Digital painting in PS

[venomai]

Heree's a quick orange.

[Datameister]

Very nice orange, venomai! How long did it take you?

Not bad at all, sam-b. Pay attention to the large-scale shading--most of the forms are fairly flat overall. They could use some darker shaded areas. But for how long you've been painting, this is really great.

[nanu]

hey guys! i recently purchased a wacom tablet and have been trying to achieve painterly effects on it since. your fruit and brush tutorials have made my learning process so much more enjoyable. thank you bumskee and teigrob for sharing your tutoring session! before the apple i worked on a crow referenced off of google. it would be great to get a critique...

[Joshawowo]

This is really embarassing, but really, I need help. I'm a newcomer to this thread, which is tough since its on the 8th page, but hopefully I can still get help on something thats on the first page. Consider me the guy in the back of the class who doesn't quite get whats going on while the entire class does, but was too hesitant to raise his hand.

Ok. Here's the problem. Blending. Let's start way back at page one with the simple exercise of blending two colors. You say to use a hard-edged brush (check) with 50-60% opacity and 20% for shading (check) with a pressure sensitive brush (this is where I'm stuck). I have a tablet, the tablet works fine, but I just don't know which brush you mean. Here, I made this as an example.


On the top, theres a pressure sensitive brush that gets smaller as you press lighter. While on the bottom there's a brush that gets lighter as you press lighter. They're both hard-edged, but, which one am I supposed to use? I tried both out, and this was the result:


On the top, I used the brush thats supposed to get lighter as you press lighter, while on the bottom I used the one that gets skinnier. Both look... ok... but still not quite right. So this test was using the exact same colors as the original example was done in. Here's another example I just tried.


Tried the same thing, except trying to blend black into white. Now I'm feeling more hopeless than ever, because BOTH of these look horribly choppy. There must be something that I'm missing, and hopefully a simple answer will explain everything.

By the way, I didn't actually through all 8 pages of this thread (just the first, since after that it seemed like a free for all for posting practice images (which look great). So sorry if the question was answered earlier.) I hope my plead is clear, because right now I'm pulling my hair, wondering what I'm doing wrong.

[Datameister]

You can use whichever one you want. I would MUCH prefer the one that changes the opacity according to pressure. As far as achieving a smooth blend goes--well, you just need to blend for a longer time. This sampling method that's been discussed works pretty well for many things, but it does take time. For very high-contrast blends (like black to white) I would prefer to use the smudge tool with some sort of custom brush.

[Joshawowo]

I see. Yeah, I was trying to figure out the difference between blending the two colors and blending black and white, then realized how different the values were. That's probably why it didn't turn out quite as nicely. Well, now that I cleared that up, I guess I'll try and do this infamous "apple."

[kengriffin]

After read through a bunch of the tip here I came up with this. It's bad, but it's best I've done so far. The posting here are a tremendous help.

[bumskee]

Joshawowo, it's really upto you, you use whatever works for you, the idea is to sample the mixed and take it from there. I don't use brushes thatchange opacity according to pressure, it's just not my thing I guess. For bigger areas, I use softer edges to get the job done quicker, but again it has that air brush look which I am not quite fond of. but as you have experimented, it's upto you.

[Joshawowo]

Ok, I'm starting to get the hang of this. Here's my first attempt at an apple. I used a photo ref, and to be honest, I kinda cheated by taking the colors directly from the picture (or does everyone do that?). Anyway, I don't have progress shots, but here's the result.



Comparing it to the picture, I'd say it looks a bit glossy, and the texture isn't quite right. Or I guess, if anything, the texture is too "obvious." Also, it'll probably be better if next time I find a picture with a shadow. Anyway, not bad for a first try?

It's good to know that it doesn't really matter brush your using so long as its a hard edged. I guess I'll start feeling more comfortable once I experiment more. C&C for my pic would be nice

[simplejack]

I'm back! This time I'm getting banana-tastic! My first effort failed. I learnt a good lesson > if the drawing is bad, you're gunna be in trouble with the painting. Sooo... I started again, and a much better result. I'm still going to keep it simple, more fruit and veg I think.. I'm tempted to jump in to something challenging, but I don't wanna run before I can walk, and risk screwing up big time.

