bwal wrote:It seems that getting the right photo, at the right angle, etc. would be time consuming in itself.
This is one thing that I always have found and so I am more apt to create from scratch than I am to spend the time searching for something just right. I usually just create most things in 3D and then I can manipulate the view to anything that suits the current need. This helps too when clients want to see different points of view - a few mouse moves and new point of view is created.
I am new to this forum today and I have just been poking around some of the threads. I found this particular one interestings as I have always been under the impression that tracing could be construed as copyright infringement. But I guess if done only in the most general way (as a guide of sorts) then maybe it is fine. I know that I have had to do this on occasion when something has elluded me.
On a side note: I recognized some of the work of the people who are members here when I have done Google image searches for Techinical Illustration inspiration. Lots of great stuff out there. I personally do all kinds of work, but technical Illustration is where my heart is.