Phosphor: gradient on a path: I maybe found it...

[Pierre_C...@adobeforums.com]

I was thinking about stroking paths and the fact that selections can affect it... SO I've got another solution, valid to PS6: stroking with feathered selections!

See at PST: <http://www.photoshoptechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=84684&t=4700#post84684>

[Stevi...@adobeforums.com]

I use the path, make a selection and new layer, fill with whatever colour then stroke path with the airbrush making sure the layer transparency is locked, then the edge is fogged without overspray, giving the appearance of a gradient on a path....is that the look you're talking about?

P.S. I play with pressure settings to get the tappered spray.

[Sorry]

HEH...nope, that's not how I did it. My technique is much simpler.

Gee....I keep forgetting to reveal how I did it. Why do you suppose that is?

;)

Plus, you forgot an important detail:

"I'm still wondering how you were able to stroke and still get a thinner
stroke at the beginning AND at the end of the stroke..."

:)

[Pierre_C...@adobeforums.com]

So far, we have:
Sub paths stroking (I. D.)
Bottom layer with paint strokes, then stroking with smudge.(MArk's take on another of your excellents methods)
Multi-Stroking with fade on.(Mark) (! only PS7 and CS)
Stroking of a gradient with the stroke tool (Welles)
Stroking with black to shite fade, plus gradient map (me)(only Ps7 and CS)
Stroking with feathered selections (me again)

Right now, I'm wondering if only Photoshop is involved.
Mh, the 'Simulate Pressure' part of Welles throws me off... was it a PS6 setting?

[John_K...@adobeforums.com]

If Illustrator is involved, the gradient along a path can be done with a blended brush. Then brought into Photoshop for the rest of the effects.

[O...@adobeforums.com]

New>Gradient Tool>Rainbow>Drag full window and leave open

then...

New>Pen Tool>Create some sort of squiggley

then...

Use healing brush to stroke gradient of first doc onto squiggley in second?

[O...@adobeforums.com]

I've forgotten what your original demo looked like, Phos. It would help if you reposted it or one just like it.

Oh and by the way, despite repeated visits, we still haven't had a chance to sample night life in Lancaster but we recently had a great time in a club, in downtown Wilmington, called Zanzibar Blue. I'm betting you've been there.

[O...@adobeforums.com]

errr.. make that the clone stamp tool that you stroke with. sheesh and make sure "simulate pressure" is checked.

[Sorry]

I've only been to Zanzibar Blue once (if I'm remembering the venue correctly), when a sax playing friend from Chadds Ford PA憂ohn Doughten揺ad a gig there. That was quite a while back

Where are you from again, Oh2?

[Pierre_C...@adobeforums.com]

Oh2, the image is on the thread I linked to.
(Threads don't expire over there)
Where the h*ck is simulate pressure...

[O...@adobeforums.com]

Pierre, using PS7 - the simulate pressure check box is part of the stroke options dialog

[O...@adobeforums.com]

Way down here in Salisbury, MD. And speaking of the famous Chadds Ford, be sure to grab grab a bite to eat at "Hanks Place" next time through that little town. Nothing fancy mind you but I won't soon forget the lunch we had there recently. All home cooked stuff, monster portions, friendly people, home made desserts (they even have their own brand of root beer for the floats) and cheap - five star! We accidently discovered Hanks on our way to Longwood Gardens that same weekend. That was an awesome weekend.

[Pierre_C...@adobeforums.com]

Ah, ok, thanks, I was searching at the other end: on the clone menu!
BTW, Phosphor challenge was issued at the time of PS6... this may help you!

[O...@adobeforums.com]

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with any versions of PS prior to version 7. Did PS6 give you any brush preset options? That might be the ticket.

[Sorry]

Ahhh, Salisbury. Not sure I remember you mentioning that.

Sooo...I suppose you're familiar with Tom Larsen, then?

And I just recently heard a great report about Hank's on one of the Philly TV stations.

