Converting An Image Into A Workable Design

[wokka]

Hey guys,

I've got my heart set on the below image as a tooled design on a motorcycle seat,

I was wondering if yall have any tips on determining which lines are cut and which are just modelled.

I plan on doing the seat a single colour, using a diluted dye over the entire piece, then coming back with a stronger mix to add depth, but am worried that I'll lose too much definition from the original

I know trial and error is the answer here, but as I live in the middle east, just about everything needs to be shipped from the UK or Europe and to be honest, it just plain sucks.

Any help, tips, advice or offers of free candy gratefully accepted

[Ladyluck]

Mmmm...a very artistic question. And as it is an artistic question, the answer depends on what image you want to bring forth.

That said, here's what I would do:

Looking at your image, I noticed many of the lines are outlined in black. (Basic outline of the squirrel, teeth, claws, bag, etc). If you want to keep the "cartoony" image, I would definitely cut all of those lines. I would bevel based on which side of the line is highlighted. In other words, if one side of the line is light, I would bevel the other side. This will maintain the perspective of the lines near claws, etc. Be careful! Consider twice, bevel once.

For all of the lighter, non-black lines, I would model, or use light artistic cuts in the leather, depending on the look you want, and your confidence in each skill. Personally, I would make an exception for the flames, which I would cut. Because I like the look of cool cut flames. Heh. But that's me. They could also be modeled.

But feel free to throw out my advice if you want a non-cartoony version of your cool squirrel.

Good luck!

[Doc Wiley]

Cut everything you want in the foreground. The more forward you want something the deeper the cut. Stuff that modify's the foreground cuts in some way are modeled. For instance; the primary cuts in the bag are cut but all of the fluidness is modeled in an attempt to give the bag some depth as well as some fullness.