Jeanox
10-13-2005, 12:18 PM
So you're interested in digital art, huh? Do you have a strong desire to produce artwork, but have no clue how to start out?
It may seem a bit daunting at first, but anyone can learn to use Photoshop.
Take me for example: I decided one day (after trying to realistically shade in ms paint) that I was going to learn digital art. So, I got photoshop, opened it up, and spent the next 3 hours in mild frustration trying to find out every little feature the program possessed. Now, I'd like to consider myself fairly fluent. I am living proof that you don't need to buy a book or take a class to know how to use it. I have never been instructed. I just sat down and painfully figured out the program on my own.
All you need is time, determination, and perhaps a couple handrails to hold on to as you go along.
This tutorial will not teach you everything--after all, tutorials cannot replace experience. What it will provide is some of the basics that will get you on your way.
This tutorial covers the basic functions of the brush tool. This approach to digital painting is not the only way to successfully paint. There are countless approaches and techniques you can use. This one just happens to be one of my preferred methods, but by no means is the only one I use.
::: Introduction to Digital Painting--Basic Tools :::
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/layout1.jpg
Brush Tool (b): The most important tool while painting, imho. It's what makes a painting a painting, after all.
By default, Photoshop comes with a variety of brushes. If you wish to switch brushes and/or change the brush size or hardness, simply right click on the canvas or select the dropdown on the Options Bar.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/layout2.jpg
The Mode dropdown lists the different kinds of blending options your brush may have. I encourage keeping the brush setting normal for sake of simplicity. However, should you develop an afinity for changing blending modes often, here's a quick trick:
While in the brush tool, hold down shift and right click and there they are. You don't even have to expend the energy to drag your mouse to the top of the page. Isn't laziness great?
The next option is opacity. What is opacity? Compare watercolor paint to acrylic. Or, compare apple juice to orange juice. Though pigmented, you can still see through apple juice, but orange juice is more opaque. Setting opacity is a wonderful thing and an essential thing to do if you wish to blend colors or values.
Opacity can be set with the sliding selector on the Options Bar or can be set by simply typing in a number on your keyboard. I find the latter method a lot faster, so that's what I do.
Flow is difficult for me to describe. Let's just say that if you want to simulate a real paint brush, set your flow to 30-70%, depending on your liking.
The last icon over looks like some kind of wacked out pen thing. Apparently, it's an airbrush. If you click on the icon, you have an airbrush effect. Whoopy. :D
:::Exercise:::
Alright. Let's show you how to use the brush tool in all it's brushtacular glory!
We will be using nothing else, so don't even think about grabbing the eraser tool, should you be familiar with it. We won't need it.
Step 1 - SETUP
The Document: Create a new document, 500px by 500px, resolution 100.
The Colors: Press D to set the colors to default (black and white).
The Layers: Create a New Layer by clicking on the New Layer icon in the Layers pallet (or, if you prefer, press Ctrl + Shift + N).
The Brush: Choose your weapon! For this exercise, we want a hard round brush.
Choose Your Layer: Select the Layer you want to draw on (not the bottom layer, the one you created, likely named Layer 1).
Resize your Brush: Oh my! What a tiny brush that is. We'll fix that. Right click on your canvas and a box will pop up. At the very top, is Master Diameter. Slide that baby over until the diameter is around 300.
Adjust Brush Opacity: Slide the opacity bar all the way to 100%, or press 100 in on your keyboard. Also make sure that flow is at 100%.
Alright, we're set up. We have our drawing layer, drawing weapon, and our colors are at default. This is good. Let's get drawing.
Step 2 - BLOCKIN
Blockin your Base: Hover your mamoth brush over your canvas and click. BAM! Big fat circle. Totally and utterly black.
Switch Colors: Now what? It's totally black, so how are you going to draw? Simple. We're going to draw with white over the black circle. Press X. This toggles between your black and white color. It's very useful to know this.
Readjust Opacity: Now, turn your opacity anywhere from 20-50%.
Take a Swipe!: Alright, now is the moment of truth. Color over it. Because the background color is white, it doesn't matter if you go inside or outside the circle of black to shade it. You can be as messy as a baby swimming in spaghetti. So, go crazy! You can slowly change how the circle looks. Take this for example. I only clicked several times to do that. Yeah, there are rigid lines that divide the values, but that can be smoothed over later. The important thing is that you get the general ideas down first and later tweak it.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example1.gif
Step 3 - BLEND
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example0.gif
Opacity: Set it to 20-35%.
New shades: Select the value you want to blend by holding down alt while in brush mode. That way, you can shade however you want in a matter of seconds. If something needs to be lighter, grab a lighter shade and go at it. However, it's important to note that at this stage, because you are no longer shading with just a pure white that if you scribble outside the sphere, it will show. Don't let this hamper you though. We can always fix it later.