[simplejack]

another one... This was a bit of a struggle to get the blending/shading/highlights on the skin right, and I still haven't hit the nail on the head yet, but its enough for me to be happy and move on to another picture.

[Joshawowo]

Ok, I think I'm startring to get the hang of this. Tried another apple with Photo Ref. I did "cheat" again by selecting the colors straight from the picture (or is that what people usually do when painting from photo ref? I'd like to know). I took more time with this one, and I think it shows. Here's the progresses, followed by the final.





Total time about 45 minutes. My confidence in digital painting is starting to return, finally. I should do a few more studies before jumping into coloring a sketch or something though. I am curious, do you guys usually use photo ref? and if so, do you take the colors straight from the picture? It seems easier, but I hope its not considered cheating.

[cateaic]

Simple Jack: Those are some nice studies...I really like the simple layout process. It seems like you worked from dark to light on the pepper but not so much with the banana. Do you usually start youre studies as if you were doing an oil painting? Going from dark to light to highlights?

[cateaic]

Joshawowo- you posted just as I was posting something else but I wanted to respond to youre work. I think that process is working out great for you...It looks great to me although I am just starting out on this blending process myself. Do you think you got the right saturation with youre colors? I had a few problems with that when I did an apple.

So it looks like you layed out the basic color scheme/placement with a hard edged brush (very first image) and then used a softer brush with lower opacity to blend? (second image)

[bumskee]

Wow.. nice studies guys. hehe.. looking promising..

BTW are you guys painting from a real life fruit and vegies?? If not, please do so. It's just more fun than painting from photos and Joshawowo, sampling off photos is not a good approach, you don't learn much doing that. It's also about learning values and colours just as much experimenting in photoshop. Have you been down to Idiot Apathy's colour thread? It's got some good stuff regarding colours.

Simplejack, nice take on the capsicum, I recal doing mine and how frustrated I was with it, it's like a shiney plastic, you need some highlights! good stuff nonetheless. Your banana is nice, good values a little shallow maybe. Yes I think I also need a good drawing to start myself too, I guess once you get used to it we can sort of go straight into painting in values and colours. One day.

Joshawowo, your last apple is looking sweet, even though you did pick the colours off your ref, hehe. If you just zoomed in and added some details on the last pic it would look really really striking.

[simplejack]

cateaic: hi, and thanks.... and uhh, I have no art training or colour knowledge... soo.. I just work from the main colour to the details.. which ever colour they might be.

Joshawowo: do you do the ole 'start small and then enlarge the canvas' trick? I can't really tell from your apple there, but I've noticed its kinda wonkey to start with... did you have a wonky apple to start with or a problem with the initial sketching?

[Joshawowo]

cateaic- Actually, the second progress shot is still with a hard-edged brush. Only thing is I used the brush that lowers the opacity with lower pressure, which can sometimes make it look soft. I dont know if this is the right way, since bumskee said he uses the other brush, while Datameister said he uses the one I used. I think it just depends on preference, really.

bumskee- Thanks! Yeah, I feel like I should stop using photoref, or at least stop taking colors from the ref. I can't tell, are most people painting from their mind, from photoref, or from life? Tomorrow I'll grab an apple from the cafeteria and try painting it from life.

simplejack- The final picture size is the one I worked with from the beginning. I just made the progress shots smaller to avoid cluttering the page. I haven't experimented with altering the size of the canvas yet.

Oh, and this is pretty funny, but I just realized that the photoref for the first apple I did was from an artificial fruit/plant company. So THATS why it looked so plastic and glossy. -_- My fault for not being able to tell the difference.

