Steph - Backgrounds
May 29, 2008 20:01:35 GMT
Post by Administrator on May 29, 2008 20:01:35 GMT
Originally posted by Steph.
Yep another tutorial by me, lucky you.
Before we get started, you’ll need your finished doll. This mine, not my best work—but the tutorial isn’t really about the doll so I’m not too worried about it. I have her saved in layers and then saved again as a merged image. (I just find this easier if I have to reposition the doll later. You’re welcome to do this however it works for you) I’m working in Photoshop 6. But this technique will work in any program that allows layers.
We start with a fresh layer under the bottom doll layer.
I usually use a photograph as inspiration for colors and placement. I have whole folder of images that are just skyscapes that I dig into. I personally like night and sunrise/sunset scenes, (actually I like any sort of scene that doesn’t involve green grass, anything that makes an excuse to make the grass different colored works for me.) But this is up to you. You’re welcome to use any sort of inspiration you want and any time of day or season. This is just what I’m using.
I decide where on my image I think the horizon line should be approximately, it usually changes some depending on the picture. But it’s a starting point. I then use my rectangular select and select everything from the horizon upward. I use my eye dropper tool to pick up a color off the photograph, usually one near the center of the image. Not necessarily the lightest color if that’s where your light source is. You’ll note I didn’t use white I chose that turquoise color. I find it’s easier if you can go lighter and darker than just darker or lighter. But whatever works for you.
Pick up the airbrush, for photoshop users I’m starting with the soft round 45 pixel, with 15% pressure, for PSP users that’s a size 45 round 0 hardness brush at opacity 15 or there abouts. (Sorry I can only do PS and PSP cause those are the only two programs I’ve used.)
I pick up another color from the photograph this time a blue from the top left corner I like to start on the top left corner of my image but just add some color going back in and adding more where you think you need it.
Here I’m basically finished with roughing in my colors. I’ve used about 9 different colors over my turquoise. 3 pinks, two oranges, a blue, a purple, white, and a yellow. And probably nearly that many brush sizes. This is one of those things it depends on what you’re trying to achieve what you’ll use. You’ll also note that I went over my horizon line at the bottom, that’s why it’s an approximate. I’ve usually saved at least twice in this step.
The observant probably note that I added more white, I said basically. Now I pick up my smudge tool. I’m again at a soft round 45 at 50 % pressure. (It’s a good brush to start with.) Again I’ll flicker around to different brushes smudging where I think things need to be softened. I save again.
I create a new layer on top of my sky layer. I then select the bottom of the image there’s a bit of an overlap over the horizon. That’s okay, it’ll work out later. Now normally you can make a new layer for your grass, I however rarely remember to do so. But whatever layer you’re on. I just start drawing random lines, different lengths are okay (probably even better). Mine usually end up being pretty long and over grown looking and they also tend to lean to the right. But whatever works.
Here I’m done roughing in black.
I’ve chosen to make my grass pinky and peach, which probably isn’t the way the grass would really look, but nobody said I always have to be true to life, this is art. *wink*
You’ll note I didn’t bother going all the way to the bottom of image—it’s usually the part I cut off. Yep time to save
I’ve smudged the horizon line up and down a little, cause it’s kind of stark. Once you’re finished playing with your horizons, it’s time to crop down to the size you want your image (after you save). I use the rectangular select and crop cutting the black part off the bottom of the image, leaving most of the sky, I do that sometimes. I’ve noticed some people cut their images in different shapes than just a rectangle/square, to do that I usually merge everything flat and erase to shape. I just like rectangles cause they’re simple and they look nice without having to mat them.
I add a frame and a little design to the top corners to make it look a little more artistic. (My “frame” is just a pixel wide band of color added one pixel from the edge of the images. It’s two-toned cause the black looked funny across the bottom.) There we are One of these days I’ll write a short tutorial—I really will.
Base used in Tutorial by Angy-Chan
~Steph
Yep another tutorial by me, lucky you.
Before we get started, you’ll need your finished doll. This mine, not my best work—but the tutorial isn’t really about the doll so I’m not too worried about it. I have her saved in layers and then saved again as a merged image. (I just find this easier if I have to reposition the doll later. You’re welcome to do this however it works for you) I’m working in Photoshop 6. But this technique will work in any program that allows layers.
We start with a fresh layer under the bottom doll layer.
I usually use a photograph as inspiration for colors and placement. I have whole folder of images that are just skyscapes that I dig into. I personally like night and sunrise/sunset scenes, (actually I like any sort of scene that doesn’t involve green grass, anything that makes an excuse to make the grass different colored works for me.) But this is up to you. You’re welcome to use any sort of inspiration you want and any time of day or season. This is just what I’m using.
I decide where on my image I think the horizon line should be approximately, it usually changes some depending on the picture. But it’s a starting point. I then use my rectangular select and select everything from the horizon upward. I use my eye dropper tool to pick up a color off the photograph, usually one near the center of the image. Not necessarily the lightest color if that’s where your light source is. You’ll note I didn’t use white I chose that turquoise color. I find it’s easier if you can go lighter and darker than just darker or lighter. But whatever works for you.
Pick up the airbrush, for photoshop users I’m starting with the soft round 45 pixel, with 15% pressure, for PSP users that’s a size 45 round 0 hardness brush at opacity 15 or there abouts. (Sorry I can only do PS and PSP cause those are the only two programs I’ve used.)
I pick up another color from the photograph this time a blue from the top left corner I like to start on the top left corner of my image but just add some color going back in and adding more where you think you need it.
Here I’m basically finished with roughing in my colors. I’ve used about 9 different colors over my turquoise. 3 pinks, two oranges, a blue, a purple, white, and a yellow. And probably nearly that many brush sizes. This is one of those things it depends on what you’re trying to achieve what you’ll use. You’ll also note that I went over my horizon line at the bottom, that’s why it’s an approximate. I’ve usually saved at least twice in this step.
The observant probably note that I added more white, I said basically. Now I pick up my smudge tool. I’m again at a soft round 45 at 50 % pressure. (It’s a good brush to start with.) Again I’ll flicker around to different brushes smudging where I think things need to be softened. I save again.
I create a new layer on top of my sky layer. I then select the bottom of the image there’s a bit of an overlap over the horizon. That’s okay, it’ll work out later. Now normally you can make a new layer for your grass, I however rarely remember to do so. But whatever layer you’re on. I just start drawing random lines, different lengths are okay (probably even better). Mine usually end up being pretty long and over grown looking and they also tend to lean to the right. But whatever works.
Here I’m done roughing in black.
I’ve chosen to make my grass pinky and peach, which probably isn’t the way the grass would really look, but nobody said I always have to be true to life, this is art. *wink*
You’ll note I didn’t bother going all the way to the bottom of image—it’s usually the part I cut off. Yep time to save
I’ve smudged the horizon line up and down a little, cause it’s kind of stark. Once you’re finished playing with your horizons, it’s time to crop down to the size you want your image (after you save). I use the rectangular select and crop cutting the black part off the bottom of the image, leaving most of the sky, I do that sometimes. I’ve noticed some people cut their images in different shapes than just a rectangle/square, to do that I usually merge everything flat and erase to shape. I just like rectangles cause they’re simple and they look nice without having to mat them.
I add a frame and a little design to the top corners to make it look a little more artistic. (My “frame” is just a pixel wide band of color added one pixel from the edge of the images. It’s two-toned cause the black looked funny across the bottom.) There we are One of these days I’ll write a short tutorial—I really will.
Base used in Tutorial by Angy-Chan
~Steph