Does anyone have Experience with Astute Graphics - Phantasm?

[varxtis]

So, for a pretty long time I have tried remembering how to create half tones that are based on fills of complex shapes Like these

I figured out that I was going about it all wrong, asking the wrong questions. The way I acheived it involved blurred shapes, and then applying  halftone to the group.

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Pretty easy. But in my search, I came across Astute Graphics - Phantasm. I have their vector plugins, specifically for  paths. I love it. But the Phantasm plugin caught my attention because it looked like (and it was only for one second in the demo reel) that you could apply gradient fills that would react to the contours of the shape. The closest Ive come to seeing this is this old post here, but it was dealing with paths and stroke instead of fill and that caused too many contrasts with the continuity of what Im trying to acheive.
Does anyone have experience with Phatasm? Can it do what Im reffering to? Am I making any sense?

[Monika Gause]

Phantasm can create a vector based halftone effect and it would work pretty much like the images you posted. Phantasm has more functionality than the halftone and all of it works both on vector and pixel objects.

What you're describing about the gradients that work on the contours sounds more like their WidthScribe plugin. I'm not sure - can you perhaps post sample screenshots from the video you've watched?

[Bobby Henderson]

If you're a current Astute Graphics customer, meaning you have their subscription plan, you should be able to install any of their 20 plugins, including Phantasm.

The Phantasm plugin has a lot of interesting capabilities, more than just a variety of vector halftones. However, it does not generate gradient fills in the shape of the object contour. I don't think any vector drawing application does that. Such effects are usually generated by many steps of a path offset or outline effect or a blend between two objects.

One thing I wish the Phantasm plug-in did: generate vector objects in a 1:1 relationship over the top of a pixel-based image. For example if you have a small 50px X 50px "sprite" image there should be a way to create a vector-based version with 50x50 vector objects representing each pixel. I figured out a way to do that using the Pointillizer effect in CorelDRAW. I work in the sign industry and need to generate accurate simulations of LED-based sign displays. That trick in CorelDRAW does the job perfectly. I've put in requests with Astute Graphics for Phantasm to be able to generate something equivalent to that.

[bluebrad]

i have over 10 years of phantasm experience.
i use it to create screen print screens

[varxtis]

That sounds awesome. Im curious though how Phatasm corolates with Screen Print Screens. I've dabbled in Vinyl designs for Ts, but I use Vynil through cricut and then heatpress. Screen print seem to have more room for precision and what not, but seems like an extremely sensitive process, and making one screen for one t-shirt is a huge no no and a waste of resources. Id be interest in your feedback on that and how Phantasm works into that process. Im under the impression that Phantasm is for the digital/design aspect of it.

[Monika Gause]

One thing I wish the Phantasm plug-in did: generate vector objects in a 1:1 relationship over the top of a pixel-based image. For example if you have a small 50px X 50px "sprite" image there should be a way to create a vector-based version with 50x50 vector objects representing each pixel.

By @Bobby Henderson

Object > Create Object mosaic does that.

[Bobby Henderson]

The Object Mosaic filter can create vector-based tiles one for one over the top of a placed (and embedded) raster-based image. However the effect generates only square-shaped tiles. The end result looks no different than the original pixel-based image. I need the vector shapes for each pixel to be some variation of a "squircle." Circle shapes introduce too much black between the tiles, greatly darkening the resulting image. But a squircle done just right will preserve enough of the original square pixel yet do enough to generate a LED jumbotron texture into the end result. In CorelDRAW the Pointillizer effect will allow one to use circles, squares or a custom-defined shape to generate the effect. I use carefully adjusted squircles as a source for generating the effect.

[Monika Gause]

You could apply effects to the squares afterwards to convert them into the shape you need.

With a combination of Convert to shape and the fish eye you might get what you need.

[Bobby Henderson]

It would be a lot easier/faster if the Object Mosaic filter offered more shape choices (circles in addition to squares at the very least) as well as the ability to define custom shapes, be it a squircle or something else,

[Monika Gause]

Sure - that would be easier. They haven't touched the Mosaic filter for the last 15 years (only in CS3 it's been moved from the Filter menu to the object menu). So maybe make a feature request.

