Making 1/16th scale leaves...

[Dan Morton]

So, I have photos of separate oak, maple, birch, and poplar leaves and would like to create some autumnal groundwork. I have scaled them to 1/16th and duplicated them. I plan to use my X-acto knife to cut and separate the leaves. I would like to print them to some appropriate paper that would accept a bit of the photographic color from my ink jet printer, but, of course, would not be white on either side - probably several shades of yellow, tan and red. I also want to allow the painter to do a bit of dabbing of colors to improve things and develop shading. Any suggestions on the type and source of paper? Or am I barking up the wrong tree? It wouldn't be the first time...

All the best,
Dan

 

[Anders Heintz]

Maybe try some colored paper from Hobby Lobby or something? Or you can print them and then paint the underside, or print both sides of the paper, if you reverse the file you are printing it should print the same on both sides? Just some thoughts.

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Cool Idea....

..to use your desktop printer.

Couple of thoughts-

- over printing on coloured paper will almost certainly cause a colour shift. IE printing a red autumn leaf on a green paper background will shift the colour to a blue- black leaf. If you print on a light tan stock, then that might add to the autumn effect.

- use perhaps an airbrush to give a light coat to one side of the leaves... either a satin finish, or a slightly different tone to the printed colours. Depends on the results you want. Before cutting out the leaves may be better, unless you want an autumn leaf fall in 1/16th scale all over the bench

- Ink jet inks are water based, so dabbing on paint may cause bleed or smudging, depending on the paint you use, and what thinning agent you use.

As for paper, it comes in various grades, thickness essentially; the average office stuff is 70 - 80 gsm, should be ok. double sided photo matte paper will have less bleed issues, but is thicker (heavier/ higher gsm).

I think it is an excellent idea, looking forward to seeing the results!

Cheers

 

[blaster]

Hi Dan,
printing your own leaves? That is one brilliant idea.

Rgds Vic

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Dan,

I've tried printing leaves in 1/16th scale several years ago and eventually gave up out of frustration. In the end I drew, painted and cut out each leaf separately.

I used wax paper as its very thin and absorbs acrylics paint well, and the waxy side perfectly resembles the natural waxy coating you find on the upside of most deciduous leaves.

 

[Dan Morton]

Many thanks for all the ideas, gents! The leaves will be ground work for figures based on this photo. The German short-haired pointer and both pails are done. I'm just fiddling with the fingers of one hand on the figure. I hope to post them this weekend.

All the best,
Dan

 

[Einion]

Any suggestions on the type and source of paper?

Your inkjet takes US letter I presume? Maybe a local printer's will have some stock of faun/cream/buff paper from printing letterheads that they could let you have some of (instead of buying an entire ream).

Einion

 

[Dan Morton]

I was able to find some sheets of light creamy tan and have just printed double-sided one paper full of leaves. See the photo attached. They're not actually photos of leaves, altho I found some of those also, but in this scale, they seem to look alright. Now to cut them out and crinkle them a bit and see how they turn out.

All the best,
Dan

 

[Dan Morton]

It worked - easy, just tedious.

Steps -

1. I searched the internet and found illustrations of various leaves. I'm going to use maple, birch and a simpler pinnate(?) leaf. Don't know what that third species is. Anybody know?
2. Next using Photoshop I scaled them to 1:16th mostly by eyeball. The birch may be a little over-scale.
3. Next I copied them using Photoshop. When you have a page full, save them, then use the Image - Rotate - Flip Horizontal (or Vertical, whichever), and save again. You've created a mirror image of the original page.
4. Print one mirror image on one side of the page and another on the other side and you should have complete two-side leaves, suitable for cutting out.
5. As to type of paper, I found a light weight card stock which I think will stand up to both being painted a bit and being crinkled a lot. I bought some tracing paper or vellum and tried that. Didn't work and jammed my printer. I tried lighter paper and it worked but I was concerned that it would become mushy when wet. The light card stock was bought at Dick Blick (US and online art retailer) and is very light tan. I tried a darker tan and thought it ruined the colors.

All the best,
Dan

 

[billyturnip]

Are you going to cut them out now Dan? That'll keep you out of mischief for awhile.

Roger.

 

[tonydawe]

Crikey Dan, you could foliate the Teutenberg Forest with that lot!

Hope you've got lots of No.11 blades!

 

[Dan Morton]

Roger - Yes, I will be cutting them out. Consider it therapy of a sort. ??

Tony - Gee, maybe that's what happened to the Grand Prairie originally. Lots of No. 11's in stock!

I may enlist the aid of my wife off and on in cutting them out. I actually goes faster than you'd think.

All the best,
Dan