DO NOT USE THE BLUR TOOL. Crazy bastages.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example3.jpg
Cleanup: After you are fairly satisfied, select a pure white that will blend into the background color and go around the outside of your sphere cleaning up any sloppy parts. If you are going to add a shadow to the sphere, then you don't need to worry a ton about chaning up the bottom. Concern yourself with every place that wouldn't have a shadow.
Step 4 - TWEAK
Add Bling: My sphere looks decent, but it lacks something. It's called dramatic lighting. The highlights need to be stronger. So, go into the brush menu and scroll down the list until you see a fuzzy brush at 200 pixels diameter. Select it. Now, hold down shift and right click on the canvas. There are blending options. Select Color Dodge and set the opacity of the brush to 70%.
It doensn't take much, just punch it a couple times and it should bring out the highlight a bit.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example4.jpg
Add Color: Here's the fun part. Create a new layer, then select a color. Any color that you want. The more vibrant, the better. I'm choosing orange. Make sure you are using a hard brush (why not use the one we started out with?) and that the opacity is at 100%. Now scribble over the entire sphere. Don't be shy!
Adjust Layer Properties: Don't worry! The sphere is still there because you colored in a layer above it. Now, look at the layer pallet. In it, there is a dropdown with blending options (top left). Click on the arrow twice. The first click, should open the dropdown menu. The second click should close it, but leave the box highlighted. Now scroll through the different blends with your arrow keys. If that confused you, then simply open the dropdown and click each option manually.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/layout3.jpg
You will see the different effects that each blending option offers. You're sure to see a lot of ugly, but there are a few that work quite nicely. I'm particularly fond of the "Color" blending option, which I used in this little exercise. If you think the color is too intense, you could adjust the Opacity meter in the Layers Pallet (top right corner).
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example5.jpg
:::Concluding:::
Good job! All this and we didn't even touch the eraser.
At this point you have something basic set up. If you like it, you can take the picture a step further. Create a new layer and do some more blending on top of everything else previously done. Or, create a new color layer and add some different color for refected light and such. Just mess around with the layer properties and have fun with it.
This method can be applied to any shape, not just a sphere. Blockin the sillouette of a character or mountain and add value to make it pop. This is exactly how I did this mouse sketch of a cave.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example6.jpg
But, remember, if it doesn't look good black and white, chances are it won't look good in color. That's why it is important to leave color as a later step.
Also, on a related note, you can attempt this reversed--You may start out with a document with black as the background color, block in something with pure white, and shade with black. Either way works and I do it both ways. You could even have a background that is a shade of grey. Whatever you want. The important thing is to try things out and develop methods of your own.
I hope this helped. Keep drawing!
It may seem a bit daunting at first, but anyone can learn to use Photoshop.
Take me for example: I decided one day (after trying to realistically shade in ms paint) that I was going to learn digital art. So, I got photoshop, opened it up, and spent the next 3 hours in mild frustration trying to find out every little feature the program possessed. Now, I'd like to consider myself fairly fluent. I am living proof that you don't need to buy a book or take a class to know how to use it. I have never been instructed. I just sat down and painfully figured out the program on my own.
All you need is time, determination, and perhaps a couple handrails to hold on to as you go along.
This tutorial will not teach you everything--after all, tutorials cannot replace experience. What it will provide is some of the basics that will get you on your way.
This tutorial covers the basic functions of the brush tool. This approach to digital painting is not the only way to successfully paint. There are countless approaches and techniques you can use. This one just happens to be one of my preferred methods, but by no means is the only one I use.
::: Introduction to Digital Painting--Basic Tools :::
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/layout1.jpg
Brush Tool (b): The most important tool while painting, imho. It's what makes a painting a painting, after all.
By default, Photoshop comes with a variety of brushes. If you wish to switch brushes and/or change the brush size or hardness, simply right click on the canvas or select the dropdown on the Options Bar.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/layout2.jpg
The Mode dropdown lists the different kinds of blending options your brush may have. I encourage keeping the brush setting normal for sake of simplicity. However, should you develop an afinity for changing blending modes often, here's a quick trick:
While in the brush tool, hold down shift and right click and there they are. You don't even have to expend the energy to drag your mouse to the top of the page. Isn't laziness great?
The next option is opacity. What is opacity? Compare watercolor paint to acrylic. Or, compare apple juice to orange juice. Though pigmented, you can still see through apple juice, but orange juice is more opaque. Setting opacity is a wonderful thing and an essential thing to do if you wish to blend colors or values.
Opacity can be set with the sliding selector on the Options Bar or can be set by simply typing in a number on your keyboard. I find the latter method a lot faster, so that's what I do.
Flow is difficult for me to describe. Let's just say that if you want to simulate a real paint brush, set your flow to 30-70%, depending on your liking.
The last icon over looks like some kind of wacked out pen thing. Apparently, it's an airbrush. If you click on the icon, you have an airbrush effect. Whoopy. :D
:::Exercise:::
Alright. Let's show you how to use the brush tool in all it's brushtacular glory!
We will be using nothing else, so don't even think about grabbing the eraser tool, should you be familiar with it. We won't need it.
