Pattern Software

[Shavonne]

This is my first post (excluding my introduction). I am very pleased to be part of this forum! So many talented individuals =) and nice work.

I'm a beginner at leather crafting and would love to make my own handbags (because I can't afford designer handbags priced in the thousands). I've practically been using pencil and paper trying to come up with patterns, but it's difficult.

I have an IT background in networking, so I know there is plenty of pattern software on the market.

I ran some searches on this forum regarding software. There is so many choices; CAD/Illustrator/Photoshop/Corel/Strata. I don't know which one would be better for my use. I am hearing that Illustrator and Photoshop make a good combination. 3D software would be excellent.

Can anyone give me some advice (perhaps keep using pencil/paper method)? Also has anyone heard of this product, http://thehandbagresource.com.

Hopefully I posted this is the right section. Thanks again.

[Sasquatch]

Looks like a pretty solid program a little pricey but then again I really have no idea about these things.

[JohnBarton]

I think that The Handbag Resource is basically the software of choice for all the ripoff artists in the world. I looked at this years ago and it's a considerable resource for designing the look of bags. I am not sure but I don't think that they provide actual patterns. I think that what they do is go and get pictures of all the new handbags that come out every year and then their graphic artists draw the bag and add it and it's parts to the library.

So it's essentially a collection of line drawings that represent all the fashion bags that come out with the ability to easily take parts from any of them to create new bags. Want a Prada handbag with Gucci handles? Then this is your package.

I downloaded some of their free samples and I can see where it would help me to draw cases if I wanted to send people digital mockups of cases and I had lots of call for that. But for us to draw a zipper or a handle goes pretty quickly anyway so it would be a huge expense for not much that we can't do ourselves when the need arises.

Honestly, pattern making isn't that hard if you can use a program like Corel Draw or the free equivalents. This, a printer, scissors and tape are how I mock up lots of the cases and parts I want to make.

And it's sooooooooo much more satisfying to say that you made it up all by yourself.

Sometimes I will see something done somewhere else and I will want to try it. I will draw it out and make my own pattern until I am happy with it. Often this leads to something different that whatever the inspiration was.

Here is an online resource for patterns: www.bighousedaddy.com I think.

[HCM]

I thought I would revive this thread and plug some software I just heard about. I use illustrator because I already had it with my business, but this caught my attention because it can do some things that illustrator can't even dream about. Not to mention it can do true 3D modeling. It is incredibly easy to use on a basic level and with some learning you can even render with it. With a little experience, one can accomplish the same art you can do with illustrator but in some cases in half the time or even less. Oh, did I forget to mention that it's free?

Check it out....

http://sketchup.google.com/

Yes, it's a google program, that's why it's free! The one catch is, I think, the free version is very limited on export capabilities. I haven't really tried it yet, so I don't know exactly what it can and can't do. I think the pro version, something like $500, allows vector export so you can send your art to illustrator. Again, I'm not sure about this but check it out.

Here is a really simple demonstration of how great this software is.

Hopefully this can pull some of you out of the dinosaur age with your paper and pencils. Hahahaha, paper! And pencils! It just sounds so....barbaric!

[JohnBarton]

I thought I would revive this thread and plug some software I just heard about. I use illustrator because I already had it with my business, but this caught my attention because it can do some things that illustrator can't even dream about. Not to mention it can do true 3D modeling. It is incredibly easy to use on a basic level and with some learning you can even render with it. With a little experience, one can accomplish the same art you can do with illustrator but in some cases in half the time or even less. Oh, did I forget to mention that it's free?

Check it out....

http://sketchup.google.com/

Yes, it's a google program, that's why it's free! The one catch is, I think, the free version is very limited on export capabilities. I haven't really tried it yet, so I don't know exactly what it can and can't do. I think the pro version, something like $500, allows vector export so you can send your art to illustrator. Again, I'm not sure about this but check it out.

Here is a really simple demonstration of how great this software is.

Hopefully this can pull some of you out of the dinosaur age with your paper and pencils. Hahahaha, paper! And pencils! It just sounds so....barbaric!

It's quite funny but I have everything I need on my computer to mock up any type of bag in less than an hour. I have pockets, zippers, handles, textures, etc....all created and collected over the past 17 years. But in the past week I have gone back to pencil and paper and find it so much more satisfying.

I made up an order sheet with all the specs to be filled in and had that copied and made into 50 sheet sketch pads. I love it. One thing I have never been able to do as quickly on the computer is mock up my ideas like I can by drawing them out. It just seems as if the flow is better. Don't get me wrong though - I love my library and I have plenty of half-done sketches done in Corel that were definitely easier to mock up there.

I think it takes both - the willingness to use paper, rulers, cardboard and tape to pursue your ideas and make patterns AND the ability to transport it to computer and preserve it as well as expand on it digitally.

One device that I bought which I thought would bridge the two worlds and hasn't for me is the Wacom Tablet. I bought a nice one and it was good for some things but it doesn't play as well with Corel as I thought it would and so has limited use for me. Once in a great while I will plug it in and use it but mostly it's just a glorified $400 mousepad. I really need to Ebay it. I can definitely see how it would be the nuts for those who can really draw though as once you get used to it then the precision control is great.