I had to reinstall Macromedia (Adobe) Freehand for a work project.

Since I had to learn how to use it I thought I'd do and easy picture. What's easier than Tux (besides an insipid smiley face)?

This is ask the experts so here goes:

1. Why the jaggy Edges? Edit: NVM - Figured this one out almost immediately.

2. How can I make the detail outlines (i.e. of the feet and fins) better?

3. Where would you place the hilights to give the impression of the curves for the head and the neck?

4. Whaddaya think of my first true effort?

Here is the inspiration:


The Illustrator-compatible file if anyone wants it

Question 1: Why Freehand if it's being discontinued?
Question 2: Your AI-compatible file turns all black. It has all the outlines, but none of the fills/gradients

tofu it's good, i'm gonna find the advice i gave other people

Ok first one. here's a picture I made blade to help him with his illustration. Key to this is always use subtle gradients! It'll add a lot of depth to your images and this is how you can show the curvature of the body

ask serious ... he is the vector guru ...

Freehand because I have a license for it and not Illustrator. Otherwise I'd use InkScape. I'm a programmer not a graphic designer/artist so my boss would never approve the purchase. Freehand came with Studio 8 (that I got for Dreamweaver and Flash).

The AI file was a "save as" in Fireworks after I used it to open the FH11 file that I created in Freehand. I've exported from Freehand as an AI (version 7 format). See if this version solves the incompatibility problems.

Thanks for the tips Armo! Keep 'em coming!

I had a go at your picture and I can't improve on it so kudos

Cool! I think Tux is a perfect beginner picture. The simple one I made can be taken further to give a more detailed look. I'll probably do that for the practice. After all there's TONS of reference shots and different versions around the net.



I always thought serious was a chick.

The only thing I would say is that you should use less harsh gradients (white>black). what I tried doing was to set the gradients to be light grey to dark grey and just to vary the opacity and I'd say that generally looks neater

Every tool is good when skills become perfect.

http://www.5uflash.com/Html/flashtutorial/23023081.html

Tutorial on drawing car using flash and gradients. This is the first part other are on the right menu on that page.

boooooooo...

And here is the easyer one, without gradients but more cartoonish similar as the penguin.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21598353/

Almost, almost, took that the wrong way. Slow brain day.

I'll see about doing a polar bear next.

wtf?

thanks..

Looks nice tofu.
the thing that sticks out, are the two highlights on the head.
They seem to be out of place in the vector, and in the painting too.
With adding detail in the feet, light shading should help; without taking away from the gradient.