Hello! Im quite new to the program, and i would like to draw something like that (see photo)



What tools should i use?

Thanks.

Well I started to answer this yesterday, but it was just going to take too long. And I see that no one else has answered yet either. While it's not a very complex image, and looks relatively simple, it will take a good deal of planning. And to explain to a newbie takes even longer than just drawing it.

It looks like essentially a 3d object to me, where the top has been removed. And instead of the sides being solid, they have stripes.

I would suggest starting with some tutorials which show how to draw simulations of 3d. These 2 are a good start, and there are probably more, that I don't remember at the moment.

http://screencasters.heathenx.org/episode-061/
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... upCan.html

Hi.

Quote Brynn;

And to explain to a newbie takes even longer than just drawing
I would suggest starting with some tutorials which show how to draw simulations of 3d.

No need for any complicated "3d-transformations" as the ellipses looks 3d on their own.

Here are a "quick_n_dirty" attempt which will need (much) more refinement but as you said - it might be hard for a newbie.

(After posting this Lazur will chime back very soon with a much better (and much more complicated) version!)
RGDS
Ragnar

^--An add to that, just to make it less self explanatory, but cleaner:

Draw a full arc with the ellipse tool,
resize duplicants (Ctrl+D) of it by bounding box corner handles while holding Ctrl and Shift,
and change arc angles after.
This way arcs can be concentric easily.

And it may be more organised if the blurring is added to one single group only.

Hi.

Lazur - as usual - good points.
In any way might not be the easiest for a "newbie" to do.

RGDS
Raganr

Thanks a lot for the help! I will try it and come back with the results.

No need for any complicated "3d-transformations" as the ellipses looks 3d on their own.

Yes, they DO look 3d on their own. But how to draw the ellipses the right size (proportions) and where to place them?? I don't know how to do that without having some structure....or implied structure with guides or grid, or something. Someone with advanced math skills can probably calculate the proper sizes. But most people, including me, would not have that ability.

HI.

Quote:

Yes, they DO look 3d on their own. But how to draw the ellipses the right size (proportions) and where to place them?? I don't know how to do that without having some structure....or implied structure with guides or grid, or something. Someone with advanced math skills can probably calculate the proper sizes. But most people, including me, would not have that ability.

Brynn, my fault. I should have explained a little better why I recon they look "3d on their own".
As I saw the image I figured the ellipses were actually parts of circular rings seen from front and above.
I saw them sitting on the same plane.
The rings are (parts of) true circles, when seen from an angle they "turn into" (part of) ellipses.
All rings of same color are at the same level (Y-level in "normal" 3d lingo").
Note that the "half-circles in "the back" is "off center" as in OP's original image.

Seen from the top:


(Click Image for larger version.)

When viewed from front:

(Click Image for larger version.)

The images are rendered in POVRAY, the only difference between the two images is the location of the "camera".
(In the Original Poster's image the camera is even lower to the ground level as seen in next image.)

Hope this helps the perception.
( Having said that I might be incorrect in my assumption above,
I have been wrong before and it might even happen again!)

Image with added "focal blur" and lowered camera.

(Click Image for larger version.)

RGDS
Ragnar

In my humble opinion this is one of those effects how to fake a 3D look.
By translating duplicants of a shape, it can represent depth as the image was made with a model ortogonally projected.
(A motion blur can do the same trick in gimp.)
That projection would not distort the top/bottom shape compared to each.

A bit related topic.

I agree, Ragnar. That's how I see it too. But I just don't have good enough imagination to know what proportions of ellipses to use, without putting some kind visual cues on the canvas first. You probably used just a visual estimation, to get the example in your file (I'm guessing).

I would have better luck doing it sort of "on the fly" and without guides, if they were just concentric circles. But with the ends offset, just makes it really tricky, for my abilities. So that's why I would need some guides.

Anyway, thanks for additional explanation