We like to paint our names on the wall

[venta]

I've spent a few minutes trying to knock out some logos to go on t-shirts for Mabel. It's not gone entirely to plan.

I had stolen, from somewhere online, the following picture of a sword lock:



Now, that's a little small to go on a t-shirt. But it's also not a very high quality image, so blowing it up makes it rather fuzzy. However, the GIMP appears to have options like "smart sharpen". OK, that looks like a good plan - sharpen the edges up, it'll be fine.

The result:



What on earth's happened there ? It looks knitted.

However, I'd also found that the GIMP has an option for "smart enlarge", so perhaps I can start again from the little lock.



Well, that's hardly any better, is it ?

Does anyone know what these functions are meant to do ? They clearly don't do what I was expecting of them.

Also, can anyone give me idiot-proof instructions on how to bend text ? I want to write something round the lock, but have no idea how to go about it. I'm at work, so I only have the GIMP (and don't want to spend time downloading other stuff, even if it's free) - though if people can offer very idiot-proof instructions I can try Paintshop/Photoshop when I get home. Graphics software and I don't really get on. Really.

And... I tried, I really did. I mocked up some designs using various fonts. And what does it look like the majority vote is in favour of ? Comic Sans. I ask you.

People will no doubt be pleased to note that the overall effect of yesterday's playlist experiment was to remind me that there are a few albums I haven't listened to enough, or haven't listened to in a while. So today, I've listened to Envy of Angels, by the Mutton Birds, Lost Horizons by Lemon Jelly and am currently listening to Head Music by Suede. I found the Suede album cheap in a bargain bucket somewhere and have since been recommended against it, since it belongs to Suede's crap (ie post Butler-departure) era.

Comments

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess we're just following orders, so Comic Sans (<spit> !) it is for now. Changed version uploaded.

And no, I didn't mean anything besides sorting out intersections. It's "real work" only in the sense that it requires slightly more care and patience.

Incidentally, whilst I'm a fan of Impact (it's the one I use for my work homepage) it's not ideal for curved text because it's very narrow. Would work nicely for the straight text you advocate... but you can easily add that yourself and prove your detractors wrong !

[venta.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot. I'll have a look when I get home tonight.

(I load a .ai file into Photoshop, and it becomes apparent what to do with it ? Does it ask me how big I want it ?)

I owe you a Big Cake ;)

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Yes, it asks you how big you want it. Also, you can set the resolution. (I use 300dpi for t-shirts.) With the resolution set correctly, it should be possible to specify image size in real world units (eg. centimetres).

Editing with a laptop 'mouse' can be accomplished, but you may find you need to resort to the cursor keys for positioning things exactly.

Incidentally, the vast majority of printshops can work directly from Photoshop files, so there may be no need to actually print it out.