follow and find all of your made contributions here in the forum's resources section, maybe you should too keep some sort of up-to-date link overview of all those threads.

• stuartrc resources site:forum.affinity.serif.com

[StuartRc]

5 minutes ago, v_kyr said:

Nice, I like those!

BTW it's also difficult to follow and find all of your made contributions here in the forum's resources section, maybe you should too keep some sort of up-to-date link overview of all those threads.

• stuartrc resources site:forum.affinity.serif.com

Yep that is a good idea!....I did for the brush library but not for the assets....

[v_kyr]

11 minutes ago, StuartRc said:

Yep that is a good idea!....I did for the brush library but not for the assets....

I did one for my postings here, which I then will try to update/edit and keep in sync accordingly.

[StuartRc]

4 minutes ago, v_kyr said:

I did one for my postings here, which I then will try to update/edit and keep in sync accordingly.

Looks Good. (used to rely on MEB as well..but must be time-consuming to monitor whole forum!)
OK I have just made a list of the vector assets (I am sure missed some!)..I will that to the brush list and change the title to reflect it.

[StuartRc]

31 minutes ago, v_kyr said:

I did one for my postings here, which I then will try to update/edit and keep in sync accordingly.

Added assets to the brush library and edited title here: Resources List

[VectorWhiz]

Tons of work obviously, but re-scalable to any preferred size since the designs consist of vectors. It probably shows that there's not a lot impossible in drawing with vectors.

[StuartRc]

10 hours ago, VectorWhiz said:

Tons of work obviously, but re-scalable to any preferred size since the designs consist of vectors. It probably shows that there's not a lot impossible in drawing with vectors.

It is lot of work to develop these images but also really fun to build ... even though it can be unpredictable. 

Absolutely! transformations are a major consideration when choosing vectors over raster on this type of artwork.. Overall it is a versatile process....

Time consuming but does have a lot of advantages. There are processes in the construction which I have enjoyed working with...particularly in AD. listed a few below:

1. Moving elements quickly between files and layering embedded images/objects and ability to edit directly in the master file....  but with the changes being made to file import/integration in Publisher + StudioLink might be worth exploring Publisher as an option for construction of final layout
2. Ability to control subtle tints/transparencies directly in elements to create the illusion of dimension (time consuming but worth it!) + Styles to re-apply
3. Vector texturing (one of my favourites) also scalable and almost infinitely controlled.
4. Colour adjustments..Testing and adopting colour changes using non-destructive layer adjustments (Brightness/Contrast | HSL | Recolour | Curves | Channel Mixer) ..I would taken greater advantage of Global colours but don't seem to migrate/trans-locate between files. I have had to separately export a palette containing only global swatches
5. Meshing...something been using a lot recently to enhance texturing (Patterned compound paths + Add Curve to selected object option!)...but remember to turn it off when finished otherwise you get a nice surprise!
6. Nested layer grouping to have greater control over transparency
7. Layer Blending 

 

[VectorWhiz]

59 minutes ago, StuartRc said:

Time consuming but does have a lot of advantages. There are processes in the construction which I have enjoyed working with...particularity in AD. listed a few below:

1. Moving elements quickly between files and layering embedded images/objects and ability to edit directly in the master file....  but with the changes being made to file import/integration in Publisher + StudioLink might be worth exploring Publisher as an option for construction of final layout
2. Ability to control subtle tints/transparencies directly in elements to create the illusion of dimension (time consuming but worth it!) + Styles to re-apply
3. Vector texturing (one of my favourites) also scalable and almost infinitely controlled.
4. Colour adjustments..Testing and adopting colour changes using non-destructive layer adjustments (Brightness/Contrast | HSL | Recolour | Curves | Channel Mixer) ..I would taken greater advantage of Global colours but don't seem to migrate/trans-locate between files. I have had to separately export a palette containing only global swatches
5. Meshing...something been using a lot recently to enhance texturing (Patterned compound paths + Add Curve to selected object option!)...but remember to turn it off when finished otherwise you get a nice surprise!
6. Nested layer grouping to have greater control over transparency
7. Layer Blending

