affinity designer Keep the hope alive - Heidi

[uuxxaa]

[uuxxaa]

Here is the sketch I made before the vector based one. 

[uuxxaa]

I think in process the illustration lost some spirit, I wonder if there is a way to get the natural look to lines by adding some jitter procedurally, If not, may me I will write small app to do that.

Edited November 8, 2024 by uuxxaa
Fix typos

[GarryP]

You can simulate a ‘jitter’ with a Textured Image Brush.

See my attached image where the two curves at the bottom have exactly the same geometry but the lower one has had a brush applied so that it looks ‘jittery’.

The brush was created by:

1. creating a horizontal line with the Pen Tool;
2. creating nodes along the line at random positions with the Node Tool;
3. moving some of the nodes away from the horizontal;
4. making the nodes Smart (or Smooth) – the result being the curve at the top of my image;
5. exporting the line as a PNG;
6. using the Brushes Panel to create a new Textured Image Brush;
7. applying the new brush to the curve.

Some experimentation may be required, and the brushed curves will be rasterised, but it’s worth trying.

Using the Stroke Width Tool on the line which will be used as the brush, before exporting, may help to give it a more natural look.

[carl123]

The pencil tool in the 2.6 beta has a new smoothness control which may be worth having a look at

[uuxxaa]

Thank you both, I will try these and post type updated work. 

[StuartRc]

Hi There are a few ways to achieve this kind of effect

Vector
1. As @GarryP has suggested you could create a vector brush that has the textured edge built into the form
2. Make use of the Pressure graph to create a 'flowing line' or 'wave' Like structure. Simplest and most effective is just to zig-zag the Pressure curve. Or create a Pressure line (Pressure on in context bar!) ad save the result
3. Create a single line with the Pencil tool then use the new-ish Stroke Width tool to expand the widht for shadows in the drawing
4. Use the Sculpt setting in context bar to distort the path of a vector line
5. Create a series of Styles for Lines and then just apply from Styles Panel or Select existing using the Style Selection Tool
6. Some of the New Pen and Pencil Tool improvements in 2.6 will help you with this
7. Use a basic round brush and adjust the dynamics to vary the size. Keep spacing aound 5-8 %
8. Adjust a basic Brush using Shape and Rotation to mimic an elliptical nozzle

Raster
1. Simply use a textured egde raster Brush
2. You don't really need to create elaborate nozzles for this. You can use the Scatter (X+Y) Jitter adjustments in the Dynamics to 'Ripple ' the Brush edge. (can do thius with a round brush)
3.  Create a 'wave' form in the Adjustment graph using the size | Direction | Scatter Dymanics to mimic a textured edge
4. Use an 'irregular' not quite round nozzle , Overlay with spacing asn set the rotation to random. Vary the effect with scatter Jitter
5. Mix several Nozzles . They can be different sizes in the brush or adjust the size slightly of to create a larger sub-brush

Other
Paint with a raster brush that is slightly textures and size controlled over Distance (Dynamics Settings) Convert the result in external programme to create a varied Black Outline.

a. make sure no gaps in edge so you can use the 'Fill holes' option to create a base flat for colouring
b. Make sure edges are not 'disconnected' This way you can use the Vector flood Fill Tool to fill your shapes with colour

Hope this helps!