How to draw lines on ref photo in Photoshop Lightroom

pcstaples

Hello all, I have a question on how to use Photoshop Lightroom to draw lines on a reference photo before I print and laminate it.  I want the horizontal line and vertical line on the reference photo to utilize my proportional divider for sketching my subject on the canvas.
Thx, Phil

pcstaples

Does anyone else use their proportional divider on a reference photograph?

Abstraction

I think there is probably a better trick that someone will share. I use photoshop not lightroom so apologies if it isn't the same.

I firstly insert gridlines where I want them. They're easy to move around if i choose. But they don't print.

I then create a new layer and use the drawing tool with a brush /colour I want. I click on the start of my gridline, hold down shift (windows) and then click on the other end of the gridline. It will draw a straight line that can be printed.

But hoping someone else has an easier method.

tassieguy

I do something very similar in Affinity Photo, @Abstraction, but with the pen tool. You could just use a pen and ruler to draw the lines on by hand before laminating but it's very precise when you do it in your image editor before printing.

CBG

pcstaples said:

Does anyone else use their proportional divider on a reference photograph?

Oh yes.

Proportional dividers are great normally, but they are perfect for this. Don't have to hold it at a consistent arm's length or worry about whether I'm sitting closer to or farther from the subject.  Whether drawing or painting to different scales or not, I always keep one side as my "clean" side and use it right on the reference photo.

Yep, it's great.

KingstonFineArt

I assume you also have PhotoShop if you have Lightroom. In Lightroom; Photo/Edit <select available photoeditor>,

I would not laminate. I use a spray clear acrylic sealer. Works great. Use few coats let dry for a few minutes. I use the same process for giclee prints. 
Proportional dividers are perfect for scaling from sketches or photos. Mask shows an old measuring trick using the dividers to transfer angles. 

pcstaples

Thanks all!  Wonderful tips and suggestions.  I really appreciate it!  I got what I was asking for and more.  It turned out I also learned that Mark Carder has a video where he specifically walks through all the usages he recommends for Photoshop and Lightroom, including snapping the lines on the reference or source photo that I'm asking about