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Two-Dimensional Art & Design

Proposed Q&A site for illustrators, animators, graphic designers, painters, pixel artists, comic artists, concept artists, print makers, and visual designers in both traditional and digital media. For questions of art fundamentals, design, business, and technical issues.
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<comments removed> If you have questions or comments about this proposal, please use 'create new discussion' below. Thanks. – Robert Cartaino♦ Aug 20 '12 at 14:02

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Why this proposal is not a duplicate of the 'Graphic Design' proposal

feb 23 at 0:40 K.L. 289
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Would the proposed site allow for “review my work” questions?

feb 5 at 23:03 namretiolnave 69

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27 Example Questions

active oldest votes
up vote 9 down vote
What is curvilinear perspective and how does that differ from linear perspective? How do you draw in curvilinear perspective?
added by Yokai Aug 14 '12 at 3:10
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For that matter, what's linear perspective? – Joe Z. Mar 30 at 5:30
up vote 8 down vote
How does one assess the value of their art, begin to sell commissioned pieces, and learn the business of freelance art production?
added by MrKatSwordfish Aug 13 '12 at 12:48
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2  
Big question. Would it not be better to split it into smaller chunks? – naught101 Sep 21 '12 at 8:53
As an artist I see it this way: when there is something I feel I can produce as a steady product that I can market that someone wishes to sell then I'll be game. I recognize that in of itself is difficult and requires that the artist divorce the personal side and enter the business side. Cost of materials and value of time spent relative to the standard of living you want, and the willingness for someone to value your work as such. Strike that balance without compromising what you do (too much) and that's it. – namretiolnave Feb 5 at 16:35
up vote 7 down vote
How can I build a silkscreen printing press that minimizes alignment errors when working with multicolored designs?
added by MrKatSwordfish Aug 13 '12 at 13:09
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I do more intaglio but I will suggest something I remember from my printmaking days in art school. It's a poor man's solution but dirt cheap. All you need is a table, some hinges to secure your screen and some cardstock to hold your paper in place. Making registration marks in your image outside the main artwork area is a good idea. Line up your colors in sequence then print. I saw a skilled grad do this, he only printed each color at a time before switching screens at his table. So he didn't have a machine per se -just an efficient economical system to register his prints -hope that helped. – namretiolnave Feb 5 at 17:15
up vote 7 down vote
I'm trying to make my character look big, strong, and imposing, but it always ends up cute and fat. What am I doing wrong? [Includes example sketch]
added by naught101 Sep 21 '12 at 8:58
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Nothing wrong with big, cute, and strong, but fat might be a problem. – Joe Z. Apr 9 at 14:07
There is if I'm not trying for cute. If I'm trying for imposing, or scary. Question updated. – naught101 Apr 10 at 1:12
Try sharper edges and angles, and strong lines and outlining. Stay away from convex curves; concavity usually evokes images of sickness or malnourishment, which lends itself to an imposing look. Or, if you want a more benevolent version of intimidation, look at the designs for characters such as LoL's Jarvan IV or Garen. Look at how they bell outwards toward the top, like trees, and they have strong facial features and even stronger musculature. Large weapons, armor, and the like also help. – Shotgun Ninja Apr 10 at 21:46
up vote 5 down vote
In graphice pencil drawing, how do I create a really thin white line?
added by user206309 Jan 10 at 8:38
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WIth graphite you can get lead holders and sharpen your leads to a hairline. With 'white' those would be colored pencils that are often more brittle and sort of gum up sharpeners when the points aren't getting broken. use a razor blade -mat knife to whittle a crude point out then you can shape it either with the blade or by using soem very fine sandpaper-carefully.Sometimes, you will notice that color pencil will not cover or make a good mark over graphite lines or other colors,You might want to use a brown paper.For an established mid tone, graphite for dark, your white for the highlights. – namretiolnave Feb 8 at 16:48
@namretiolnave: The comments aren't here for answering questions. They are here for discussing whether the question would be appropriate on the site. The questions can be answered when the site goes in to Beta. – naught101 May 21 at 10:49
up vote 4 down vote
What is the difference between 'straight-ahead' and 'pose-to-pose' animation techniques? What are the pros and cons of each and are they ever mixed?
added by MrKatSwordfish Aug 13 '12 at 12:52
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up vote 3 down vote
How does [artist] achieve [effect]?
added by damned truths Apr 7 at 11:33
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Nice question, but this will only work for effects that are easily describable in words (for the title) – naught101 Apr 11 at 12:33
@naught101 True. But the effect can also be shown in images in the main body of the question. – damned truths May 20 at 6:54
up vote 2 down vote
How do you properly blend between two colors? What makes you choose when to and when not to blend values or colors?
added by Yokai Aug 14 '12 at 2:44
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2  
In what medium? – e100 Aug 14 '12 at 18:25
There are many ways. I was taught by one illustration teacher to use a graphic pencil charcoal or watercolor to rub or wash in a middle tone first, then shade in the darks and then wipe out highlights. This applies when starting a traditional painting. You can use a line drawing as a start -go over it with some paint/ charcoal or a pen to let your drawing show, wash your burnt sieana over it, work in your yellow ochre and or whiet into the mid lights, then work in some umber and blue for the shadows, the white for the highlights. Glaze your colors in (violla old school oil painting). – namretiolnave Feb 5 at 15:58
up vote 2 down vote
I would like to learn how to do Anamorphic sidewalk art -how to I grid it out so as to create the illusion flawlessly? What tools do I need?
