Turning a silhouette into a vector image might seem like an easy task that can be done with just a click. However, the final results of such automated processes are often only acceptable for small images. If you aim for a highly detailed vector image in high resolution, you must take each and every detail seriously. This meticulous attention to detail is exactly what we do here at our Boxist photography website. We create our images from scratch and engage in a thorough process to achieve the perfect silhouette with the sharpest vector details. Our final images are not just perfect, they are more than perfect.
Here, we want to share how we draw and create our silhouette images. When you see a vector silhouette picture on our website, understand that it is the result of hours of work and patience. For some, it might just be a picture, but for us, each image is a labor of love. This dedication is why our stock photography website is exceptional and why our clients seek to purchase and license our stock photos and designs.
The Process: Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Preparing the Image: We start with one of our stock photography images. For example, an image taken in late 2009, titled “Silhouette Of Dad Pushing Son’s Bike At Sunset” This image shows a father pushing his son’s small bicycle against a stunning sunset backdrop. Our goal is to create a similar image but focusing only on the boy riding his bike, without the father.
First, we brighten the image using CorelDRAW software (although Adobe Illustrator can achieve similar results, we find CorelDRAW offers more flexibility with drawing and editing tools). This allows us to see the details of the boy riding the bike clearly, using this as our reference image.
Step 2: Drawing the Bicycle: We begin by hand-drawing the bicycle using the Shape Tool in CorelDRAW. Every detail, including the wheels, pedals, brakes, and handle, is meticulously crafted. Smooth and sharp curves and lines are essential to achieve a realistic and detailed depiction of the bike.
Step 3: Drawing the Child: Once the bike is complete, we draw the child riding it. We carefully depict how the child is sitting, holding the bike handles, and where their feet are positioned, based on the reference image. Next, we focus on the details of the head, helmet, and the facial silhouette, including the head, nose, mouth, and chin.
Step 4: Combining the Parts: With both the bike and the boy drawn, we start connecting the parts. Using the Weld Tool, Trim Tool, and Combine Tool in CorelDRAW, we merge all the pieces into a single, cohesive, and detailed image of a young boy riding a bike.
Step 5: Creating the Scene: Next, we work on creating the scene. Instead of using Photoshop, we continue with Corel Photo-Paint to maintain consistency. We start with a high-resolution image size of 8000 x 5333 pixels at 300 dpi, sufficient for large projects, including billboard prints.
Step 6: Adding the Road: We create the arched curved floor or road where the boy will ride the bike. We position our silhouette of the boy in the center, adjusting it to find the best placement.
Step 7: Incorporating the Sea View: To add a sea view, we use one of our stock images, “Blue Sea Water Surface At Sunset” We cut a part of the sea water and integrate it into our image, making some edits to enhance its quality. We change the color from blue to orange to evoke the feeling of water at sunset.
Step 8: Adding the Sunset Background: We select another stock image, “Orange Sunset With Yellow Sun Under The Clouds,” showing a beautiful view of the sky at sunset. This image features a dark orange and light orange sky with a glowing sun. We use this image as the background for our scene.
Step 9: Final Adjustments: We make final adjustments and manipulations to ensure the image is perfect. This includes blurring the sunset background slightly to create depth and focus on the silhouette.
Step 10: Creating Final Results Derivatives: With the scene and background ready, we can create derivative images. We might repeat the drawing process to add the father’s silhouette pushing the bike or create various backgrounds. We can also isolate the bike silhouette on a white background for different applications.
As you can see, we put in extensive effort to offer our clients the best designs and stock photography for their projects, advertisements, and more. Our licensing allows for personal, educational, and commercial use. We pride ourselves on providing stock photography that our clients can’t find elsewhere, available for purchase and licensing directly from the photographer and copyright owner of the photography work.
© Legal / Copyright Information: All images contained on this page are copyrighted by and the property of Boxist.com Stock Photography (Sam Mugraby). They cannot be used without a proper license under any circumstances. The use of these images is not free, and they are protected by domestic and international copyright law. Our stock photos can be licensed for personal, educational, and commercial use and subject to our usage terms and conditions. Any unauthorized usage of these images will be subject to legal action to the full extent of the law. We reserve the right to pursue unauthorized users of our images and seek damages for copyright violations.