[simplejack]

I'm painting from life... and eating the food afterwards, its the reward for doing a decent picture heh.. .... oh and bumskee (I think) recommended the 'upsizing' technique, that is to draw small first (I start on 800x800pixel @ 300dpi CMYK), get the lineart right, block in the basic colours and then scale it up to 2000x2000px, and work on the details.

bumskee: yeah! shiney plastic.. that's exactly it! Damn I struggled, but I'm certain a second attempt will be much better.. maybe later though. This is all pretty new to me, so I'm stoked with the progress so far.

[Joshawowo]

Did another study, this time of a pear. Still used a photoref, but this time picked out the colors for myself rather than eye-droppering them. Here it is.



And the finished product, I guess about 45 minutes (I lost track of time)-



The problem was the dots. I tried to mess around with different brushes to get the effect, but couldn't find what I wanted. So I did it manually, placing tons of dots. The result is... kinda distracting. Didn't quite come out how I wanted. Also, if it looks unfinished... I kinda got fed up before putting any finishing touches on it. Eh well.

[simplejack]

I think I'm going to try a pear next, and I'm dreading the skin texture already, unless I can find a brush effect, I going to be 'dotting' the whole surface too! btw - I tend to be spending at least 2hrs on my pieces... I know some of you guys were only spending 30mins or something on these, but mine just look too unfinished... I get carried away for ages trying to forever blend small areas.

[Joshawowo]

After a busy day, I finally got around to doing another study tonight... this time from life! I swiped an apple from the cafeteria, and finally got around to painting it. Here's the result:



And the final result, after about an hour (my longest yet):



I tried a low lighting piece, making it a bit tough to get the right colors. The reflective light gave me some trouble, as did the shadow. All around I'm content though.

[simplejack]

looks great, though it is hard to see how the brush strokes and blending went...but that could be down to my monitor here.... I think I'd rather keep the curtains open for now.

[bumskee]

looks great alright, Just to give it some form with a small hint of light/reflection on the right and left side would really bring it out. Like you did on the bottom. I think the edges are too crips and flat, it's a good idea to try and run a small line around the edges if it's getting that look. I would like sample the background colour and go over the edges of the apple too, so the whole image is getting that painted treatment. It is a little dark, but yeah low lighting is much harder especially on a almost white background. It sort of gets to you.

I have done some peaches on painter, the idea is the same just different sort of brushes, might do it on photoshop too and post them later this week.

[Jeff1424]

Hi

Are there any set rules for palette selection?

[Marsh]

Hi all this is my debut post here... browsed around abit and joined up today...

I have been around some other art forums and M.C. Barrett directed me here. I am really hoping to improve my self art-wise in every aspect. Thanks. ~Marsh

[cateaic]

That new apple study is awesome! Nice progress. It must have been hard to get the colors right with it being so dark. I think if you follow what bumskee suggested you will have a great piece.

[pricky]

My take at the banana.


Hmm I just noticed how blurry mine looks. Simplejack > mine

[pricky]

Thought I'd try one more, this one I kinda gave up on the seeds.



Looks more like a pepper with a ribbon on top Anyone do a walkthrough on leaves possibly?

What I am doing wrong with the seeds? I was trying to make each one look as if it were pressed into the strawberry (like a strawberry seed should look), you can see that on the top left but it didn't come out well - any suggestions?

[simplejack]

pricky: the banana looks good, but it just needs cleaner edges I think. The strawberry I haven't tried yet because of all those seeds, I realised that its those little details that contribute massively towards its realism. I don't think there's a simple way to recreate them, you're just gunna have insert every single one making sure they follow the contour of the body.

before I select something to paint, I look at it for a long while and try to think 'what makes it look so real?', and if I see thousands of little details to draw, then I gently put the object back and find something else. Also I noticed the strawberry has no shadow and only limited highlights.. these 2 things play an important part in making stuff look real (I learnt that with my 'flat pepper' above) . Maybe try an apple next

Marsh: It looks like you need a bigger brush to work with, do you have a tablet?

[simplejack]

I thought I bit off more than I could handle with this one, but managed to pull it back in the end. note to self : reflections = hard.