Still trying to get whiskers

[hudakore]

I don't thing my original question was answered but I'm trying to replace long whiskers on animals I've isolated. I learned how to do nice fur, hair and feather replacement thanks to the latest issue in the PET mag. However, I still can't make good whiskers on cats, squirrels, etc. I've used the pencil and brush tools at 1 px but they don't seem to work. Any other suggestions?

[pacfam]

This is probably too much trouble. . . but you can make brushes to simulate whiskers. A black 10 px Line Tool on white background, then apply Distort/Shear and adjust slightly to your liking. I then made two different brushes from the results. I just flipped or changed size to make them different on my "cat". Just a suggestion. . .
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1iAv53nn6f892G7WK26zcksDQbs8HS_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/%5BURL=http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1iAv53nn6f892G7WK26zcksDQbs8HS%5D %5BIMG%5Dhttp://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1iAv53nn6f892G7WK26zcksDQbs8HS_thumb.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D)

[hudakore]

Nice idea! I'll try it. Thank you. Maybe I can make some whiskers and save them as brushes. How easy is that?

[pacfam]

If you'd like to try the two simple ones I made, here is a link where you can download them:
http://www.4shared.com/file/109256995/583cf46e/Whisker_brushesabr.html

[hudakore]

Thank you so much.

[Daviskw]

Hi there

Sometimes simple works.... I like to pull out whiskers with the smudge tool set around 100 to 80 percent... I often use a 1 or 2 pixel brush with pen pressure and make sure softness is set around 50 percent.

As I draw I think about pressure to start and less to finish.

Then if I need to I can reduce opacity...blur... or or fade the ends with a mask.

Check the gif and see if it would be real enough for you

Butch

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1dcxh05134Z3LuIpxLTYR9y27wYiN1_thumb.gif (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1dcxh05134Z3LuIpxLTYR9y27wYiN1)

[frank abramonte]

Butch, can you please explain how you get the whiskers to taper to a point?
Very well done.

[Daviskw]

Hi Frank... with shape dynamics set to pen pressure and a little bit of a soft brush... the ends will fade.

But if not... just add a mask then use a large low opacity brush and click a few times near the ends to fade.

Butch

[hudakore]

Excellent info, Butch; this is exactly what I was needing. But, can you explain this part: "I often use a 1 or 2 pixel brush with pen pressure and make sure softness is set around 50 percent."

Are you using a Wacom tablet or the mouse? Which tools are you using for pen pressure and "softness at around 50%"?

[Daviskw]

You can do it with or without a pen... I set the smudge strength high... at least 80 and sometimes 100.

Then when I pick a small brush... say a 1 or 2 pixel I make sure the hardness is reduced to 50 percent or so... brush hardness and smudge strength are two different adjustments.

I pull them out on a separate layer... if the ends do not fade or taper then just group an adjustment layer to use the mask or add one with grants tools. Pick a large soft black brush and set the brush opacity to around 20.. then click near the ends until they soften as you like.

Butch