Tablet settings
Tablet settings
There are tons of tutorials, I do not pretend to replace them with a few lines.
You may get a little disappointed if having just unpacked your tablet, you intend to draw without minimum set of knowledge. Here is a few:
- Setting up the tablet : you will find on Wacom Starter's Guide par Matthew Laskowski every detail about these operations.
- Even if the drivers download automatically, I recommend going on the publisher's website(here Wacom) to download them. Reboot your computer.
- With Windows 7 or Vista, you'd better desactivate Tablet PC Input Service, which detects handwritng (command Windows -> enter Services -> search Tablet PC Input Service -> edit Properties -> apply disabled).
- Set the function keys on your tablet and pen, if the default shortcuts are not suitable. It is possible to make a special setting for Photoshop. The application is launched, click on the + button in the applications section and select Photoshop. For setting my keys, the two buttons at the bottom (Ctrl and pan/scroll) allow functions Zoom (if supported simultaneously) and displacement of the image (Ctrl alone). For shortcuts on , I have set Undo/Redo functions, together with Alt (which allows you to select a color to the pipette) and color inversion (key x). Last, for , I have chosen right click, and pan/scroll.
- Picture size : do not hesitate to define a large size for your picture, eg 300 DPI, 7000X4000 pixels, which generates a file of about 60 to 200 MB Speed of your PC is the only limit to consider!
- Brushes : they are super important and must allow the use of the transfer and dynamic form, so that the tablet is useful (depending on the pressure level, the line will be more or less dark or wide). I found a set of versatile brushes on DeviantArt through Feohria. To have a drawing tablet effect, the Color dynamic parameter is most important, for this parameter takes account of the pen pressure, to make the line more or less dark.
Outlines
Outlines
Starting for the first time with Photoshop, keep to maximum 3 or 4 layers. For the Second amazon project (the first is on this link), I will go trhogh every step of a digital painting. But first outlines.
Amazon, 1st sketch
Outlines guide to the main subject, black over transparent background. That means working with an almost black color (I keep pure black for the latest details) and gum (eraser). Alternatively you can take a white and work with two background colors, which is easier than working with the eraser. But the outline layer will then show only the black (which is possible if you set fusion mode to dark.
To achieve the main design, either you have a model, either you are pretty skilled, or you gradually refine your sketches.
I am in the third option, member of the laborious and on the leftside is a first sketch, refined by a second below. The image is 3500 X5000 pixels, a PSD file of about 80 MB
Amazon, outlines
Even having found a pose of the character, it took me about 8 hours to complete the outline layer. I struggled to find the proportions of the helmet, put the arc in the perspective of the character, position the hands ...
I followed the conventional method on tablet, ie drawing freely on a sketch, then create a new layer, move the first to partial opacity and redraw the most interesting features.
Greys
Balance of greys
Amazon, grey layer
To establish the values of the picture, I make a monochrome version.
Following the outline layer, I position the grey values on the entire drawing to balance light and dark. This balance between shades of grey will remain visible beneath the layer of colors that you will create later.
This allows to position the light and dark, through all shades of white to black. </>
Another trick is to create selections and save them to facilitate work on the grey. There is no risk then to go over the edges of the various design elements
Colour layers
Colour layers
Amazon, colour layer
Applying a colour fusion mode, enables to keep underlying shades and add the coloring over it. This attribute is positioned at the layer level (fusion mode), you can choose other types of fusion.
Layer in colour fusion mode
The colors are more or less intense according to their level of saturation (hue). Colours with intermediate value have the best rendering.
More one chooses to the upper right corner, the stronger they look.
. Beware your ears!
Details
Refining details
Frame the composition, work out details
To finish this drawing, I cropped the character to make it less vertical. It is shifted to the right, and the face is in the upper left third.
As I wish to paint in watercolor, I took the dimensions of my paper (30X40 cm).
I reworked some details: the helmet with feathers, the belt in order to highlight the curve of the hips, the fold of the skirt which I turnned into a satin texture with a slight transparency.
You can delete the lines in applying mask on the outline layer. To do this, select the layer outline and click the icon at the bottom rightadd a mask.
Erasing outline with a mask
These details are performed in the order of layers explained in the previous chapters: the outline, grey, colors.
