Pattern Drawing Programs

[tatknot]

I know there are several good drawing programs out there, but my problem is how to use them. I've played around a bit with a couple in the past, but I've yet to figure out how to use one to draw a decent pattern. I usually wound up just editing a photo or scan of the actual tatting with Irfanview. Now that I have a MAC, Irfanview is no longer an option.

I've got one month until I have to slip into college student mode again. Do any of you know of any tutorials available on creating tatting patterns? If we can get them all mentioned under this thread, it may help someone else as well. I know that at least one person offers designing classes that include pattern drawing instruction, but I'll leave it to one of you to post the details who know more about it.

[Marty]

Do any of you know of any tutorials available on creating tatting patterns? If we can get them all mentioned under this thread, it may help someone else as well. I know that at least one person offers designing classes that include pattern drawing instruction, but I'll leave it to one of you to post the details who know more about it.

That one person is Sharon Briggs. She offers a class on designing through a Yahoo group called Design-Tat - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Design-Tat/ - you have to go and request membership and she will send you the information to get signed up. There is a small fee - but I learned so much, I think the price is worth it.

Marty

[carolivy]

I thought the price was more than worth it too! I learned SO much from Sharon!

[tatknot]

I've written to Sharon for more information. I just hope another class is starting really soon or I'll have to wait until the Christmas holidays or next summer.

[swissgirl]

I wrote her as well, some weeks ago, and she said, the next course will start in october. I'll get informed when the current class is finished, and she will be accepting new students.

[tatknot]

Jane Eborall is using EazyDraw on a Mac to create her tatting patterns. I haven't tried it yet, but Jane's drawings are excellent.

[swissgirl]

Thank you tatnkot, will have a look for it.

[AnneB]

I'm using PowerPoint when making diagrams just because I've got it on my computer and I know how to use it. Other programs will work just as well.

Some important parts to look for when choosing a program for drawing digrams are

Is it easy to use? Important part. Most programs gets easier the more you use them though.
Can you make ovals? Those will be rings.
Is there a free hand tool? For chains.
Can you rotate an object to a set angle? Nice when making snowflakes; all angles being mutiples of 60 degrees, or when you want to make a corner on an edging.
Can you group objects like rings, chains and picots together? Handy when copying and/or moving parts around, and rotating.
Is there a mirror tool? Nice when you want something symmetric.
Can you adjust the thicknes of the line? I make my lines the same thicknes as the tatted chain to make it easier to get the right size.
Can you add text? Like "Start here" or to add the stitch count if you want that kind of diagram.

This is what comes to mind, I have probably forgotten something :whistling:

[tatknot]

Thanks so much for the list, Anne. It can seem very overwhelming to those of us just getting started.

I'm familiar with PowerPoint as a tool for making slide presentations. Is this the same program?

[AnneB]

Thanks so much for the list, Anne. It can seem very overwhelming to those of us just getting started.

I'm familiar with PowerPoint as a tool for making slide presentations. Is this the same program?

Your'e welcome :smile:
And it is the same program. All the diagrams in my patterns are made using PowerPoint (PP).

I find PP a good program for simple drawings - and, most important, it is a program I know how to use. A colleague of mine used to ask why I used PP for drawing and not this or that program. Well - it is mostly because I don't need to spend hours figuring out how to do things I already know how to do in PP. That is why I believe it is worth while to consider the posibilities of a drawing programe before investing time in learning how to use a new program.

On the side - my colleague now uses PowerPoint for simple drawings too...

Please note: I use PP because that is the program I'm most familiar with. I'm sure other programs can preform just as well.

[tatknot]

I do see that Keynote in the Mac has some drawing abilities as well.

[tatknot]

In the past week, I've downloaded, and tried to figure out how to use, several drawing programs for my Mac: Inkscape, Paintbrush, Pixelmator, and EazyDraw. EazyDraw wins my vote without a doubt. I spent hours trying to figure out how to draw and replicate rings with the first three. Within minutes of starting with EazyDraw, I had rings, chains, and picots all lining up together properly.

Many thanks to Sharon Briggs' wonderful designing class for helping me figure out how this works. I'm far from finished with her course, but look what I can do! This is a diagram of one of my own simple patterns.5823A picture of the motif is in my album.

[carolivy]

Very nicely done Eliz!

[Marty]

The only bad thing about getting proficient with the drawing program is getting hooked on it! I want to draw out all kinds of patterns -- even for things that aren't mine, but are in notation format. Then I don't have time to tat them, I'm way too busy drawing them!

[tattrldy]

Great job, Eliz! I think I'm jealous - I want to do that to and haven't taken the time to figure it out.

[xstchntat]

Looking good to me! Just don't forget to tat as well as design, LOL

[tatknot]

Looking good to me! Just don't forget to tat as well as design, LOL

Marty is right in that I can already see that drawing tatting pattern diagrams is addictive. One has to tat to test the design, though, so I should get in a little tatting, too.:smile:

[Leeanne]

Do you have any of your patterns that were made in Powerpoint to share? I have always wondered how people were designing. Powerpoint would be reasonable for me since I have the program.

