Where to start?

[CRIPES_A_MIGHTY]

OOhh..OOOh...OOOh...
1 question....what size?

Like what size should be used to make a profile?

Pixels...Inchs..etc..whats the best?.
Cheers!

[GrubbyFingers]

Oh, man, how long is a piece of string?
I can't answer for the other guys, but I find I just seem to keep working bigger and bigger until either my computer can't handle it or I lose patience with the saves and how long re-draws take. The short answer for me is big enough that I can see the detail. I was working at 300ppi for an A4 sheet, but I just couldn't add the detail I wanted, too few pixels!
Bear in mind that you can always tackle these things in pieces in separate files and then stitch them together later. I find I do this a lot with things like rotor heads and undercarriages that don't change much. I create them in separate files, save as, and then flatten them. They can then be pasted into your main pic as a single layer when the original donor file may have many layers. This helps to keep file size down a bit.
To be specific, I generally do my stuff to fit on an A3 sheet at 300ppi. File sizes tend to crawl up around the 1Gb mark once the layers start building up. It can take several minutes to open files and to do saves at this size.
I hope this helps!
Grubby.

[Jesters-Ink]

This was my test profile, the very first try, so there are plenty of things wrong with it.
Drawn at 144 dpi to fit A3.
http://premium1.uploadit.org/JeSTeRs...E-4-144dpi.jpg

My second profile.
Drawn at 300 dpi to fit A3.
http://premium1.uploadit.org/JeSTeRs...-JXB-clean.jpg

And here is a 72 dpi example, also for A3.
http://premium1.uploadit.org/JeSTeRs...broke-copy.jpg
No point copying thse they have all been updated

These samples should help you pick the right dpi for your first go.

[CRIPES_A_MIGHTY]

1st try?!!!....Well..don't think mine will look anything like that..
Decisions, decisions.
Is there some kind of mathmatical equations to size.?
ie: dpi = pixels., dpi= inchs that kind of thing, if I'm explaining myself so you understand what I'm getting at. Or am I thinking to hard..LOL.
More detail means, more accuracy, means BIGGER...I like detail..
BUT..means, more time, more work, harder. Don't want to bite off more than I can chew. Everything has to be to scale, detail etc. Why is there no smiley pulling hair out..LOL.
Again , thanks for the help guys..much appreciated.
I guess I'll just have to dive in.
Here goes..( hold breath, pinches nose)... SPLOOOSSH!!!
I forgot ...I can't swim...AAAHHHHHH!!..Blub!..Blub!

[Jesters-Ink]

For a first go Cripes probably try it at 72 dpi, its more than usable for web gfx. 144 for A4 ish and 300 + for A3 and above.
You can use lower dpi's for larger sizes, I had four of my A3's printed up at A2 and was very pleased with the results, the extra size makes them look very impressive.

[mjag]

I hate to highjack this thread. But what would be one of the better profiles to start out with. A little well easier if there is one.

Which one did everyone start out there addicition with .

Mjag

[CRIPES_A_MIGHTY]

Hi mjag,

No problem, if you are interested in having a bash at creating your own profiles like me. It was a question I was kind of going to ask.
What would be a good subject for a complete beginner.?
I'm sure there are easier shaped aircraft than others.
I am in the progress of getting a P-51 up and going..I KNOW!..I KNOW!.(can't even do that yet.). Before you ask..it's not even WIP..

[Jesters-Ink]

I think the best advice I can give is, pick a subject you have lots of reference for.
The more you have on subject the easier it will be to progress through it.
I find most of my projects stall due to lack of knowing what a given area of detail should look like. Ask Graf

[AGNT_Matt]

i agree with Jest, focus on a plane you know well and have lots of reference images/information for. as for simplicity, what would we say as the order? Modern jets are pretty damn easy, warbirds can be trick and Heavy bombers well they're a league of their own with difficulty. (In my experience anyways)

[CRIPES_A_MIGHTY]

Yeah...I have more reference information of P-51's than I could waggle a wing at.
I would really like to do a 51...but I just lack the skill to really make a start even. And confidence..I know I will never truely be happy with anything I do.
I have had a dabble at it over the last 2 days but I've come up with nothing to show for it. I continually start....then scrap it all..and start again, over and over. All I get is a blank screen. Perhaps I'm just not cut out for it.