Razorburne

Hey Travis. It worked! I followed your last suggestion and now when I choose a #5 brush it is much smaller than it was before and I seem to be able to get the detail I was hoping for. It was very weird - before if I chose a #5 or #3, the brush was still WAY too big. Now it seems to be just fine. Thank you soooo much for the help and guidance. You saved me! This is to be an upcoming gift and I was starting to fear it wasn't going to happen. Thank you!

Thanks, Travis. What I did was resize the picture to an 8x10 based off of your instructions in the videos. I'm going to take you up on your offer to upload the GIMP file and let you take a look to see if you find anything unusual. The GIMP file has all layers including the 'photocopy" layer. I deleted my initial attempt at filling in the pattern with black and white brushes. Please take a look and let me know if you feel the #5 and #3 brushes are creating strokes that are too thick and will have me lose details or if you think this will still work out ok. I really appreciate all the help! I can't wait to get your feedback. Thank you again! Jubilee.xcf

Thanks Travis. I will give that a shot. I want yet at the point of cutting the pattern...I'm still at the point of using the brush to blacken in areas (lakes and peninsulas), and it seemed like even the smallest brush was creating thicker lines relative to the wrinkles on the face etc, and didn't know if I was doing something wrong. Mi did make the photo an 8x10. Would it help at all do you think by enlarging the photo itself to a bigger size? Or actually making the original picture further zoomed in (although may not be possible)?

I've been creating a pattern off of a photograph to create a portrait. I've scaled the image to 8x10 and changed pixels according to the University videos. The problem I'm having is when I'm trying to darken in certain facial features (wrinkles), the paintbrush just seems too thick for what I want to do. For example, I trace a forehead line that will add nice detail to the portrait, but the black line I end up drawing just seems too thick. This seems to be the case even if I use a brush that says it has a radius of 1.5 Not sure if I'm doing something wrong, or if I am looking to do too fine of detail with GIMP. Any ideas?

I'm wondering what you all think of something like this: http://www.wenproducts.com/store/sander/4x6Belt-Disc-Sander-Item-6502

Wow. Even more impressive to know you made the pattern. Again, great work and thanks for sharing. I hope to share some of my work one day. Kee up the good work!

Wow! Each picture looks better than the next! I am new at this but your skill is very impressive and inspiring. Where did you get the pattern for the medical school graduation? I have someone in nursing school set to graduate this spring and would love to make them something.

Thanks guys. I forget to mention that I do have a handheld variable speed random orbital sander. It works great and I use it in most of my other woodworking. I suppose I assumed (incorrectly?) I might need something else like a belt sander, disc sander, Dremel multitool, etc to shape pieces or help flatten a stray cut that is supposed to be straight.

Hi Everybody! I'm just getting started on this adventure in scrollsawing. I have my a Dewalt 788 and a good mixture of Flying Dutchman spiral and reverse tooth blades. It's more than enough to get me started. But I am curious how important/useful you think it will be to eventually invest in a sanding machine and if so, which one? I'm leaning towards the Ridgid oscillating belt/spindle sander. I'm assuming this will come in handy if I get into segmenting/intarsia, or for basic sanding of shapes and projects. Any words of advice or recommendations on a sander? Am I right in thinking that I can get away without one for some time?

@Riksss I am getting the DW788 and am thinking of getting the light that comes with it as it seems from some more updated reviews that Dewalt may have changed the original design in order to help with a sagging issue and the light not staying put. Overall, would you recommend the light? If I get it I may pick up the LED bulb you recommend. Is the bulb brighter than the original? Have you had any issues with the placement of the light when working? Any info would be great!