A concise study in fine line shading - Engraving Forum.com - The Internet's Largest and Fastest Growing Engraving Community

Tim Wells · #1 11-06-2008, 08:29 PM

Here for your viewing pleasure are some examples of different applications of shading. I took some photo's of photographs that Steve took of a few jobs of yesteryear.

When I saw these I thought to myself " these would make a fine tool to illustrate close up how shade lines, a lot of shade lines finely cut and really close together affect the form of a given leaf and why; the more important aspect being why. Why do I want to shade a leaf any given way and the answer to that would be to give it the form you see in your head.

You will notice how certain effects are created and how their relationships contrast to make everything pop with life. Enjoy and glean everything you can. This first photo is of a small plate that Steve engraved for Buster Warenski before he started engraving knives (1980). Following it are some close ups of elements for closer study.

Tim Wells · #2 11-15-2008, 12:33 AM

Bump

airamp · #3 11-15-2008, 01:53 AM

Wow,

That is really amazing shading work.

Hope some day i will be able to do that!!!

Just fantastic,

AirAmp

Ddbltrbl · #4 11-15-2008, 04:37 AM

Tim,
This is the kind of great stuff that keeps me coming back here. I will probably spend far too much time studying these.

:thankyou:

joseph engraver · #5 11-15-2008, 08:44 AM

These examples of shading are excellent. The execution of the cuts that make up the leaves should be studied as carefully as the shading. Notice that they consist of curves, double and reverse curves and partial spirals. These are the principal cuts that are the elements that make up ornamental style engraving. It is the precision, placement, and the way they are used that make beautiful each part of this engraving.

Vanknife · #6 11-15-2008, 09:06 AM

Simply Stunning examples, thank's

Cheers

"VAN"

jlseymour · #7 11-15-2008, 11:21 AM

That's some fine work Tim...
Thanks for the study both Steve and Tim...
Jerry

Phil Coggan · #8 11-15-2008, 12:46 PM

I knew he was'nt just a pretty face

In my book there's nothing to beat that.

Phil

WVEngraver · #9 11-15-2008, 03:29 PM

Looks like I'm the "Johnnie come lately" to this thread. Thank-you Tim for "bumping" this to the top.

I love this kind of shading. My Airgraver is a big improvement over the last tool I used in trying to learn and execute this type of shading.

Thanks again for posting this.

Dave London · #10 11-15-2008, 04:47 PM

Dittos Phil:whoo:

Rick S · #11 11-15-2008, 05:39 PM

Tim....what an awesome post. Thanks for sharing this!!!:whoo:

Chapi · #12 11-15-2008, 08:13 PM

This is just what I needed to study right now! Is there a term for that type of shading that doesn't have crosshatching? On the gold or brass piece, is there anything used to darken the cuts, or is that just the natural color? Thank you for posting this!

Ddbltrbl · #13 11-15-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseph engrav,sculpt

The execution of the cuts that make up the leaves should be studied as carefully as the shading. Notice that they consist of curves, double and reverse curves and partial spirals. These are the principal cuts that are the elements that make up ornamental style engraving. It is the precision, placement, and the way they are used that make beautiful each part of this engraving.

Thanks for pointing that out Joseph! I was also noticing how the varied widths of the cuts around the outside of the leaves (areas with no background removed) contribute significantly to the shading and feel of the whole scroll.

WVEngraver · #14 11-15-2008, 10:09 PM

Chapi,

I'm pretty sure that it is simply "fine line" ... I've never heard of it referred to as anything else. Fine cross hatch is typically seen on bank note engraving and Steve has a lot of examples of that in his gallery.

This type of shading is as good as it gets ... clearly indicative of "high-end" engraving.

Fine line can be darkened with a little oil, by rubbing in some waterproof ink or by enamel. I think that choice depends on the overall piece as well as background removal.

Hope that helps...

Chris

Steve Lindsay · #15 11-17-2008, 08:57 AM

Thanks for posting these Tim. The closer-up black & white photos were taken though a baush & lomb scope by holding the camera up to a eyepiece. They would have been orginally shot around 1980.

Here is a close-up picture of that round gold broach. It is about 1" in diameter.

I can post more close-up pics in another thread
http://www.handengravingforum.com/showthread.php?t=2438

Steve