twist? Plug-in

[TsMom]

I've tried like crazy to make some simple yarn and can't figure it out. Does anyone know of a good plug-in for this that doesn't cost a fortune. I just want to be able to twist two pieces of fiber together. How about the AV Bros Curl filter? Is that good for it?

LaWanna

[Emma]

you can download the trial and see if you like it. Full version, just all your results have AV curl written on them, but you'll see it if works enough to buy it

I use my trial to twist things for reference shapes. I have made several twist custom shapes that I use to create twisted items, or as an overlay to make sure my twists are going the right way

twisted yarns are just two waves with alternating crests and troughs. Try the Wave filter with a tiny amplitude and long wavelength, duplicate that, then offset it and mask where one should go over/under

[TsMom]

Hate to sound like a dope. What do you mean by masking it? You just mean erasing where one overlaps the other or is there an easier way to do this?

LaWanna

[Meryl]

Hate to sound like a dope. What do you mean by masking it? You just mean erasing where one overlaps the other or is there an easier way to do this?

LaWanna

You don't sound like a dope! I was so scared of masks until I realised just how easy they were - just click on the "add a layer mask" button at the bottom of the layers palette (a darkish square with a white circle on on) You will then see that you default b/w colours are waiting 'cause Photoshop know you will be needing them! Simply take a brush and paint with black over parts you want to erase, if you make a mistake simple swop to white and you will be back to where you started. Once you start using masks you will soon see just how very easy they make life1

[Lauren]

For twisting 2 fibres together you really dont need a filter - Have your 2 fibres side by side and use the liquify filter ( Im assuming you are a photoshop user here )- to push the bottom fibre so its now partially above the top one - do that several times along the length of the fibre.
Now you can go and erase the parts of both fibres which would be hidden - either using the mask function as Meryl described or just using the eraser brush. The best way to do it using the eraser brush is to select one fibre and then move to the other fibres layer and use the eraser brush where that fibre would be behind the selected fibre - that way you never erase the wrong bits or leave gaps . This is the method that I use.

[Emma]

I think the Liquify filter here would give a more uneven and realistic result. I often use things like Wave etc then push it around a little with Liquify. Real objects aren't perfect, so avoid that and take the time to add a few irregular details for realism

For mask, you can use the eraser, but if you just put a layer mask on and use the black brush on that LIKE an eraser, you have freedom to change and tweak more, undo parts, bring some back, lots of editabilty and thus more control.