Just starting out!

[Maximus]

Hey everybody!

I am trying to get back into cross stitching after a 6 year break when I found this awesome site!
All of the works I have seen are absolutely beautiful and I want to start making stuff like them. I read about and found that poeple use a KG chart to make their own designs. So I found one from http://www.iktsoft.net/kgchart-en/ and downloaded it. However everything I try turns out blocky and I am having trouble with shadows. I'll show you.

The picture I want
http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-02 ... smask.html

And I keep getting the attachment.

Am I using a bad photo or is there a program I should know about that does a better job? It just does not look good... and I really want to know how to make designs properly.... with anything I want.
Any help is appreciated!

[blackmageheart]

Welcome to the forums!

Ok, you're trying to shrink a large-ish image into a small-ish pattern, that's what's making it blocky, cos it's lost the definition (from being resized). Also, it's a jpg and they throw up all kinds of random colours in odd places :o
The shadows thing is probably KGChart, but I think also cos of the resizing thing.

What I would suggest, is using a smaller starting image, preferably in png or gif (or even bmp) format and going from there. If you still get no luck with that, post a request with plenty of info (like aida ct, size, number of colours etc) and we shall certainly help you!

[Maximus]

So could I transfer this Majora's Mask to a bmp or png first and then change the size? Or would that hurt the quality too much?

And by shadows I meant that in the Majora's mask shadow, it becomes all black when I import it into the KG chart. I fear that that this will make it look bad when I am done and I really do not want my first real project to be a wreck

Thanks for your help though!

[blackmageheart]

I don't think it'd be worth converting it, as the source would have been jpg and thus won't get any better. I have found a png of the same image (@ same size):

Spoiler

MajorasMask.png (244.8 KiB) Viewed 2509 times

Try resizing before importing, also try some different sizes to see what comes out best Sometimes you only need to make it a little bit bigger and it's suddenly much better

As for the shadows thing, yeah KGChart does tend to bunch similar colours together but I think it looks ok, however that might change if it's a different size - try stuff and see what you like

If you need more help, just post back! Always happy to assist ^^

[Maximus]

Well after taking your advice and doing some experimenting, I got it to look quite a bit better I feel. I also decided that the shadow on the mask, while cool, was a bit too much, so I just flipped the side of the mask I like over, mirror style. So what does everyone think?

And thanks blackmageheart for all your help!

Just two questions for anyone.
1. As stated above, do you think that the mask without the black shadow at the bottom right looks better (see attachment below)? Or should I stick to the original.
2. Is there another program I can try? Or is KG Chart pretty much the best for this kind of thing?

[Maximus]

New update! And now I really need opinions. I added some stuff free handed to the original pattern. Mostly just to add a bit of charachter to the black shadow that covers a chunk of the mask. Unfortuneately I could not find an almost black green or red thread but what I used I think works.

If anyone could voice there opinion on what changes I should amke or try to make this mask PERFECT I would really appreciate it. It is going to become a very important gift for someone I believe, so any opinions or ideas are extremely valuable to me.

The mask with changes is attached to this post.

[blackmageheart]

I've had a look at em, got to say I do like the "major editing beautiful mask" one best - it's got the drama of the shadows and a nice level of detail while still not being a overly huge project So, I'd say go for that one! Don't forget to check your thread colours in real life as sometimes the programs go nuts lol. Having said that, it's usually fine

And, to answer your questions...

1. As stated above, do you think that the mask without the black shadow at the bottom right looks better (see attachment below)? Or should I stick to the original.
2. Is there another program I can try? Or is KG Chart pretty much the best for this kind of thing?

1. Think I've already pretty much given my opinion on this one - the shadows look better (at least to me, I like drama lol)
2. Generally around here we use KGChart cos its free and easy to use, but some of us also use PCStitch and there are other ones (I'm sure there's a thread around here somewhere with all their names). Probably best to have more than one incase you don't like the output of one of em Personally I use KG and PCStitch Pro - KG for more spritey stuff and PCStitch for more complex images, but I also just use Photoshop and pick the colours myself (takes ages and there's a LOT of staring involved hehe).

I hope that helps and I'm looking forward to seeing a Majora's Mask from you sometime soon!!

[Maximus]

Just one last question before I print this out and go buy the thread I need!

I did some more reading on this site and found a very useful guide by Servotron on how to make non-sprite Images, as well as one by JohLoh. In those guides they said that transferring the wanted image to paint.net, pixelizeing, resizing and sharpening the image would improve the final image. I could also try moving it to GIMP and reducing the amount of colours to make it sharper. I am however fine with the 76 colours my final product has, I just want the pattern to be as precise and detailed as possible (without increasing the size).

Now I have been using the smaller image that blackmageheart kindly found for me, but I want to know if it would be worth the time to go through paint.net and GIMP? Or is my pattern (Beautiful Mask above) about as good as you can possibly get it based off of blackmageheart's image??

@blackmageheart: Actually this is my next project, I am away from the one I am working on now (trust me its not as cool) and am travelling soon, so I thought this would be a good thing to work on now before I have to rush and get it done.

[Ellentje]

I don't think using a program will add much in this case. The major editing pattern seems to be pretty close to the original picture, which is quite dark itself on the shadow side.
Personally I would go for the mirrored one, because I like the bright colors, especially on the spikes. But the major editing one is more like the original picture. So it totally depends on what look you want. Both will be great, I'm sure.

[blackmageheart]

I agree with Ellentje - it wouldn't add much. You could try all the editing and stuff, but it really depends on what you want in the end. Like she says, both will look great - you just gotta pick one and get cracking!

@blackmageheart: Actually this is my next project, I am away from the one I am working on now (trust me its not as cool) and am travelling soon, so I thought this would be a good thing to work on now before I have to rush and get it done.

Ahh, I see, good plan. Well, don't forget to take pics and post em - we loves new projects around here! (Even if it's "not as cool") ^^