How i Paint in Photoshop using layers! (silly fish)

malcon · Last edited by malcon on Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

whats up everybody. a few people wanted me to show how i like to use photoshop to paint. anyway here is a little insite, maybe this can help you. i suggest trying it!

so here is the image that i finished with (although we all know an artist uis never finished with his work...there is always somthing.)

(the text "fish" is just a stand in untill i can find a text i like or make a text to use)

1. i start with a drawing done on the computer or i scan one i did out of my pad.

2. next i build my background. this one is just done using different gradients and the paintbrush tool.

3. now i will start to outline the sketch and fill in all the detail. I have outlined the frog and filled in the 50% grey and lights and darks. (all on different layers.)

4. i paint the frog using low opacity brushes untill i get the desired look. then set the layer blending mode to overlay (this opens up maybe compositing choices if i want to change somthing later)

5.now i have greyed my hammer.

6.i added some shadows to the hammer

7. i added some reflection of green from the frog aswell as some lights and darks to the hammer.

8. i draw and paint my lilly pad just using a gradient as a background and then i paint over that with multiple brushes with different opacitys. and add color to the hammer.

9. i add the rest of the lilly pad by drawing a few then copy and pasteing them, transforming then and working different opacitys to give it depth.

10. i now turn the frog layer set off so i wont be confused and i outline the bass.

11. i fill the bass in with a 50% grey

12. i paint in my shadows with a low opacity brush and build them up where and how i want them.

12. then i do the same with the highlights.

13. i paint the fish just like i painted the frog.

14. add in the mouth and eyesand the black stripe

15.i add a little more highlight to the eyes. as well as the highlights created by the water above. (cant really see it unless your real close)

16. i add back in the frog to see if i like the layout so far.

17. i draw in my water movment

18. i draw in some fragments and stuff floating in the water

19. i add a layer over the fish and set it to overlay to give it the underwater shadowy feeling created by the lillypads.

20. then i add in the logo and the stand in text for fish...(the logo took more stepts than the fish because i put alot of textureing into the letters. each letter required alot of its own special attention.

here are some other ideas.

anyway i hope you find this entertaining. try this technique. you may love it. i used it for the super bike picture and it works great if you want to change around colors...
thanks for looking at this, please tell me what you think!

(supper bike pic-)

murch · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject:

wow malcon your awesome at painting. i just use my painting skills to fill in spots in renders that i do i never actually draw it out scan it then color and fill it out. thats awesome dude i love the logo it flows nicely and its simple to look at i really like it. i think im gonna try this out and see if i can do it. thanks for showing us this.

malcon · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject:

yeah man try it out. its adictive! thanks for the comments also.

lasa · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:55 pm Post subject:

I enjoyed that very much, thanks.
10-14, when you digitally ink the pencil line:
Do you use the pen tool or freehand it with a pen mouse or draw it in a vector program?
Do you keep it on its own layer with the layer mode set to normal and paint the grey etc. on a layer below it? or do you set the mode to multiply?
Do you use a layer for each color? if so which mode? Do you use the dodge/burn?
Do you make the selection inside your inked outline before starting to paint?

I really like your painting style..hope you don't mind all the questions.

Lasa

malcon · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the comment. im glad you enjoyed that.

for your questions.

i free hand the outline by tracing the scaned drawing. i have a tablet for that. i dont see how this could be possible with a mouce! it would drive me crazy.

here is how i have the layers layed out. for example. the frog is in a layer set. the base later is the 50% grey, then i add a layer for darks, then lights, then color, then outline, then al the special effects like lens flares etc.

the only layer i change the blending mode on is the color layer. i set it to overlay.

i dont use the dodge burn tool i just use the paint brush and play with the soft hard, and opacity. and no i dont use a different layer for each color.
and yes i mask everything. i select the grey layer for my selection or i do i quick mask.

if you have any move questions i dontmind at all answering. here is the audio equipment i just did for the cd cover layed out so you can see the steps.

lasa · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks a lot..you've inspired me ..I needed inspiring, thanks.
Lasa

malcon · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:43 pm Post subject:

awesome! i want to see what you come up with

Copyright © 2003-2016. PhotoshopForums.com, iFroggy Network. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. phpBB SEO. Privacy Policy. We are in no way affiliated with Adobe. Photoshop, Adobe and related marks are registered trademarks of Adobe.