Challenge #2: pearls

This is very good question....

For real work, normally I encourage using Photo-PAINT as a partner to CorelDRAW in order to get work done.

In this specific Challenge, I ask that only CorelDRAW be used, since that is what I did here.

Hint: I may have converted some shapes from vectors to bitmaps inside CorelDRAW. ;-)

mo said:

Vector or Raster?

My pearls spent more time in the polisher.  Two larger ones for a closer view. Rose is from the DVD extras.

Patti

Is it Ok Jeff, I really Patti's pearls. It's hard to beleive they are vectors.

The idea: each person tries their best... :-)

Aleem Ashraf said:

Is it Ok Jeff, I really Patti's pearls.

Since the gauntlet for challenge #3 has already been thrown down,  I couldn't resist remarking that no one capture the essence of pearl--"pearlessence"-- as well as Jeff's original. The colours were right, the sheen was spot on...

Having said that, I's an ignoramus when it comes to doing that kind of thing. Everyone's submissions were more than I'd even know where to begin.

Good on ya...

DW said:

Having said that, I's an ignoramus when it comes to doing that kind of thing. Everyone's submissions were more than I'd even know where to begin.

It could be instructive for the community if you guys could describe the process by which you achieved your images. That way, new users could not only admire your work, but also learn how to make the best of Draw.

I was waiting for someone else to go first. :)  But hey, I 'll share. The first thing I did was look for an image of a pearl. Don't have any real ones laying around to look at.

I used only CorelDraw X4, but the final pearl it's not 100% vector.  I drew some basic shapes on an ellipse for the reflections and shadows.  The base is a radial fountain fill ellipse, with a whitish area about where the largest reflection is located. 

I used a fountain fill for the darkest reflection shape. Converted to bitmap and used a Gaussian blur.   Filled the light reflection shapes with white, converted to bitmap>Gaussain Blur. Grouped with the previous and Power clipped them into the base.

That's the basics. Sometimes I try a lot of different techniques and don't keep track. You could probably take the steps above further and get more a a opalescence (or would that be pearl-escense???) effect, but I didn't really have time.

Here's the steps in pictures of a second pearl with a bit more color:

And here's the original photo:

Patti