added by namretiolnave Feb 5 at 22:39
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up vote 2 down vote
How do I work on my line precision and angle/shape perception? I see and know what I want to draw, but it never ends up as I wanted
added by K.L. Feb 14 at 10:41
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up vote 2 down vote
Whats the point of gesture drawings? Is it just some mystic "release your mind" "artistic martial art ritual"? How does it help you improve?
added by K.L. Feb 14 at 10:46
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1  
It's intended to help you "loosen up" and train you to use your eyes on the subject and take them off the paper. When we draw from life we try to gaze at the object, remember it and then use the "memory" to record what is in front of us. By doing this "extreme" exercise, you can learn to take your eye off the paper and draw as you keep looking. You need to get used to doing both. – namretiolnave Mar 4 at 22:09
up vote 1 down vote
What is the difference between 'raster' and 'vector' graphics? Is it better to use raster or vector art software when first learning digital painting?
added by MrKatSwordfish Aug 13 '12 at 13:15
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I'd say this is within scope of Graphic Design. – e100 Aug 14 '12 at 18:29
We already have lots of good questions like this on the Graphic Design site. – user568458 Aug 17 '12 at 14:12
up vote 1 down vote
Nobody is visiting my [website, blog] at [url] - how can I improve my artist profile on the internet?
added by S List Oct 30 '12 at 7:04
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up vote 1 down vote
My art school doesn't teach anatomy, and all the text books are medical ones - how can I learn this subject?
added by S List Oct 30 '12 at 7:12
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The best way IMO is try to ask your instructors for help. Also, go online and print out or but some books with Drawings and studies done by old masters. Copy those drawings. Invest in a small skeleton model. draw the skeloeton from several angles, from some of your books try to imagine you are building a body -start with the bone -then draw muscles and tendons over the bone and construct a torso, hand or a face. If you really want to go crazy, get a model skeleton and use clay to add muscles in layers. your professors can give you tips about using your materials to create depth and illusion. – namretiolnave Feb 5 at 15:53
up vote 1 down vote
Why do art schools push students in a post modern direction even if some students want more traditional training, and what can be done about it?
added by namretiolnave Feb 5 at 20:08
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I'm sure not all art schools do that? – Joe Z. Apr 9 at 14:08
There are schools that do specialize in traditional painting -but because they are fewer and smaller and less mainstreamed it's harder to gain admission. To better clarify my question -I would want to know why it seems to be less important than it should be and unless a prospective student shows early signs of being a more disciplined artist BEFORE the university level he/she can't won't get admitted to schools that favor such disciplines. From my own experience I had to teach myself these things but would rather gotten this training early on. I don't think I used the word "all". – namretiolnave Apr 19 at 19:06
up vote 0 down vote
What does the Renaissance painting technique "Unione" mean (with example)? I can't find a good explanation on the internet.
added by S List Nov 9 '12 at 16:40
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up vote 0 down vote
What snappy answers you have when asked how you justify your time not making things because you want to SELL them but because you want to MAKE them!
added by namretiolnave Feb 5 at 21:00
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up vote 0 down vote
I want to sell my work,I'm not sure what they will like.I'd rather not without some commitment from a gallery or buyer.Is waiting to frame a bad idea?
added by namretiolnave Feb 8 at 16:40
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up vote 0 down vote
What is fixative used for?
added by jSepia May 18 at 3:24
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up vote 0 down vote
What are some good default readable fonts that work well for both body fonts and headers?
added by CharlesL Jun 10 at 0:35
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up vote 0 down vote
Should there only be a few padding distances to create a "padding pallet" when designing websites?
added by CharlesL Jun 10 at 0:37
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up vote 0 down vote
How come Red and Blue don't work well on top of each other even though they're complementary colors?
added by CharlesL Jun 10 at 0:38
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up vote 0 down vote
What software is good for website mockup/layouts?
added by CharlesL Jun 10 at 0:39
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up vote 0 down vote
How to export icon vectors so that they're sharp?
added by CharlesL Jun 10 at 0:41
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up vote -1 down vote
What resolution should I make my photoshop painting?
added by Yokai Aug 14 '12 at 2:36
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2  
This is definitely within scope of Graphic Design. – e100 Aug 14 '12 at 18:26
1  
@e100: painting isn't really within the field of graphic design, and more than sculpture is in the field of construction. If this site gets up, this question would be far more suitable here than there. – naught101 Sep 21 '12 at 9:03
Disgaree - a question about resolution of a Photoshop image is a long way from (fine-art) painting. – e100 Nov 7 '12 at 10:41
up vote -3 down vote
What type of suggestions do you have for a new tablet user?
added by Yokai Aug 14 '12 at 2:30
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1  
Seems too broad - what sort of work are they doing? – e100 Aug 14 '12 at 18:27
Totally within scope of Graphic Design site. – user568458 Aug 17 '12 at 14:12
I think if it's specified that the person is drawing and illustrating things, then it should be out of Graphic Design's scope. – Joe Z. Mar 21 at 13:45
up vote -3 down vote
What application do you use for line-art and why do you use it?
added by Yokai Aug 14 '12 at 2:50
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This is definitely within scope of Graphic Design. – e100 Aug 14 '12 at 18:28
2  
I think this is well within scope, but it's asking for opinion, not fact. – naught101 Sep 21 '12 at 8:56

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