In this example I will show how I made the X-Files' Dana Scully pattern from a picture I found on the web. The
original picture was cropped from a German magazine cover. I always try to crop the pictures to include the head and shoulders of the subject.
Once the image is cropped from the original picture, I resize it proportionally to 600 pixels wide. This
makes the patterns easier to work with, and provides for more detail. The next step is to trace around the
the head with a lighter color to outline the hair and other features. Then color in the rest of the background
with black.
Next, grayscale the image. It may also be necessary to adjust the brightness and contrast of the
image to make the subject's features stand out. In some cases, adjustment to the highlight/midtone/shadow is
also helpful to bring out details for the next step.
Paintshop Pro has a function which I use next called "Posterize". An equivilent function is to reduce the number of colors used
in the picture. If using "posterize", the setting should be 2 bits per channel. If reducing colors, reduce them number of colors
to four.
At this point, your picture should begin to look more like the sample patterns, only in black & white. In the next step, you need to begin reducing the
number of colors in the picture to three; black, light gray, and white. Use the color replacer function in
Paintshop to accomplish this, or just draw over the dark gray parts with the light gray color. It is sometimes necessary to use the
black color in dark gray areas to retain some of the face's features. (Note the lips, eyes, and eyebrows for example).
Once you have reduced the colors to the three basics, you will need to smooth out the pattern. Remove the speckles from the
different areas by coloring over them with the main color for that area. Trace around the outside lines of each of the sections to smooth
out the lines for easier cutting.
You're almost done.... As the next step, make sure their are no unconnected black or gray areas
in the middle of a white area. When carving this would leave part of the pumpkin in the middle of a hole, which is impossible!
Make sure that any thin gray or black areas are thick enough not to break off during carving. (Note the extra gray line between the nose and mouth, and the widening of the attachment to the right
of the mouth..)
Last Step! Your pattern should now look like a black & white version of what the final pumpkin will look like. The only thing left to do is
to make a negative image for the pattern. This way the black "holes" and gray "peel" areas can be transfered onto your pumpkin. (Plus you won't kill your print
cartridge when you print the pattern...).
That's it! Do a final save on your pattern, and you're done! Just be sure that when you print it, you use the "print full page" and "maintain aspect ratio" options
on your print options screen.
Well, that's all folks! Good luck and Happy Carving!
