~ TRANSPARENT WINDOWS ~
Download the program, trace images anywhere!
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The TRANSPARENT WINDOWS program has been mentioned at this site in the past, but I have JUST started "x"perimenting with it personally, and I have to say that it is the EASIEST way to transfer (trace) images from one source to another!

Once the program has been installed, it allows you to add a transparency to one or more windows, and makes it possible to "see through" them and what is underneath (or behind) the window.  This makes it a PERFECT tool for artists, as they can trace an image that appears on one window and make it appear in another!  Please take a look at the following flake, and be sure to right click and zoom in on it several times so you can see all the detail ;)

Hey, I made you a snowflake using TRANSPARENT WINDOWS! Check it out by clicking HERE.

This is only the 3rd flake I have made using this technique.  The first was a "rough" copy of Améthyste's self portrait, the second was a mouth (only because I happened to have an image of one to "play" with and didn't feel like 'hunting' for something else!), and the 3rd was the above flake, which I created with the ALT so I could get more detail than my first, "hand drawn" Améthyste tribute flake!

Seen side by side, one can compare the detail and how closely I was able to duplicate the image.  Tracing Améthyste's original artwork onto a flake was actually quite difficult, as I was not able to duplicate the wonderful shading she incorporated into it, however, even so, I was still able to "capture" her likeness in the 'black and white' of SnowDays.  :)

My 2nd attempt "SPREAD THE WORD"
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Tracing allows the artist to capture a "realism" that is nearly impossible to do otherwise.  Yes, I could have drawn a mouth from 'memory', and spent a LOT of time on it (using the 'undo' button several times until I got it just right), but making an image like the above would likely have taken me over an hour to do from "memory", and also likely would NOT have appeared so 'life like' after all that work!  The above flake took me approX. 5 minutes (or less) to create with Transparent Windows.

One of the BEST "x"amples of a flake I've seen made using Transparent Windows (so far) would probably be Suzy Snowflake's amazing Featured Flake, where she managed to draw ME onto a flake!  I was ASTONISHED to see my own likeness appear on a snowflake at SnowDays, and this would have been nearly impossible to have done 'free hand'.  After making the above Améthyste tribute flake, I have an even better understanding and appreciation for the work Suzy went through to create it!  You can read more about Suzy and this flake HERE.

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~ DOWNLOAD TRANSPARENT WINDOWS ~
Click HERE to download from MisterX or HERE to download from Tucows.

If you want to try your hand at tracing with this incredible "tool", just click on one of the linX above and download the program for yourself.  Once you have it, click on the "x"ecutable file and instal it onto your computer (for Microsoft Windows only).  Once it's installed, you will see a 'slide bar' appear at the top right hand side of your window.  Left click on it, hold, and slide the bar until the desired transparency is achieved.

You can also adjust the transparency of a window by right clicking on the bottom toolbar's reference to it, as seen below.  Right click on it, choose "transparency", then pick the transparency percentage point that suits your needs.
As seen above, you can also get info on the program here, or close the program.  You can also do this by right clicking on the icon that appears near your clock at the bottom right of your screen on the task bar.

 

~ USING TRANSPARENT WINDOWS ~
Once installed, it's EASY to create with!

The first thing to do is to pick an image you'd like to reproduce.  Open it up in IRFANVIEW, or the viewer you have installed on your computer.  DO NOT 'minimize" it, you want it to be OPEN (as you will be using it as the 'background').

NeXt, open a window at SnowDays (or another drawing site, or draw/paint program of your choice).  This window should open 'above', or 'on top of' the previous open window with your image to be copied.  Now use one of the above mentioned methods to add a transparency to the TOP window (the slide bar, or by right clicking on the tool bar).  You will now notice the window can be "seen through" and the image below is viewable.

Adjust the 2 windows to your liking, making the image you want to trace appear in the right place on your top window.  Use the regular slide bars you have to do this.  You might want to resize either window to make it more to your personal preference.  When I made the above Améthyste tribute flake, I used the GARGANTUAN SnowDays page at MisterX.ca (HERE), then adjusted the size of the creation triangle with the windows magnifying glass feature, then moved my image page to "center" the image as close as possible to the creation triangle, and THEN used the slide bars on the top page to place it all "just right".  This may seem rather confusing when reading it, but it is actually quite EASY to do when you are attempting it yourself with the 2 open windows at home.  ;)

I tried to get a screen shot of how this looks, but unfortunately was not able to do so (my program only wants to show me one or the other page at once), but this isn't necessary anyway...you'll see it when you try it out!  Once you can see the bottom image through your top page, you simply trace the details onto it, and PRESTO, - you'll have a MASTERPIECE!  :D

I hope you will try out this AMAZING technique for yourself.  It's a TON of FUN and will allow you to make images you only dreamed of making beforehand!  Draw things as simple as mouths, or go 'gung-ho' and draw a portrait!  The SKY'S THE LIMIT with this awesome tool!

Have FUN!
- X -  March 13th/ 2010

WITH THANX TO:
* SUZY SNOWFLAKE/ANTARCTICA for her amazing tribute to ME that got me REALLY interested in transparent tracing a year ago, (even though I didn't try it myself until yesterday!).
* AMETHYSTE for her artwork that has given me so MUCH inspiration :)
* PM/ARK who has sent me this program SEVERAL times and got me to FINALLY try it out for myself!  :D

RELATED ARTICLES
Ingrid's Template, HERE
Light Tables, HERE


Learn more about the artist who inspired me to make the above flake.  My pages dedicated to Améthyste are HERE.

~ DOWNLOAD TRANSPARENT WINDOWS ~
Click HERE to download from MisterX or HERE to download from Tucows.