First Ever Pattern Attempt

[tcleckler]

Found a program on the net "Paint.net", used suggestions from tutitorial and this is what I came up with. This is my chocolate lab "Bear". So, what do you think? What would you change or can I cut it like it is?

[Daryl185]

looks darn good bud could you possibly post a link to that program you used TIA

[CanadianScroller]

I love what you have done here, I like the fur and the collar. I love the ear, I love the way the back of the dog fades away to white.
I am a little concerned with the upper muzzle area, where the top lip comes down. I know this is how the photo is but it takes away a little from the rest of the pattern. The real trick there would be defining the upper lip as a different entity from the shadow of the mouth.
It is a cuttable pattern and I know it will look good with all the features you have captured.

You have captured the eyes perfectly!

I did a little change on the lip. I hope you don't mind, this is just my interpretation and you can take it or leave it. Just a matter of opinion.

I have to say this is very impressive for a first pattern.

[workin for wood]

This is way more than I know how to do...but I've seen lots of these protraits that you guys do. I think the bottom of the jaw needs a bit more definition and so does the top right portion of his collar. His neck above the collar is alot of black..perhaps add a bit more hair in there. Keep in mind of course, I'm no expert and making them changes might not even be possible, I wouldn't know.

Love the dog...do you have to follow that tongue around with a towel? Seems to me he's drowling...or maybe he's just dreaming of a pig ear ?

[Gill]

That's pretty impressive for a first attempt .

Like Jeff says, the lower jaw does need some definition, but don't just draw it in manually with a white line - use your software to select just the neck and jaw, then use different brightness/contrast settings to those which were applied to the rest of the picture.

Then I'd suggest flood filling the white areas with a different color. The areas which don't get filled are either floaters or they're areas with bridges that are so fine the flood fill can't penetrate them and therefore will probably be too fine to cut. Next, I'd try to get rid of the little spots that are really too small to cut and which are really just specks of interference. This can be time consuming but it's surprising what an impact it makes on the design. Next, I'd look at the detail of the pattern. Often, you get very complex 'channels' which take a lot of intricate cutting but don't actually contribute to the overall picture. I compare this to navigating your blade like a ship - why meander through all the creeks and inlets when you can comfortably sail directly to the sea?

This should be a smashing pattern by the time it's complete .

Gill

[Andy]

Woo Hoo!!! I'm glad to see you're figuring out how to manipulate the original pic. As I said in a private PM the lack of contrasting colors makes the pattern even more difficult but you've done very well. The comments made by others are right on too. That's one thing I love about this group ... the ideas, support, different perspectives ... it only makes us ALL better. Thanks for sharing the progress Troy and thanks to the rest of you for sharing ideas. This'll end up a family treasure and a pattern that many other people enjoy!!

Andy

[PuzzledMoose]

Very impressive, Troy - not to mention a beautiful dog to begin with ...

That has the makings of a very nice pattern .. and you have lots of good suggestions here from the others..

A question for you - and anyone else - would you use a chocolate coloured backer behind a cutting of a chocolate lab?

[Mick Walker]

Troy, is the grass really that green in Alabama or was the picture taken before? Nice job on the pattern. Good thing you didn't want that tail in the picture, looks like it is moving pretty fast.

[tcleckler]

Thanks for all of the help, and no Carl I don't mind what you did to the pattern, looks better. The reason I posted it is to get advice from you all, and thanks for the commendation as well.

Daryl, the web for program is "www.getpaint.net/index2.html" the free download is "paint.net v3.01. I found it fairly easy to navigate through and this is the first time trying to use a paint program.

And thanks again Andy, all of your advice and instructions was very helpfull.

And yes the grass is always this green, this is the other side of the fence. HaHa! No, the pic was taken last summer.

I'll take in all the advice & see what I can come up with to complete the pattern.

[DukeNukem]

That loks really good, I say you scroll His/Her name in the tag just a thought.again it looks great.

Jerry