[O...@adobeforums.com]

Tom Larsen, yeah absolutely.

[Pierre_C...@adobeforums.com]

Phoz, you're just cruel ;)

[Sorry]

Nice technique, Ann, and one I'll play with.

But it still can't replicate my Grad Strokes technique wherein the color changes along the length of the path, following the curves (see below) Imagine that the stroke is a mask. What would be revealed if the mask was removed isn't just a gradient underneath. Notice that where my strokes double back on themselves you don't see the same color as you would if it were just a gradient being revealed.

Keep guessing!

:)

[Ann_She...@adobeforums.com]

Make Path.
Fill whole area with rainbow Gradient.
Make History Snapshot.
Cmd. Z to remove gradient fill.
Select History brush and set the Snapshot as Source.
Make Brush with Size Jitter 0%/Pen pressure/Minimum Size 5%.
Stroke Path … History Brush/Simulate Pressure.
Done?!

:~)

[John_K...@adobeforums.com]

Here is my take on it using a blended brush in Illustrator and bringing it into Photoshop for post work. <http://f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/uni...@pacbell.net/lst?.dir=/pegacorn&.view=l>

Click on the gradiet_path.jpg because I am too cheap to purchase space. :P

[d._wade_...@adobeforums.com]

hey Phos,

I can't remember the exact technique, but does it involve the smudge tool and fingerpainting?

[Stevi...@adobeforums.com]

Stroke subpath>smudge tool, that still doesn't cover the taper at either end.

[d._wade_...@adobeforums.com]

didn't think about the taper, I was just focusing on the gradient :)

[Sorry]

Wade...

"I can't remember the exact technique, but does it involve the smudge
tool and fingerpainting?"

Nope. That was another technique altogether that I came up with. A tutorial for that used to live somewhere on this forum, but it disappeared during the Blarney Daze celebration.

[Ann_She...@adobeforums.com]

I can't do as well as Phosphor but it has been fun trying to….
(Styles were heavily involved in these ones.)

[O...@adobeforums.com]

Ann, I think your gradient on a path offerings spank the toenails off of Phosphors crude attempts. His choice for a background, compared to yours, is gopher weed too. Blech.

[Stevi...@adobeforums.com]

So tell us what you really think Oh2, don't hold back.

[O...@adobeforums.com]

Heya Stevie, I hope no one took that seriously. =)

[Stevi...@adobeforums.com]

Hell no, I forgot the smiley winky thing. ;) :)

[Ann_She...@adobeforums.com]

I wonder if the way that Phosphor did this was draw a path; and then paint daubs of color in the area covering the path; then use the Smudge tool to smear the paint daubs.

Then make a history snapshot; clear the color from the layer then stroke the path using the History Brush with brush settings with Size Jitter 0% /Pen pressure/Minimum Size 5%.

Stroke Path … History Brush/Simulate Pressure.

Then some Layer styling to finish them off.

That is how these were done.

[O...@adobeforums.com]

Ann, do you recall Phos saying whether or not this effect was accomplished totally in PS? I should have asked before. Anyways, do you think that the liquify tool might play a role? Fiddling with that right now. Your daub/smudge crack was a good idea. : ¬ )

[Stevi...@adobeforums.com]

I think it's time Phos comes clean on this mystery...how did you do it?

[Ann_She...@adobeforums.com]

You definitely can do it in entirely in Photoshop but I don't know whether or not Phosphor did that.

Here is another one that I did using the liquify filter to smear the color daubs followed by stroking a path with the History Brush.

[Sorry]

What I like best about all this is that it's inspiring experimentation.

Experimenting is how I invented the technique I used. Somebody, on some forum, somewhere, a few years ago, wondered whether it was possible to have a gradient color change along the length of a path. That got my brain cells burning and I figured out how.

[nilk...@adobeforums.com]

That's neat Phos. :) I'm going to try it.