help with drawing in PS

[drain]

I'm trying to make a wallpaper, and since there are no high res drawings of trogdor, I scaled up the original then traced it with the paintbrush to eliminate pixelation.

[HUGE]
[media]http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5511/fuck2s.png[/media]

[Smaller]
[media]http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/5511/fuck2s.png[/media]

Look at how shitty that looks. ^

I'm wondering if there is some algorithmy filter, or option I can pull off to make the lines look more natural?

How can I get the outline to look like this?

[media]http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/images/wallpaper-Octopus-1024x768.jpg[/media]

Do I just need more practice drawing lines with a mouse?

Note: Its far from done, I'm just trying to work out the drawing first.

[fluffy the d]

[QUOTE=trogdor6666;17791401]I'm trying to make a wallpaper, and since there are no high res drawings of trogdor, I scaled up the original then traced it with the paintbrush to eliminate pixelation.

Look at how shitty that looks. ^

I'm wondering if there is some algorithmy filter, or option I can pull off to make the lines look more natural?

How can I get the outline to look like this?

Do I just need more practice drawing lines with a mouse?

Note: Its far from done, I'm just trying to work out the drawing first.[/QUOTE]

I would just try it a few more times till it looked more natural if it really matters.

[xelivous]

[b]What I started with:[/b]
[media]http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/1231166/images/326.jpg[/media]

[b]What I ended up with:[/b]
[media]http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4125/trogdorrtrans.png[/media]

[b]How I did it:[/b]
1)Went to image->image size.. and scaled it so the height was 1280 with the "Resample image" mode set to Nearest Neighbor.
2)I then went to image->adjustments->Black&white, and turned up all of the values to 300%.
3)Then I used the magic eraser tool on all of the white areas, with antialias turned OFF.
4) I then used hue/saturation, and turned the lightness as far down as possible.
5)Finally, make a 2-5px stroke around the image using blending options, that is the same color as the current line you now possess.

Congratulations, a semi-decent scaling of trogdor.

[Dr. Doctor]

[QUOTE=HeroicPillow;17792757][b]What I started with:[/b]
[media]http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/1231166/images/326.jpg[/media]

[b]What I ended up with:[/b]
[media]http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4125/trogdorrtrans.png[/media]

[b]How I did it:[/b]
1)Went to image->image size.. and scaled it so the height was 1280 with the "Resample image" mode set to Nearest Neighbor.
2)I then went to image->adjustments->Black&white, and turned up all of the values to 300%.
3)Then I used the magic eraser tool on all of the white areas, with antialias turned OFF.
4) I then used hue/saturation, and turned the lightness as far down as possible.
5)Finally, make a 2-5px stroke around the image using blending options, that is the same color as the current line you now possess.

Congratulations, a semi-decent scaling of trogdor.[/QUOTE]

Next time, read the OP.

[xelivous]

[QUOTE=Dr. Doctor;17792778]Next time, read the OP.[/QUOTE]

I did read the OP. He asked if there was an easier way to enlarge it, without making it look too horrible, and not having to retrace it. That was the best way I knew how to do it. Therefore, I told him. :|

There is also always vectormagic I suppose, which would turn it into a vector. That way you could scale it as much as you want in photoshop using the .eps file, but you would still have to get rid of whatever blue lines would be in the background.

I suppose I should've spent more than 2 minutes making the outline, but it's not my drawing. I use a different process every single time I enlarge shit.

[Tom-ate-em]

The only thing I can think of, and I'm certainly no pro with PS so don't criticise if it's not the best method but, you could trace the original image carefully with the pen tool and save this as a custom shape - now you'll have a scaleable vector image (I think :S) or one that's usually pretty neat anyway, place this onto the canvas ensuring the color is white, and then use the stroke tool to create an outline, you can fix any jabby bits with the erasor tool, the good thing is, you can use the magic wand to select the custom shape so you can fill / paint brush etc. the image without the outline being affected. You'll probably have to draw in your little details again however.

I hope this helps and wasn't too patronizing or anything ^-^;

My very quick attempt;

[img]http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4682/trogdor.jpg[/img]

[nos217]

You're outlines are fine. What you will find is that if you were to fill it and shaded it it would look great.

[Genoh]

[QUOTE=nos217;17809818]You're outlines are fine. What you will find is that if you were to fill it and shaded it it would look great.[/QUOTE]

1) Select Vector Pen tool, set it to Draw Path mode (Square with a pen inside it).
2) Trace outline.
3) Right click the Line/Path and select Stroke Path.

The stroke is dependent on your currently selected brush, so if you want a different outline make sure you have the desired brush active on your Brush tool. Switching to the Brush tool after drawing the path won't cause the path to disappear.

Also you'll need to delete the path after stroking it, unless you want to keep it. Just select it and hit delete.

This technique requires patience and good judgement but is far more accurate than freehand brushing.

In order to have it at multiple sizes my advice would be to trace it, scale the path up to a large size and then stroke. That way you won't need to scale it up, only down. Just be aware you'll need to make your brush bigger first.

I'm sure there's a way to make the stroke paths into vectors. If you know, feel free to state here. I'd also like to know.