[Jon Yusoff]

I have just written a post in my blog here (http://tatsaway.blogspot.com/2010/07/drawing-templates-for-tatting-diagrams.html) giving some insights on how I play around with my drawing program to come up with tatting designs. I have not touched on any drawing programs in particular but more on how the program helps in my designing. I hope it can be of help to some.

[tatknot]

I have just written a post in my blog here (http://tatsaway.blogspot.com/2010/07/drawing-templates-for-tatting-diagrams.html) giving some insights on how I play around with my drawing program to come up with tatting designs. I have not touched on any drawing programs in particular but more on how the program helps in my designing. I hope it can be of help to some.

VERY helpful, Jon. Thank you.

[LacyPetra]

Hello All!
Normally I draw my designs doodling per hand. That works good for my personal use so far. But: With both, a hand- and a computer-drawing the biggest step in designing is still to do:
To find the right number of knots!!!
Is there a programm that measures the length of a ring or chain automatically? Or is it only a dream? :))

[jamlover]

Easydraw might be one for me to start trying. I am also MAC and this thread is so informative. And a possible class!! WOW Does this design bug somehow get into your blood? I ventured into (was it knots) yesterday and found edging 9070. It suddenly became flowers growing along a trellis and I messed with my shuttle until 1:45 a.m. So exciting. Thanks to all of you for this new tatting site for me and this new adventure. Jean

[Marty]

Hello All!
Normally I draw my designs doodling per hand. That works good for my personal use so far. But: With both, a hand- and a computer-drawing the biggest step in designing is still to do:
To find the right number of knots!!!
Is there a programm that measures the length of a ring or chain automatically? Or is it only a dream? :))

I wish I knew one! What I do is pick a ring to start with and decide it is X ds. Then I tell the program to take that same ring and increase it by X percent, if it fits into the drawing the way I want it to, I increase the X ds from the first ring by the same X% making the count for the next size of ring. It works fairly well. Chains are a whole other matter, though!

[carolivy]

I wish I knew one! What I do is pick a ring to start with and decide it is X ds. Then I tell the program to take that same ring and increase it by X percent, if it fits into the drawing the way I want it to, I increase the X ds from the first ring by the same X% making the count for the next size of ring. It works fairly well. Chains are a whole other matter, though!

That is where Sharon's Design class comes in reallll handy. ;-)

[alizandria]

Does anyone have any suggestions for PC drawing program?

Thanks

~Alizandria~

[carolivy]

Serif Draw is the program I use to make my patterns with and the program Sharon teaches how to use in her Online Tatting Design Class.

[Marty]

I use PaintShop Pro (version 7). A new copy (they're up to version 11 or something) is rather pricey -- but then, I didn't pay for it. The bosses bought me a copy for home so I could work there for them (as if!). I haven't ever upgraded it, but it does what I want just fine. Like Carol I used the Serif Draw for Sharon's class. It works fine, but once I figured out what to look for, I like my PaintShop better.

[PattyD]

Well, as far as DS per length of line, when I analyze a design and set to figuring out the number of DS per segment, I first look at the relationship of the elements by length. If this one is half the length of that one and that one is 3 times the length of another one, then some whole numbers need to fit into those relationships. For instance if a ring is in thirds, I need a total number of DS that is divisible by 3. If that ring is half as large as the ring it joins to and it is in thirds, then the larger ring needs twice as many DS as the first ring. Gauging chains takes a little more effort, but I am still looking for simple proportions. When you get through most of the relationships, it becomes clearer how many DS should be in each element. I know math is a little scary to some people, but we are talking simple arithmetic here. By gauging the largest to the smallest element, you can figure out what the DS counts are. And all of this happens before anything happens with the thread. To gauge the relationships, mark the joins with a short line to help me visualize the relationships. You get an eye for it after awhile.

[AnneB]

I vagely recall someone using dashed lines when drawing rings and cahins on computer; one dash one DS. I have not tried this myself and do not remember who did this, sorry.

[Sonja]

I I got the registration for Sharon Briggs lessons. I cant wait.

[Judy]

Measuring the length, width, circular lengths, etc. are in the pricier programs. Computers have done this for architects and engineers for 30 years. They need to do this because they have to calculate the number of board feet, length of pipes, cubic volume of concrete, and use those numbers, with the cost of the items, to find out how much to bid on a job. Our basic unit is the double stitch. What is your ds? Is it about a mm on a side? If so, there are lots of rulers around with mm on them. Straight sides are easy. Its the curved ones that drive people crazy. If you draw it to the actual size you want it, and use a fat pen or marker that approximates the thickness of your chains, then measuring will give you a really good first estimate of numbers, even if it means twisting the ruler or moving it carefully along the drawing.