Step 1 - SETUP
The Document: Create a new document, 500px by 500px, resolution 100.
The Colors: Press D to set the colors to default (black and white).
The Layers: Create a New Layer by clicking on the New Layer icon in the Layers pallet (or, if you prefer, press Ctrl + Shift + N).
The Brush: Choose your weapon! For this exercise, we want a hard round brush.
Choose Your Layer: Select the Layer you want to draw on (not the bottom layer, the one you created, likely named Layer 1).
Resize your Brush: Oh my! What a tiny brush that is. We'll fix that. Right click on your canvas and a box will pop up. At the very top, is Master Diameter. Slide that baby over until the diameter is around 300.
Adjust Brush Opacity: Slide the opacity bar all the way to 100%, or press 100 in on your keyboard. Also make sure that flow is at 100%.
Alright, we're set up. We have our drawing layer, drawing weapon, and our colors are at default. This is good. Let's get drawing.
Step 2 - BLOCKIN
Blockin your Base: Hover your mamoth brush over your canvas and click. BAM! Big fat circle. Totally and utterly black.
Switch Colors: Now what? It's totally black, so how are you going to draw? Simple. We're going to draw with white over the black circle. Press X. This toggles between your black and white color. It's very useful to know this.
Readjust Opacity: Now, turn your opacity anywhere from 20-50%.
Take a Swipe!: Alright, now is the moment of truth. Color over it. Because the background color is white, it doesn't matter if you go inside or outside the circle of black to shade it. You can be as messy as a baby swimming in spaghetti. So, go crazy! You can slowly change how the circle looks. Take this for example. I only clicked several times to do that. Yeah, there are rigid lines that divide the values, but that can be smoothed over later. The important thing is that you get the general ideas down first and later tweak it.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example1.gif
Step 3 - BLEND
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example0.gif
Opacity: Set it to 20-35%.
New shades: Select the value you want to blend by holding down alt while in brush mode. That way, you can shade however you want in a matter of seconds. If something needs to be lighter, grab a lighter shade and go at it. However, it's important to note that at this stage, because you are no longer shading with just a pure white that if you scribble outside the sphere, it will show. Don't let this hamper you though. We can always fix it later.
DO NOT USE THE BLUR TOOL. Crazy bastages.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example3.jpg
Cleanup: After you are fairly satisfied, select a pure white that will blend into the background color and go around the outside of your sphere cleaning up any sloppy parts. If you are going to add a shadow to the sphere, then you don't need to worry a ton about chaning up the bottom. Concern yourself with every place that wouldn't have a shadow.
Step 4 - TWEAK
Add Bling: My sphere looks decent, but it lacks something. It's called dramatic lighting. The highlights need to be stronger. So, go into the brush menu and scroll down the list until you see a fuzzy brush at 200 pixels diameter. Select it. Now, hold down shift and right click on the canvas. There are blending options. Select Color Dodge and set the opacity of the brush to 70%.
It doensn't take much, just punch it a couple times and it should bring out the highlight a bit.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example4.jpg
Add Color: Here's the fun part. Create a new layer, then select a color. Any color that you want. The more vibrant, the better. I'm choosing orange. Make sure you are using a hard brush (why not use the one we started out with?) and that the opacity is at 100%. Now scribble over the entire sphere. Don't be shy!
Adjust Layer Properties: Don't worry! The sphere is still there because you colored in a layer above it. Now, look at the layer pallet. In it, there is a dropdown with blending options (top left). Click on the arrow twice. The first click, should open the dropdown menu. The second click should close it, but leave the box highlighted. Now scroll through the different blends with your arrow keys. If that confused you, then simply open the dropdown and click each option manually.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/layout3.jpg
You will see the different effects that each blending option offers. You're sure to see a lot of ugly, but there are a few that work quite nicely. I'm particularly fond of the "Color" blending option, which I used in this little exercise. If you think the color is too intense, you could adjust the Opacity meter in the Layers Pallet (top right corner).
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example5.jpg
:::Concluding:::
Good job! All this and we didn't even touch the eraser.
At this point you have something basic set up. If you like it, you can take the picture a step further. Create a new layer and do some more blending on top of everything else previously done. Or, create a new color layer and add some different color for refected light and such. Just mess around with the layer properties and have fun with it.
This method can be applied to any shape, not just a sphere. Blockin the sillouette of a character or mountain and add value to make it pop. This is exactly how I did this mouse sketch of a cave.
http://wiggle.howarddesigns.biz/backup/info/tutorials/n00btut/example6.jpg
But, remember, if it doesn't look good black and white, chances are it won't look good in color. That's why it is important to leave color as a later step.
Also, on a related note, you can attempt this reversed--You may start out with a document with black as the background color, block in something with pure white, and shade with black. Either way works and I do it both ways. You could even have a background that is a shade of grey. Whatever you want. The important thing is to try things out and develop methods of your own.
I hope this helped. Keep drawing!