Thread: Useful ap for layout lines in carving

I have used a OHP to put an image on a White board or wall to draw an outline but that app blows that out of the water.
Excellent find.

OK I admit, I make my living from drawing , free hand with a pen , ( yes a real one with ink in it !)

However I do know that it took a massive effort to develop this ability & I know hat many wood carvers are woodcarvers & haven't had the inspiration to take the commitment to develop the whole drawing thing but in my experience woodcarving is nothing more than three dimensional drawing , it is actually more difficult to do well !

These modern tracing & interpreting methods of getting a pattern should not be regretted or a source of shame instead they should be embraced & welcomed because all of the work in carving is in he dimensions & the scope for interpretation is massive .Modern technology has merely relieved you of a difficult task - great!
But there ARE downsides which you must understand to use it without limiting our creative expression , DON'T be a slave to it , to interpret a photo , drawing involves a deep absorbtion into a subject that tracing does not , therefore look at your final tracing & alter the lines to emphasize how you FEEL about the subject.
What are the striking features , the size of the shoulders ? the wideness of he grin ? or whatever - Then broaden the line there leave some more wood on , make this photo a starting or mid way point rather than a finishing point.
Mike

Originally Posted by Lappa

I have used a OHP to put an image on a White board or wall to draw an outline but that app blows that out of the water.
Excellent find.

Actually, it may not. When you actually use the ap it's quite hard to use and not really much fun. I don't think a skilled drawer or someone who has access to some other form of projection would bother with it. For someone like me who is terminally hopeless at drawing it's a great solution for putting on some near-enough layout lines, and for $7.99, or free if you choose one of the other versions.


It is a great example of leveraging technology and lateral thinking however.

Cheers
Arron

Originally Posted by Mike the knife

OK I admit, I make my living from drawing , free hand with a pen , ( yes a real one with ink in it !)

However I do know that it took a massive effort to develop this ability & I know hat many wood carvers are woodcarvers & haven't had the inspiration to take the commitment to develop the whole drawing thing but in my experience woodcarving is nothing more than three dimensional drawing , it is actually more difficult to do well !

These modern tracing & interpreting methods of getting a pattern should not be regretted or a source of shame instead they should be embraced & welcomed because all of the work in carving is in he dimensions & the scope for interpretation is massive .Modern technology has merely relieved you of a difficult task - great!
But there ARE downsides which you must understand to use it without limiting our creative expression , DON'T be a slave to it , to interpret a photo , drawing involves a deep absorbtion into a subject that tracing does not , therefore look at your final tracing & alter the lines to emphasize how you FEEL about the subject.
What are the striking features , the size of the shoulders ? the wideness of he grin ? or whatever - Then broaden the line there leave some more wood on , make this photo a starting or mid way point rather than a finishing point.
Mike

Yep. I think your ability to do any type of interpretation through the ap is just about zero. It gives the user such a strange view of the proceedings that it's pretty much just copy only. Any interpretation would have to be done in the original drawing or in the carving out.

I'm not trying to denigrate the ap, it's still great for us non-drawers, just trying to create realistic expectations.

Thanks for posting this, Arron!

Good points, Mike. First thing that springs to mind for me is I wouldn't need graphite paper any more. I do a lot of my carvings, starting with a block of wood upon which I sketch, or trace, a pattern. When sketching, I often end up drawing, erasing, drawing, erasing, etc., until I get something that looks like what I want. This tool appears to be able to cut that to one step, and then it's off to the bandsaw.

Would it be quicker than my current sketching? Probably not... Would it be more accurate? Probably yes...

Bottom line: depends on what it costs...

Claude

I usually draw my own design but also use other people and modify them to suit . So a camera often comes in you can always just print it out sick it onto a block of wood then carve . But nine times out of ten I get a image then modify it to suit myself
I do like to keep a cardboard pattern surprising how often it come in handy even if you change it again.

Originally Posted by Arron

Actually, it may not. When you actually use the ap it's quite hard to use and not really much fun. I don't think a skilled drawer or someone who has access to some other form of projection would bother with it. For someone like me who is terminally hopeless at drawing it's a great solution for putting on some near-enough layout lines, and for $7.99, or free if you choose one of the other versions.


It is a great example of leveraging technology and lateral thinking however.

Cheers
Arron

I was relating to the technology I used (OHP) being used to try and draw small scale like the app. For large scale wall and whiteboard drawings, the OHP still works great.

I made a rather rough stand for my Ipad from scrap pine today so I could have a decent look at the Camera Lucida ap. Its really very good. It takes a bit of time to get used to. I've attached a photo of a drawing (well, a tracing really) I did. It took about 30 mins. I wont be entering the Archibald any time soon but this is way beyond what I could do without it.

cheers
Arron

lucidaAp.jpg

ps. my apologies to the original artist who's copyright I've violated. Its going in the bin now, promise.

Big jump in price from their website price (percentage wise) to iTunes price. Still, $7.99 is not bad for a good app. if you are going to use it.

I think the website is the price to US buyers. The iTunes price is geolocated.

I guess I am one of the fortunate ones who can draw and hadn't quite realized how fortunate I am until viewing this post.