Author Topic: Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?  (Read 2069 times)

Offline schin

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Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?
« on: December 22, 2013, 12:05:34 AM »
So I made some designs for a lady who wanted to send these files to her printer, but it was rejected because the lines were not smooth enough, or broken. Anyone have any idea how to fix it or turn it into vector effortlessly without having to go through EVERY SINGLE LINE AGHHHH

Thanks!! I have illustrator and photoshop if that helps.
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Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2013, 01:37:05 AM »
Hi Schin,
I can't help in terms of vector but you have two options... either pay someone who can vectorize it for you (there are people who do it for a nominal fee - just have to google).

Or you can try the technique I review in the Preparing your Calligraphy for Printing tutorial in which you do the minimum line of 1 px adjustment. Before doing that, be sure to use the burn tool over all the thin lines (not too much or it will cause a shadow behind it). Then make sure you select all the black lines (to speed the process, you can click on one section of calligraphy, then do Select Similar). Then make the lettering its own layer as described in the video, then do the minimum 1 px trick.

It sounds like a lot of work, but you should be able to get it done in under 20 minutes. The lines won't be as fine but will be sufficient for printing.

I can help you walk through it tomorrow if you get stuck.
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2013, 01:38:33 AM »
OR, if you don't want to try that or don't like the look of the minimum lines, you can try to adjust your levels. This way you can darken the thins without thickening them. Let me know if you need help tomorrow and I'll post the steps.
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline schin

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Re: Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2013, 03:37:58 PM »
Oh geez, I thought there would be a magic button on illustrator to help smooth out all the lines.. but nope. It wasn't just that return address either, it was two addresses, a full invite and save the date! I did use the dodge and burn trick and that helped a bit, but I had to go through the rest letter by letter to clean up...

A few glasses of wine and a stand up comedy show in the background helped speed things up though!! Thanks Erica :) !
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Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2013, 06:28:42 PM »
Oh - I'm glad you got it done! That's a lot of work!  :D
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline ewigginton

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Re: Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2013, 01:34:16 PM »
Schin, how did you do it? Did you redraw lines or just use the smooth tool or is there another method I'm missing?

Offline schin

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Re: Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2013, 02:49:23 PM »
I redrew every line that needed fixing Ellen.. it was hell but I made it through! Sigh.. I wish there was an easier method!
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Offline ewigginton

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Re: Help! My Photoshop file badly needs tuning up.. any tips?
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2013, 11:25:44 AM »
Schin, I just posted a link to this tutorial and have since played around with it. I think it may do what you needed to have done. I do remember from my Ai classes that there was an easy adjustment and I think this is it!

http://www.abevyofdesign.com/2013/07/calligraphy-to-vector.html

Would this have worked in your case?

Ellen