Let me start off by saying that thank you for wanting to look at my instructable. I will be entering this in the “Design it, Draw it, Wear it” contest. So if you feel like I did a good job, please slide on over and give me a vote. Once again thank you.

Hello once again! If you have seen any of my other instructables then you know that I like to draw. This is actually a understatement … I LOVE TO DRAW!!! Now that we established this, I would like to embellish you with a little sketching technique first and then go into a design. I will layout a plan on paper/Wacom tablet and then go into the final design on top of the paper/ top layer. This is gives the person a reference to trace over with to get the desired effect. Let me start off with the tools I use and what you need (some alternatives so it is easier for you).

Needed Tools:
Imagination! (Can’t emphasize this enough)
Pencil (This is your weapon, use it wisely. Be it #2 or any other)
Lots of Paper (napkins, cardboard and yes even toilet paper, be gentle)
Optional tools:
Computer
Wacom drawing tablet
Sketchbook pro 6 (demo or full version)**see below

Now, if don’t have the optional tools I would advise using a bolder pencil for finishing your creation since you are going to define a line at the end to be your finished product. I’ll touch more on this at the end of this instructable.

** Familarize yourself with the tools, toolbars, any thing that you think that you would want to use, play with it. Things don’t always work out the same on paper as on computer. The brushes, pencils and other tools can be refined by the user to meet your desired feel, texture, boldness, etc.. This is a handy thing but can create mess if you get carried away.

circuit jeans.tif
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Step 1: Let's Get This Drawing Started!

Concept: The idea is to design a pair of pants using a dark color and then possibly use bleach to make circuit board traces. You then would be able to highlight the trace areas using a bright blue ink/dye to get the glowing effects.

Now the design:

My instructable is going to go over the process I used to draw a pair pants that I designed for a contest on instructables. Now this is how I start off all my drawings usually and this will be how also add finishing touches, to give it the look I want. I will be using a Wacom tablet and Sketchbook Pro 6 but everything can be done with just pencil & some paper. Let’s begin.

We start off with a oval that is going to represent our pelvis area. If you need an idea on how to get your oval to fit nice with your prospective use an old magazine, newspaper, etc… something that has the pose that you want. This will make it easier to understand how sketching helps lay the foundation to a drawing. Draw on the old magazine (or whatever) and see how you can fit a stick figure within the persons body. This let's you see how keep to everything all nice and neat!

After thst Draw lines extending from the side of the ovals and cut them off about where the knees would be.

Then comes the final step on this part, draw lines extending off from ends of those pointing in the direction the toes will be going. I make a stretched out triangles to represent feet. Now breathe, hold the drawing up and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. Keep practicing this, using the magazines, newspaper, etc... to get a visual of how you would draw a under lying sketch is a handy trick. Next step!

Step 2: Put Some Meat on Those Wire Bones!

Now that you have a underlying drawing it’s time to fill it out. This takes time, and patience to get. Don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t turn out right. You learn when mistakes happen. That human nature thingy at work again.

This decides how bulky, skinny, lumpy and any other types your mind can imagine about making. Once you have chosen a body type, you are ready to make the magic happen.

Start with ovals/ kinda like blimps that will represnt muscles. Imagine that there are balloons under the clothes and they shape your person. Create the thighs, then move onto the knees, finally adding the calves. Now for help with maintaining a since of direction on your feet vs. the legs you might add a line that shows a center on both legs. When drawing this line pretend that your ovals are eggs and when drawing it would push out in the center a little. This helps your visual deception of a 3D object. Congrats you’re a illusionist! Fool your friends, fun at parties! ;)

Step 3: Sketch Compete! Outline Complete!

Hold up your drawing, look at it from a distance. See what things that need a little tweaking and chopping. The time is now, do it. No really, do it. Once you do this you can start sketching the details that will accompany this creations ie: wrinkles, tears, holes, stripes the list doesn’t end. Sketch in any details that adds to the feel and character. You will be using these lines as final details, so what you see, is what you get.

Ok, to finalize this sketch (on paper) use a heavy pressure #2 pencil (DON’T RIP YOUR PAPER! Use a dull pencil for this) or use a 3B or 4B drawing pencil (softer lead = darker line) . Follow the outlines that represent your edges and details. You should have a pretty decent looking picture by now. The next step I will discuss Sketchbook Pro 6 and the Wacom tablet. Onward!

Step 4: Key Points to Remember in Sketchbook Pro 6!

The paper version is similar as in all aspects to the Sketchbook Pro 6 version, except for a few things that need to vary in tools used and how you go about getting certain results.
REMEMBER KEY POINTS IN SKETCHBOOK PRO 6: There is an undo and redo button – abuse them if you need to. They are at your command. Remember the magic, use it!
NEXT KEY POINT: You have layers, want to try something new. Create a layer, draw it, delete it if it’s not what you want. You never lost a thing, it’s all nice and neat. Want to throw some color schemes in and a little pizzazz create a layer, drag the layer behind your original layer. Bam, delete it or keep it. I even use the hide layer so I can keep it and use it later. That way it’s not interfering with your task at hand.

Step 5: DESIGN PHASE!!! WOO HOO!

Now that you have the finished outline with details add color, add patterns, create a plethora of ideas! You can do this with paper or with Sketchbook Pro 6. When you only have paper, I would suggest to photocopy/scan an make several copies just to play around with so you don’t ruin your original. In Sketchbook Pro 6 use your undo & redo button, use layers when experimenting and you will always be fine!

-I start by creating a layer each time I try a new idea. I used the airbrush tool to fill in the pants.

-I then used the eraser tool (there are 2 used either one) to clean the overspilled areas and kept in the lines.

-Moving on I decided to craete my circuit traces, so I used the eraser tool to make the lines in the blue fill layer.

-Then I decided to add a glowing effect to the circuits, I did this by selecting the color layer I had created. Then using the select tool I selected the whole colored area. I then created a new layer (see told you, create a layer when playing around), and pasted it to that layer.

-Using the fill tool, I selected the color I wanted and changed to color to bright light-blue.

-Using the move layers tool, I positioned the colors layers on top of each other.

-Then moved it the lighter colored layer behind the darker.

-Using the scaling tool on the same layer moving tool, I adjusted the layer till it was slighter smaller and gave it that "Tron" kinda feel.

-Now after all that I decide if it needs more or not. I add another layer to create a background. I use the airbrush tool again and change the size of the brush to *FREAKING HUGE*. Bigger marks cover more area and keep the paint light. Easier to blend also.

-I then create a text layer and choose a text and color that I feel is pleasing to me and the design.

-Iuse the erase tool on the background page where my text is and get rid of the color behind it.

Tah-dah! Save it, merge it do whatever you want!! It's yours!!

Thank you for looking at my instructable and please do give me a vote if you think I did a good job. Also if there are any questions please feel free to ask. I try to include everything but it is sooooo daunting to remember every littler step. I'm here to help! Let me do my job!