Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Astrophotography and Sketching >> Sketching Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 rolandlinda3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/24/06 Posts: 1612 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Getting bright--2nd try at an old question       #2423640 - 05/27/08 09:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sometimes I am just blown away by stars but usually fail to capture their brightness by the time I get through a sketch. I have tried touching up later, using tiny dabs of white correction stuff, pastels, pencils, etc. I have even blackened black paper around a star to provide the accent. Anyone try anything they really like if they want to make a star sing to represent those bright pretty ones when they show off on a good night?? Roland Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/24/06 Posts: 1612 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Getting bright--2nd try at an old question [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2427777 - 05/29/08 08:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   No responses so it must be either a common issue with not solution apparent or I'm the only one with the issue. I will be hunting for solution....probably a liquid solution with some sort of applicator using something bright white or with embedded glass particles. Need something, in any case. Thanks for reading anyway. Roland Post Extras:       cildarith Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/26/04 Posts: 2122 Loc: San Diego, CA Re: Getting bright--2nd try at an old question [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2428878 - 05/30/08 11:12 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi, Roland This is indeed a challenge for those sketching white on black paper. White pencils/pastels/chalks etc. simply fail to provide that piercing light as seen by eye. The best solution I ever came up with was a white ink pen that I picked up many years ago at a local stationary/gift card shop (now long gone). I'm not sure I even have the pen any longer - so I can't tell you who made it. Once I purchased a scanner, though, I've gone back to black on white sketching and not looked back. I hope that helps (and I hope others will chime in with their own suggestions). Cheers! -------------------- Eric 6" f/6 Parks Newtonian 10x50 Bushnell Binocs CN Sketch Gallery Post Extras:       atoptics Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/10/06 Posts: 1389 Loc: UK Re: Getting bright--2nd try at an old question [Re: cildarith]       #2428964 - 05/30/08 11:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rushing where angels fear.... Just reminds me of getting a really bright white line on black in solar prom sketching. A very sharp (indeed) Derwent Watercolour pencil held almost vertically does this. Not sure if that has possibilities for stars. -------------------- Les Atmospheric Optics TiltingSun Post Extras:       rodelaet Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 2655 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Getting bright--2nd try at an old question [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2429653 - 05/30/08 04:18 PM Attachment (7 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland, I might not be able to help you, cause I render stars on a digital platform. But maybe my approach can give you some ideas for pencil applications as well. The really bright stars are rendered on 3 separate layers. The top layer holds the round star point. The second layer holds a flaring effect, and the 3th layer holds the halo. See the picture below. The right frame shows the final composition of the layers. The goal of this excercise is to add brightness without making starpoints too 'fat'. -------------------- Rony My Astronomy Sketches My Binocular Sketches Post Extras:       frank5817 Post Laureate Reged: 06/13/06 Posts: 3041 Loc: Illinois Re: Getting bright--2nd try at an old question [Re: rodelaet]       #2430075 - 05/30/08 07:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland, I can't say I ever found anything that works as well as black (ink, graphite, charcoal) on white paper then scanning and inverting. Frank Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/24/06 Posts: 1612 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Getting bright--2nd try at an old question [Re: frank5817]       #2432646 - 06/01/08 01:16 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   More good ideas. Layering does help. I am trying to find a fully manual way that works so the originals keep the lustre I want but the digital techniques are applicable. The only trick I have learned so far is to multi-layer where the first layer is prismacolor pencil because it permits more stuff on top. Pastels (after a bit of work) don't permit anything to be laid upon them so are not a good choice unless they have been taken up a bit to receive something on top. Add a little moisture to the situation and nothing works. I have resorted to applying quick-dry white correction fluid midway in a sketch because it dries fast....then continuing. So far, it is the best choice. But still have not found a bright liquid application for single stars that can produce a fine small point. Will keep experimenting however. Thanks all. Roland Post Extras:       rodelaet Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 2655 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Getting bright--2nd try at an old question [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2432759 - 06/01/08 04:38 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland, How about working on a larger scale? The bigger sketch allows for thicker starpoints? -------------------- Rony My Astronomy Sketches My Binocular Sketches Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 2 registered and 4 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  Charlie Hein, cildarith  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 235 Jump to *International Year of Astronomy 2009* -----   Global Coordination   Cornerstone Projects   Special Projects   Special Task Groups   Global Activities   National and Regional Activities   IYA 2009 in Africa   IYA 2009 in the USA*Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Beginners Forum   Celestial Events   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Celestron SkyScout and Meade mySky   Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   General Observing   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Other* -----   Science of Astronomy & Space exploration   AstroWebsites   Space Rocks*Speciality Forums* -----   AstroArt   Astronomy Software & Computers   Stellar Media   Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements Home

Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics