resizing patterns

[Dragons Pearl]

I have the A. S. Belts Galore book and want to make a belt with one of the patterns in it. Only thing is, its a 2" pattern and I need it to be a 1 1/2" pattern. Any ideas on how to shrink the 2" to 1 1/2"? They are both the rose patterns, but I really prefer the 2" one.

[craftsman827]

Paul,

I've had some good results using a copy machine.You could try that.Reduce it to 75% or 80%. That should help.Good luck & Happy Toolin

[SmokinP]

Might take it to a copy shop or even use the copier at the library. They have resizing options.

[Beaverslayer]

Paul, You can buy a tool (I'm not sure what it's called) but what it is, is a couple fo pieces of plastic attached together like scissors. You attach a pen or pencil to one end, and the other end has stylus type thingy. By changing the size of the scissor arms, you can trace the pattern and reduce or enlagre it.

I'll try to find a pic of one for you. You can actually make it yourself out of a few pieces of thin wood, and some screws.

Ken

[Beaverslayer]

I found it. It's called a "Pantograph" and if you have a Lee Valley Tools near buy, or want to order via the net they sell them. I've attached a link to them.

Lee Valley Tools

Ken

[Dragons Pearl]

Sweet!! You da man Ken! Thats exactly what I was looking for.

[pete]

forget using a new tool. All that you need to do is take one measurement and divide it by the other to tell you the exact amount.

To make a 2" pattern 1 1/2" just divide 1 1/2 by 2 = .75 Multiply by 100 and you get 75%. Copy the pattern with the machine set at 75% reduction and you've got it.

To make a pattern larger do the opposite. Divide the larger by the smaller, multiply by 100 and enlarge it that amount,

ex. a 1 1/2 pattern that you want to be 2" 1 1/2 into 2 = 1.33 x 100 = 133% enlargement

hope this helps

pete

[Dragons Pearl]

Pete,

True, but my copier does not have a reduce/enlarge feature, so I would have to make a trip down to the local Kinkos, which is across town. Doable, but I would rather do it at home given the choice. Still tho, would work for a more intricate pattern. Less time spent drawing lol.

[Johanna]

Sometimes with patterns like Dragons Pearl describes, you can just make a fancy border and keep the size. It just depends on the style you are looking for, and how much variation you need. A half inch difference is just two quarter inch borders.

Johanna

[pete]

don't forget Johanna

A flute with no holes is not a flute....

and a doughnut with no holes is a danish

[Micah]

here's something I just did an hour ago. a friend sent me some images he wants for the design on his strap. I don't have a printer/copier or a pantograph, but I do have photoshop and a flat panel LCD monitor (the Dell finally came in handy for something, LOL). So...

1. Open the images in photoshop (any graphics editor with a zoom feature will work).

2. Zoom the images to the right scale (use a ruler, layed on the screen, to verify). Side note: if you can specify an exact zoom amount, like 122%, all the better.

3. lay some tracing film over the screen. The screen has some natural static electricity to it which helps hold the film in place while you grab your painter's tape to secure it down.

4. use a standard pencil (not an eversharp) and LIGHTLY trace the pattern. If you can see rippling on the screen where you are drawing, you are pressing too hard and could damage the display. use several lighter strokes to build up your lines, rather than one or two heavy ones.

5. remove the tape/film... presto!

It also helps a great deal if you can tilt the screen back. the more horizontal the better I'd thought of doing this for a couple months now and finally had reason to put it to the test. works great!

Edited September 27, 2007 by Micah

[Kevin King]

here's something I just did an hour ago. a friend sent me some images he wants for the design on his strap. I don't have a printer/copier or a pantograph, but I do have photoshop and a flat panel LCD monitor (the Dell finally came in handy for something, LOL). So...

1. Open the images in photoshop (any graphics editor with a zoom feature will work).

2. Zoom the images to the right scale (use a ruler, layed on the screen, to verify). Side note: if you can specify an exact zoom amount, like 122%, all the better.

3. lay some tracing film over the screen. The screen has some natural static electricity to it which helps hold the film in place while you grab your painter's tape to secure it down.

4. use a standard pencil (not an eversharp) and LIGHTLY trace the pattern. If you can see rippling on the screen where you are drawing, you are pressing too hard and could damage the display. use several lighter strokes to build up your lines, rather than one or two heavy ones.

5. remove the tape/film... presto!

It also helps a great deal if you can tilt the screen back. the more horizontal the better I'd thought of doing this for a couple months now and finally had reason to put it to the test. works great!

If you have photoshop and a scanner, why not just resize in photoshop?

[Micah]

not sure I follow. I already had the digital images (gif and jpg, which I resized in PS) so a scanner would serve no purpose. a printer on the other hand would be a faster alternative to tracing it on the flat screen. oh wait, maybe that was meant for Dragons Pearl... yes, if he has a scanner and a graphics editor (most scanners come with some sort of editor) he could definitely do it that way... scan that page of the book and resize the image in the editor, then print or trace.

Edited September 28, 2007 by Micah