Looking for artistic/painting feedback/info. Design Idea

Well I'm no graphic artist and can barely do a decent spray paint job. However I do know the basics of Photoshop and like clean designs.

I'd like to eventually paint or vinyl sticker pin stripe my fairing, gas tank and the five panels of my hard trunk & saddle bags. All of the parts ideally will be painted white with semi-matching graphics applied to them.

From graphic artist (or anyone) I'm open to feedback/thoughts on my WIP design for the luggage. The intent was to keep the overall feel of the vintage graphics, while putting my own flair and color choices on it.

To clarify, the base color would be white (gloss, satin, flat, etc to be determined). The larger accent stripes would be black. The other stripes would be grey or silver and a pink accent stripe to replace the OEM red one (and a slight tie in to modern breast cancer efforts).

From painters/airbrushers or vinyl pinstripers I'm looking for some info/tips on how to accomplish this or similar designs. What I mean is how do you apply different layers of masking tapes to block out the colors and pull the tape off at the end to have a finsished design. (Like you often see them do on TV - IE Chip Foose's paint jobs and other shows that show complex layers of masking). I might just ask my brother-in-law to do it for me, but I'm curious what the order/method to do the masking would be.

If I decide to use vinyl pinstripes, I'd love to get some of that black reflective 3M stuff.

To any Photoshop gurus, any tips (or volunteers) on recoloring my tank to white (other than just white brush over it).

I haven't worked on the trunk's lid redesign, the tank or the fairing. But I'd like some complementary basic stripe designs on the tank and fairing.

Any tips/comments are welcome. PM if you're bored and want original files or want to email some of you ideas.

 

white tins need a white frame

 

Won't 'Dominos' do the graphics for you/

 

I'm a bit tired today... I don't get the joke...

Polock: Its hard to tell with that small forum version of the photo. Did you just use two shades of white to quickly paint over my tank, or is there some PS technique to make it white and still have the texture/reflections?

Pure white does seem a bit bright - at least w/o the fairing on. But then again, I haven't thought out graphics for it yet.

 

cut the tank out make it a new layer
then image>adjustments>exposure
gamma, full down>offset, just a bit to the right>exposure , to your liking
kaping-kapow, white tank

 

Thanks!

I tweaked a few other things to make it reflective yet not so dull greyish on the side. Its a bit cartoony, but its not for a magazine

Now to come up with a strip idea...

 

EDIT: This design was a good starting point but doesn't work!

Yes I'm a bit bored and feeling creative. The scale may not be perfect, but this is my initial idea. I might run the pink strip on the side thru the Yamaha logo similar to the other pieces.

I know everyone one's idea of "art" is subjective, but I really am open to suggestions. (I.E. Smaller strips, change shape, etc).

FYI: I might also play with the colors and try grey/silver as the base color instead of white. It should be easy enough in Photoshop

 

You tank design is very similar to a KZP tank. I like the look, but if you are going to do that, I would suggest smaller stripes on the outside of the top inner white section. But I am sure it will look good in any way

 

Yeah I'm currently working on that. They looked way to fat after I posted it.

 

Well this 2nd tank (top view) design is very similar to the saddle designs. The bottom sides would be like the luggage bottom sides (Black, Silver & Black stripes and Pink Strip going thru Yamaha Logo).

Is it TOO similar? Or is/was that common with matching bikes/touring paint jobs?

Would the trunk top with a VERY similar design also be over kill? Or just keep the pattern going?



EDIT: Time for bed. Maybe I'll work on a trunk picture and side tank picture tomorrow night time/energy permitting.

 

Here is a QUICK color change to base grey/silver with white strip replacing the grey/silver.

If I'm going to repaint all the parts anyways, I guess I can pic the base color. Any thoughts on which looks better? Which would weather/wear better? I'm guessing grey.

 

Actually, today I gave my Seca 750 a good hard look at a paint re-do, and I came up with- - base color, 2 other colors (only) , follow factory style graphics (closely, not exactly) and duplicate the graphics onto the accessories.
I'm thinking red, maroon, black.

I can understand you wanting to work a pink line in there, but your initial color range from black to white, adding blue and pink, it's too much.

Your bike needs black cherry and black. With a tasteful pink accent if you must. And some gold. Then more gloss black. Highlight LED's.

 

I can play with red black greys in photoshop. (Actaully my eBay tank is red and the strips look really good if I don't WHITE OUT the tank).

I didn't intentionally add any blue - that might just be tint bleed from my poor PS skills.

The pink accent color is optional, but the OEM bag patterns have a red strip in about the same place.

I was aiming for base coat of white because the touring pieces are already white. Also I have White/Black/Grey helmet and Black/Silvery Grey jacket. I'm also a White Sox fan and like the general color scheme.

I also figured a gloss/satin white might be easier for me to paint/shiney as an AMATEUR vs. gloss black.

Everyone has their own idea of tasteful colors/patterns. I'm looking for feedback in case my colors really do suck or the pattern is TOO much.

Any feed back on the base coat of grey/silver???

Anywho... Here is my pre-bed insomnia hack job slapping the top tank pattern on the side image - Its not perfect or showing the "bottom side" but it gives everyone an idea.

 

I'm leaning towards a grey/silver base. The white tank mockup looks really bright and to white.

Any tips for working with the grey base ? Ie less colors or even thinner stripes etc...

Also any thoughts about grey vs silver (not in Photoshop but actual paint).

Fyi: yes I'm bored and a bit ocd

 

I like the silver :lol: it's a very nice match for the black and chrome. I also prefer smaller stripes and the Yam tuning forks logo almost always looks great.

 

Here's a simple Grey (or Silver) base with black border, single white stripe and a pink accent.

I'd consider painting the underside of the tank black and follow the black border around the bottom side edge similar to the luggage.



Since this is only photoshop, I guess my options are nearly endless...

P.S. Yes I'm considering stripes instead of flames/skulls since everyone seems to do that.

EDIT: I just noticed the trunk and saddle bag's white stripes don't match pattern, but one of those might work.

EDIT 2:
I'm still awake and still looking for a grey version of my original idea... So here they are. The tank stripe thicknesses are probably not the correct scale.

 

Although I still need to design the trunk lid, the fairing and the bottom edge of the tank - I hope this is a semi final stripe design.

Its clean with small lines and all the colors I was looking to add.

Note: Some of the line thickness on the tank in the side view are incorrect, but the design is more or less correct.

As usual opinions and ideas welcome.



I added a FAT center stripe for the tank and tuning forks for the FAN BOI look. LOL

 

This is my current WIP idea. It combines the Yamaha Logo, the modern Vetter decals in my prior post and a black tank base. I think I'd use a silver paint instead of grey.



The tank would be a color opposite of the luggage/fairing yet have the same design and pin-stripping style. The luggage panels and fairing would have a white base coat. (The surrounding plastic is black on those pieces).



Am I getting closer to a GOOD looking design?

P.S. I could also do a very similar tank version w/o the actual yamaha logo. But the overall shape and pin-striping is my current WIP idea.

P.S. I also have a black version of the luggage panel. I'm not sure if I want the contrast or all black base? I know there are lots of black paint fans.

 

I'm still working on different ideas/variations in my spare time at night.

This most recent revision combines Vetter, Yamaha and my design touches as well as the 4 color scheme idea I had a while ago.

The pink may be removed (it was white in the revision prior to posting here and the side tank did not have the stripe thru the Yamaha).

Comments welcome.