[xMetal]

I need some fresh eyes to help me figure something out that is driving me crazy.

Here is the basic problem:

I have 8 photos of homes/pools/backyards that need to have a patterned edge applied to the borders, i.e. along the edge of the driveway, etc. There are 4 brick-like patterns (basketweave, stacked brick, running bond, plain) that need to follow these contours. These will be transparent PNG files overlayed onto a photo in Flash MX.

The problem is that I cannot figure out any quick and easy way to apply these patterns to a path, AND have them follow a proper perspective to match the photography. This is super important, because these edges need to look as real as possible.

I have created paths in Freehand and created custom brushes of the patterns to apply to these lines, and this works fine, but they have no perspective. Trying to envelope them is tricky because I would technically need to have a direct overhead view of the house or pool to draw the outlines, and then put them into proper perspective.

I've tried using things like the Liquify filter in photoshop to squeeze them, and that looks crappy. I've tried the perspective grid in Freehand.

In short, I need some new ideas for putting a pattern onto a path and having it recede into perspective, and the lines are almost never straight, always curved.

[thePurpleGiant]

That's one hell of a tricky problem you have there mate.

(sorry, no ideas)

[ajprice]

If you have a Wacom pad or other tablet, and load the pattern as an Illustrator brush, you should be able to vary the size of the brush pattern in Illustrator with the pressure on the pad, so that pressing harder will give you a bigger pattern, and you can curve the brush strokes around whatever you want. I know that you can vary brush size with the paintbrushes in Illustrator, and I haven't tried it with a pattern brush, but it should work the same way (fingers crossed!). If you haven't got a Wacom or tablet, beg, borrow or steal one, really, they're worth it.

There's my $0.02, and my 400th post in this goddamn place!

[xMetal]

it's not so much the size issue as the perspective one. How do you get a patterned line to recede into a perspective? I've never been so stumped in my life, and I've been doing this stuff for a damn long time.

I've considered going into my 3D software for this, but I don't want to be a virtual bricklayer...

[Aric]

I think you need to go into your 3D program for this, if you want the perspective at least close to looking real. You just need a good picture of the textures you'll be applying to your virtual "edge".

at least that's what i think...

[teszeract]

It would depend on the kind of pattern that yu want to acheive. but I would try and approximate it in FreeHand as a single shape. Create a blend from a larger size to a smaller one, than attach the blend to the path. It might works, but as I say, it depends on how photographic (or not) the pattern is.

[xMetal]

I've already done the Freehand path thing. The patterns themselves are simple black and white line art of the brick pattern. In the final program, these are saved as transparent PNG files, which overlay a color, which in turn sits on another photo.

I think I might need to do this in 3D, but that will be tricky as well, as I'll have to match, by eye, the perspective and camera angle of the original photo to lay out the path of the brick edge. Sigh.

[phobos]

Load the picture on a simple plane on your 3d program and then build the pattern you like. This will help cause you don't have to match the perspective by eye. You have both of the elements you have in your 3d program

[gadster]

It might be worth trying the blend tool in illustrator. Create one brick in perspective in the foreground then opt drag/scale it to the background. Create blend, play with blend options and the curve of the blending path? Might be a bit hit and miss.