Absolutely agree! Vector brushes are almost infinitely editable, which is great for vector portraits and other images that have organic aspects. The standard hard edges of vector objects can be blurred subtly (adding scale with object), which gives them an appearance that makes them indistinguishable from (more realistic) pixel art. The editable fx and colour gradient tool allow to tinker until the desired effect is achieved. I was never able to create such properties in AI or CorelDRAW. Inkscape came close, but its UI has a rather mind bending learning curve. Also, if gradients and / or transparency of an object is in more than one direction I simply duplicate the object, apply the desired gradient (that is in a different direction) and apply a transparency to the part of the object that isn't needed (sometimes tinkering with the object filter in the Layers panel and applying a gaussian blur). It is far more efficient than mesh colouring and far easier editable afterward, which is a huge time saver compared to the tedious mesh colouring. All this makes AD the very best vector program available and all that for a price that the competition is unable to match!

[StuartRc]

8 hours ago, VectorWhiz said:

Absolutely agree! Vector brushes are almost infinitely editable, which is great for vector portraits and other images that have organic aspects. The standard hard edges of vector objects can be blurred subtly (adding scale with object), which gives them an appearance that makes them indistinguishable from (more realistic) pixel art. The editable fx and colour gradient tool allow to tinker until the desired effect is achieved. I was never able to create such properties in AI or CorelDRAW. Inkscape came close, but its UI has a rather mind bending learning curve. Also, if gradients and / or transparency of an object is in more than one direction I simply duplicate the object, apply the desired gradient (that is in a different direction) and apply a transparency to the part of the object that isn't needed (sometimes tinkering with the object filter in the Layers panel and applying a gaussian blur). It is far more efficient than mesh colouring and far easier editable afterward, which is a huge time saver compared to the tedious mesh colouring. All this makes AD the very best vector program available and all that for a price that the competition is unable to match!

I must admit I have not tried the blur edge effect on 'vector brushes'...Still I am sure I will find a use for it..thanks for the tip!..

With regards to gradients/transparency I tend to nest the groups of objects/single elements so multiple transparency/different directions can be applied and/or stack low level transparent colours. Used this technique a lot when creating vector brushes (Group objects) apply transparency [horizontal]..group again apply transparency [vertical].

I like your comment about AD...completely agree with that one!

[StuartRc]

Vector Element Enhancements:Tulip Plant
New options for some of the plants and a few new texture meshes
Added some additional configurations to the assets library in resources

[MxHeppa]

really nice.

[StuartRc]

Organic Pattern Brushes 01
Added a new set of organic pattern brushes based on Camouflage II vector elements
30 Brushes
14 Seamless patterns  

[StuartRc]

Organic Pattern Brushes 02
Extended Organic Pattern Brush Set
30 Brushes
14 Seamless patterns  

[Bibi McMurray]

Wow Stuart, fantastic and as VectorWhizz pointed out, a lot of work.

I love looking at your artwork, your methods and the way you create the documents for us to view.

Thanks. 

[StuartRc]

On 1/22/2020 at 8:36 AM, Bibi McMurray said:

Wow Stuart, fantastic and as VectorWhizz pointed out, a lot of work.

I love looking at your artwork, your methods and the way you create the documents for us to view.

Thanks. 

Thank you for reminding me!...I meant to put together a scamp sheet outlining the process for the Camouflage Projects....Thought the text explanation was a bit bland....so....

 

[StuartRc]

Building Assets
Added Sample sheet showing development process

[Bibi McMurray]

Awesome Stuart, thanks for the sample sheet.

[StuartRc]

Assets:Styles
Added a set of Pattern Styles to resources.... based on the vector texturing and base textured created for the Organic Brush sets
Here: Pattern Styles

[StuartRc]

Organic Pattern Brushes 03
Extended Organic Pattern Brush Set
30 Brushes
15 Seamless patterns  

[StuartRc]

Creating Patterns
Process sheet for creating seamless patterns