How to use "Paint" drawing program for your illustrations.

[zebedee]

I have been credited in the past, for my manipulated photos, also drawings and diagrams that illustrait a point I was making or to show how I have modified, documented or detailed TM's, fabrications etc.

So with that in mind or more to the fact that it's not "Rocket surgery" and with a little help, you all can do it, I'd like to start a thread to offer help to people that want to draw something but can't quite get the grasp of their "PAINT" program.

If you have specific issues please post here and I'll try to walk through how 'I would' achieve the desired effect.

(NB. I do not draw professionally any more - and when I did, it was with pen and rule not CAD!)

zebedee

 

[wheelspinner]

Starting out with a self-portrait Howard?

 

[zebedee]

Yes Pat - I guess so.

........ Boiiiinnnnnnng... ..... ......

 

[rchalmers3]

Thank you for the offer!

I assume there are different versions of the Paint program? My ancient netbook's program offers a very limited set of manipulation tools and I doubt I could produce much in the way of anything.

Describing the Paint program versions and identifying the toolbar features would be a good place to start a tutorial.

Rick

 

[gringeltaube]

I use MS-PAINT for all my drawings, just because it is so much simpler to use than all other CAD programs. Now, make sure you have the good old XP-version and NOT the later Windows7 which is junk!

G.

 

[zebedee]

Great point rchalmers3. I am useing Windows 'something' maybe Vista but I think it's XP - however, I think it's pretty basic and semi universal. This is the screen I have and a couple of the tools expanded:

 

[gringeltaube]

Yes, that is the good MS-PAINT, the one that came with Windows XP.

G.

 

[patracy]

I use MS-PAINT for all my drawings, just because it is so much simpler to use than all other CAD programs. Now, make sure you have the good old XP-version and NOT the later Windows7 which is junk!

G.

Wait, all your drawings are done in paint?

 

[gringeltaube]

Yes Sir. That's all I could learn; or better say that's the only thing I did not forget... (besides typing with two fingers...)

G.

 

[zebedee]

Photo modification

Tips for finding the tools necessary for a simple modification of a photo. Handy for 'visualising' ideas prior to measuring and cutting real truck.

Example here is to see what an extra tool box would look like added behind the bumper of an M916A1 to 'fill the gap' left when a "lift here"/"Tow here" bumper replaces the civilian one and doesn't blend with the lift front hood/fender assembly wheel arch.


Tools used here are ; Magnify, cut n paste, color capture, erase, color lines & color fill.

Edit - Ooops, looks like I have to scale up the images from here on - got kind of shrunk in the process of uploading...

Hope helps and is clear enough.

 

[zebedee]

May be this is a little clearer:

steps are not necessarily in order, but I hope you get the jist...

 

[glassk]

I use the snip-it to select a part of the on screen image, copy on that menu and paste into paint, add items like the sizes on the spindle, or the Mod To the Admins post,



Helps in ads also,..

 

[Whiterabbit]

Thanks guys! This very non computer literate monkey might have to play around with that.
Will "paint" fill in images with color like the camo outlines/templates in the TB43-0147? I'd like to play around with different colors and see how they would look on the M151.
I soooooo gott'a get with the 21st century!

 

[zebedee]

... Will "paint" fill in images with color like the camo outlines/templates in the TB43-0147? I'd like to play around with different colors and see how they would look on the M151...

Yes, so long as the image is "clean", and by that I mean that black and white line drawings are exactly that - either black or white. Zoom in on selected areas to see individual pixels, lots of 'copied' images get corrupted with other near whites and dark grays. You may have to draw a white line right next to a "black" line co sharpen it - then you can rub out (eraser) all the 'dirty' white so that you have clear fields of actual white. NB., if there is even one pixel missing of a black box (regardles of how complicated a shape it is, then the new color you are trying will bleed out and go to all other connecting white pixels.

If you want me to do some kind of graphic or eg., then let me know.

 

[zebedee]

Tips for experimenting with camo paterns etc.

 

[Whiterabbit]

Corrupt pixies huh? Well that explains it. Paint "bucket" wouldn't fill in the areas.

Guess I need to go and enlarge the img and erase the gray from the img lines huh?
Did notice an error in the camo patern. Passenger side area below windshield pattern doesn't work with top view of that area. Better to catch that now than while spraying paint. Couldn't figure out how to make wider lines on geometric outlined boxes to circle the area.

 

[zebedee]

Couldn't figure out how to make wider lines on geometric outlined boxes to circle the area.

If you are talking about the tool that is top right, under the 'Edit' drop down, then you can't change it's size, you wouldn't want to, it's 1 pixel wide, so you can really get down to shaving blocks when copying or deleting. The box/polygon tool, bottom four tools (with oval/round and 'square'/round) can be used to draw outline - various thicknesses, delete or solid filled colors depending on right or left clicking when selecting colors.

 

[zebedee]

I wanted to add this to the first post as a good start point for reference.
But I don't appear to be able to edit the first post to add this pic:



Use this pic to reference different tools for further discussion/tips.

 

[Whiterabbit]

Thank you! The correct terminology probably would help huh?