Impressions - April/May 2013 - (Page 52)

talking SHOP Embroidery Design & Digitizing How to Achieve Shading in Embroidery Getting a realistic 3-D embroidered image requires understanding the physics of art, which is the basis of the interplay between color blending and shading. By Lee Caroselli-Barnes, Contributing Writer a FIG. 1 FIG. 2 In this sphere, you can see very dark colors — or shadows — around the edge and the very light colors — or full light — in the center. Between the two are halftones, a mixture of the light and the dark colors and a gradual transition between the colors used. Here, light and dark colors are blended, starting with a darker thread color on the outer edges of the circle. One layer of the light density ﬁll was placed in the darkest area, then a second layer covers the ﬁrst layer and extends into the lighter center. FIG. 3 FIG. 4 Put one layer of the light density gray ﬁll down starting on its right edge of where it is most intense, extending it to the edge of the second layer of black (Figure 3), then add a second layer of gray, extending it to cover both layers of black and extending into the center of the sphere (Figure 4). 52 Impressions | April/May 2013 lthough the terms “blending” and “shading” often are interchanged, there is a difference. You can blend colors without shading, but you cannot shade an object without blending colors. Last month, I provided information on blending with thread (see “The Art of Successful Color Blending,” March 2013). Let’s go a step further by looking at the blending technique and applying it to shading an object. Similar to blending, shading involves moving gradually from one color to another, which means use of the color wheel is required. Through our application of stitches, we also will address the physical properties that govern our art. For example, you cannot put a stitch on top of another stitch. When placed on top of each other, two groups of ﬁll stitches going in the same direction will blend. We will again use the light density ﬁll that we used for blending in last month’s article. You will lighten your density to one-third of the default value. For example, if you have 1,500 stitches in a square inch of ﬁll, you will reduce that amount to 500 stitches. By placing three layers of that ﬁll in the same area, you will have 100% density. By having the ﬁlls run at the same angle, preferably horizontally, you can blend colors and shade objects. Let’s look at two different colored objects and examine the shading process used with both. BLACK & WHITE SHADING In blending, the transition from dark to light gives objects realism and depth. Darker colors recede, while lighter colors appear to come forward. Therefore, when shading objects, you will use darker colors impressionsmag.com http://www.impressionsmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - April/May 2013

Impressions - April/May 2013
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
FYI
Product Gallery
ISS Conferences
Game On!
There’s a Cap for That
Should You Start a Preprint Line? Part 2
How to Maximize Your Resources
Setting Up a Mobile Garment Decoration Business
Shop Spotlight
Embroidery Design & Digitizing
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Graphics & Design
Screen Printing Production
Online Directory
Digital Decorating
Classifieds
Ad Index

Impressions - April/May 2013