But with the effects you could save a graphic style and then apply that over and over.

[varxtis]

Thats a great Idea. and Monika, thank you for sharing an approach to acomplish this. Would this work for rasterized images? Im curious though, I have a vague Idea how you'd apply this technique, but how would you personally use it Bobby? Would you disperse the pixels to look like they're particles dispersing? You could almost get a sand fade affect. Thank you for the Idea.

Regarding the Astute Graphics plug-ins, you guys are awesome. I knew I got vector scribe and a couple of others, but didn't realize I had access to the full library. Yes... I actually thought I spent $119 for a hand full of plugins. Hey, they were worth it. Any way, now Im anxious to play with Phantasm, Widthscribe, and Stipplism

Are there other useful plugin packs you guys use and would suggest?

[Monika Gause]

Thats a great Idea. and Monika, thank you for sharing an approach to acomplish this. Would this work for rasterized images?

By @varxtis

Object mosaic works only on rasterized images.

[michelew83603738]

What kind of plugin packs would you want. There is a killer logo plugin if you do that kind of thing.  Helps with all of you exports. 

https://www.logopackage.com

[Bobby Henderson]

Im curious though, I have a vague Idea how you'd apply this technique, but how would you personally use it Bobby? Would you disperse the pixels to look like they're particles dispersing? You could almost get a sand fade affect. Thank you for the Idea.

By @varxtis

Are you asking about my methods to simulate the appearance of a LED-based variable message sign or something else?

The Phantasm filter can generate dot patterns that have a dispersal "sand fade" look, although you'll still see something of a pattern depending on the setting used. The choices are between Grid, FM and Radial for dot pattern (with a couple or so settings for each choice). You can choose a variety of dot shapes. You'll just have to experiment with the filter to get a feel for what it can do.

Oh, getting back to one of the original questions regarding gradients following the shape of a path, you can apply gradients to line strokes. Illustrator has had that unique capability going back at least a couple or so versions. That is one alternative to messing around with object blends.

[varxtis]

@michelew83603738 : I'm looking for more tool oriented plugins that expedite the vector design process and cleans it up. Path and anchors, Gradients, alignments, cloning, etc. I can go on and see the different plugins and plugin packs, but was just wonder if anyone here had ones that you specifically like.

@Bobby Henderson The Variable LED Sign sounds pretty interesting. But you had expressed an interest in taking an image (shape?) and converting each pixel into a 1x1 shape. Was just curious what you might be using that for, or how you might apply it. Thank you for the tip about the gradient to path option. I had tried this, but the results weren't right for what I needed

[Bobby Henderson]

What I meant by a "1x1" result is the effect filter creating one vector shape over the top of each pixel in a placed image. When I create simulations of LED sign displays in client sketches I start by creating a TIF image in the same resolution as the LED sign being proposed to the client. For instance the client might want pricing on a 16mm pitch display with a 200x80 pixel layout. If I place that TIF image into the sketch as is the image just won't look right. It will look far more coarse than how LED signs look in the field. The image won't convey the same kind of "texture." I'm only going to use a sample TIF image as is in the client sketch if the display being proposed is really high in resolution.

I'll use the Pointillizer filter in CorelDRAW, taking that 200x80 pixel TIF image, creating a vector group of 200x80 objects (squircles usually) over the top of the source image. I set the image at a certain size, use a certain PPI rating, apply the squircle as a custom source shape, and use "uniform" as the tracking type (rather than size modulation). That gives me the desired result -an accurate portrayal of the display the customer is interested in buying. It doesn't take long to create that effect, which is good since clients often want to see multiple options of displays in different sizes, pixel pitches, etc. I haven't figured out how to achieve the same thing using Astute Graphics' Phantasm filter. Phantasm is great for a lot of other effects, just not that one thing (at least not until they update the plugin).