Interior drawings via GIMP

[epiphany]

Here's the method behind my madness. It isn't the best way, I'm sure, and it's not a complete tutorial by any stretch, but it might help get you started. If you don't want to draw with electrons, feel free to print what I've done and just draw on that.

These images should be at a 640x480 resolution - I apologize for the extra 40 pixels, if anyone objects I can go back and resize them all to scrunch them down a bit. Reason for that width is that 640 prints really well on a standard sheet of paper.

I used the GIMP (GIMP stands for Gnu Image Manipulation Program) to do all of the graphics manipulation. The GIMP is totally free, and works under Linux, MacOSX, or windows. It is commonly compared to Photoshop, but is better, if for no other reason than it's price***, IMO. Download instructions for the program can be found here: The GIMP . OK, on with the show -


This is TonyG's original picture that I used as a baseline image to establish the lines of the Ariel interior. BTW - Nice shape on that cutout, Tony!










*** If you get the GIMP and like it and use it, then maybe sometime you should consider a small donation to help the GIMP developers - $1, $5, $10 or more, if you find the program to be handy enough. It would be cheap at $50. Photoshop would cost you several hundred dollars. Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the developers at all, and this is definitely *not* a paid endorsement. I just think this is a great program, and computer wizards need to eat, too.

[epiphany]

Next, I did a series of tracings of lines inside of the boat to establish the major features. I made the black lines as a separate "layer", so that I could overlay them onto later drawing to check the accuracy of what I was doing. Note: This drawing is saved as a "transparent" .gif file. It shows only the lines I drew, and will allow the background of what it is placed on top of to show through (in this case, the background color of the Ariel Forum).

[epiphany]

Then I cleaned that drawing up. I removed some "artifacts" (odd bits and pieces), and some non-essential information. I also had drawn in my raised settee berths, and added a couple blue dashes to establish a centerline for a reference.

[epiphany]

After that, I just used straight thin black lines to establish more detail.

[epiphany]

...and then dropped in some shades of gray to give it a bit more "solid" look.

[epiphany]

After the above, it was just time-consuming detail work to get it to a point I was happy with. I did some shading stuff to give the cabinets a look of depth, put on the slat fronts that I plan to use, that sort of thing.