Stripes that Curve and Taper

[harryadkins]

I would like to do a set of Seaboard Air Line diesels but can't seem to figure out how to create nose stripes that curve and taper (see attached picture). Can someone please point me to a tutorial that might help? I really don't even know which technique to search for.

Thanks for your help.

Harry

P. S. The attached photo is the default SAL DRB GP7 model from here at RWA.

[buzz456]

In Paint.Net you draw a straight line from where you want to begin and end and then move the mid-points around to get the curve you want. It's a little free hand but works well.

[GreatNortherner]

Hi Harry,

'Bezier Curve' is the technical term behind that, most somewhat advanced graphics programs should have this function. In Jasc/Corel Paint Shop it is for example a mode of the Line Tool (and it works like Buzz described it: you draw a line and then get "handles" to modifiy the curvature of the line).

Cheers
Michael

[dgallina]

For my reskins I used Photoshop bezier curves and / or sections of a circle as vectors, depending. You can try free handing it with bitmaps, but that will likely cause trouble as soon as you try to move or resize a curved section. Much better to go with vectors on a layer in the first place. Though they are fussy since you have to learn how to use them and some apps don't do it at all.

Diego

[harryadkins]

Thanks guys. Never heard of bezier curves.

[buzz456]

Neither had I though I was using them.

[Chacal]

I don't know if I should tell you that you are also performing a best-fit 7th-order Fourier series expansion on the pivot points.