Scroll Saw Portraits: How to Turn Photographs Into Wooden Keepsakes [Paperback]

Gary Browning (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

How to turn a photograph of a loved one, pet, or movie star into a strikingly accurate portrait in wood is detailed in this woodcutting workbook. Guiding readers through converting an image via computer into a woodcutting pattern, this book provides strategies for creating a wood portrait that maintains the essential attributes of the original subject. Tips are provided for investing in computer software, finishing and framing a portrait, and cutting a piece without weakening the wood. This second edition charts current advances in software and provides fascinating patterns of many famous faces for readers who do not wish to design their own.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Scroll saw books are often just a monotonous rehash of the same old patterns, but every once in a while a truly original title comes along. This one is sure to perk up even the most jaded woodworker. Browning has developed a method of scroll-sawing images from photographs using thin plywood. The results are remarkable his likenesses of famous people or family members (shown with their photos) are uncanny. While those with access to a scanner and photo software will have greatest success, Browning also shows how to trace or draw patterns. In addition, he provides 55 patterns for animals and people (including Christian and historic images). Sure to be of interest to most woodworkers and the public libraries that serve them.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Gary Browning is the author of Scroll Saw Civil War Portraits, Scroll Saw Portraits, and Wild West Scroll Saw Portraits. His work has been featured in Scroll Saw Workshop magazine. He lives in Greencastle, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing; 2nd edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565232518
• ISBN-13: 978-1565232518
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Detailed instructions?, September 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Scroll Saw Portraits: How to Turn Photographs into Wooden Keepsakes (Paperback)

Though this book does have a few very nice celebrety portrait paterns built into it, the author does not go to any great lenghts to tell you how to achieve these results yourself. The instructions may as well have been "use your computer to edit a digital photo or use tracing paper to create a scroll saw portrait pattern in black and white." The instructions on how to digitally manipulate the photographs were so basic that anybody with any understanding of computers would not need this book, and could find out what he tells you from the help menu of your favorite program. The book consists of roughly 10% instruction (ie. pictures of what he is doing), 90% patterns, so if you really want some of these nifty patterns, buy the book, if you want to find out how to create patterns, look elswhere.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Informative & Useful, Value-Packed, October 24, 2002

By 

Tom Nichols - Columbia (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scroll Saw Portraits: How to Turn Photographs into Wooden Keepsakes (Paperback)

The author compressed his vast knowledge and experience into simple tips and instructions. I was able to immediately make several excellent scrollsaw patterns. Plus, the patterns he provided add tremendously to the value...and his patterns are highest quality. One of the best craft books I've come across.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fellow scroll sawyer, 15 years experience, January 13, 2002

By 

long time scroll sawyer (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scroll Saw Portraits: How to Turn Photographs into Wooden Keepsakes (Paperback)

If you are looking for something different and challenging to do on your scroll saw I would suggest this book.It has a nice gallery section showing the authors work and some great patterns.Just a couple of the patterns are worth the book alone and there is 55 of them.Rather than just a pattern book this also gives you the basic fundamental skills to choose good pictures and create a pattern from them.The information is fundamental and it will carry over to most graphic software titles out there.I for one thank the author for sharing this unique and exciting way of scroll sawing with all of us.His website also has tips and patterns but the book offers more information for the scroller.I hope this is one pattern maker that sticks around because I love his work.