Posted by Dan Sawatzky on March 16, 2002
I love my computer. And a lot of my design work is produced there. The difference is that I do the work freehand on the computer for the most part.
I like to sketch my designs on old fashioned paper. I always keep a hard bound sketchbook with me for this purpose and fill a bunch each year. Much faster and easier for me than working on the screen at this concept phase. I then scan the scribbles in to the computer. Photoshop makes for quick work as I clean things up... resize... and reposition...combine a series of sketches.... edit and all that stuff. We used to do all that with layers of tracing paper.
From there its off to my favorite program... Painter combined with my 12" X 12" digital drawing pad makes for easy hand drawn work which is easily edited to create exactly what I want.
I don't use clipart.... and even hand draw most of my lettering.
When I do resort to type setting with the computer I find it looks way to technical for my eye. I take my digital pen and trace over it... heavily editing it to make the typeface into something more palatable... and custom. For much of the work I produce I don't want each 'a' to look like the one before it. It depends on where it fits into the word. I like much of my work to look hand drawn.
I don't own a plotter. When I need a pattern for handlettering I use my overhead projector and transparencies produced on the computer.
In short, my computer is a wonderful tool I use to assist me in design. It makes my job faster and lets me get to the stuff I love.... hands on work.
I don't think I will ever change.... but I believe I will always find more than enough people who want a little of the magic I am privileged to produce.
Keep having fun as you produce magic in your shop too!
-dan
Giggle Ridge Studios
Cultus Lake B.C. Canada
Carol
Dan Sawatzky - I am hereDan,
Where is Cultus Lake B.C.? I 'spose I could look on a map...
but you're right here. How far north of the border are you?
Cultus Lake is about 60 miles east of Vancouver. We are only three or four miles from the border.
It is real near Chilliwack... 20 miles east of Abbotsford... 60 miles east of Vancouver. Just north of the border by three or four miles.
-dan
Cultus Lake B.C. Canada
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads