[henrik]

Hit there! I thought I'd share a step-by-step picture for you newbies out there. It shows, basically, my work process. I start with a rough sketch. Then I add a lot of colors. Next add basic lightning and shadows.
Then Define forms and refine the basic coloring.
And last, the detailing like text on the mouse etc.

Please comment or ask questions if there's someting you'd like to know.

Sorry. Forgot to add: The picture is not finished yet. Haven't got time. If you guys find interest in this subject, maybe I'll finish it and put up here + link to hires images...



[This message has been edited by henrik (edited December 18, 2000).]

[peter]

very interesting tutorial and great picture. im still in a learning process and still always struggle whith myself, when i want to turn a pencil drawing into a digital painted one. that tutorial should help me.

thanks for posting
peter

btw: i have the same mouse


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((( www.jzone.de: java & (3d-)graphics zone )))

[henrik]

Hmm...this doesn't seem to be interesting enough...

How come that a subject called "F*ck your God, your Lord and your Christ" is more interesting than to gain knowledge about creating art? No offense to anybody, it's just that I find it rather strange.

peter: No, thank YOU for posting and showing some interest. The initial picture can be a scanned drawing indeed. My was quickly done in PS.

[zpawn]

Thank you, tutorials are always welcome

Darn, I too want a mouse like that

[Slicer]

Well have patience. Many people like me havent checked the forum yet.

Well it seems kinda nice. My only problem is the initial sketch.

And is that a "penskrin" to the right?
dont know the word...

[Codax]

Thanx for the tutorial! I just want to know what you use for your clean up. I really like how it went from less defined to more defined. I always do my art in like 3 steps colour, clean, shade/BG. It's good to see another way.

Codax
Another 3 step: Wash, Rinse, Repeat

[henrik]

zpawn: I'd like one of those too...
I've drawn a cord to the mouse and a cord to the wacom tablet as well in a newer version.
Cordless would be cool.

Slicer: No it's not a "...pennskrin". It's my bag I always keep close to me. =)
It contains a lot of pens.

Codax: Clean up? Hmmm...
I always use the paintbrush when painting/drawing. Mostly hard edged brushes, but also soft edged ones. So the cleanup process is not really a "step". It's a part of my way to paint. To clean up things, just do what you did when you colored the picture.
Just be more concerned of what you're doing, and define forms better.

And I never, or very seldom, paint the background separately. It's a part of the picture and should be painted as such.

[zaar]

HA HA! I recognize the background and your bag! It is really interesting to see how other people work, we need more threads like this one.

This was done in just one layer, right? As I can remember you�ve said that you always work in just one layer, why?

BTW I like the painting and your style!

/thomas

[KidBlue]

Thanks Henrik!
I am initially a graphic designer and in the past have not done a lot of drawing/sketching/etc. Recently I have been doing a lot more sketching to support my work and then did I realise that I could infact draw. My question is simple, to refine detail, mix colours and generally sharpen things up, what tools in PS should one use?
Im more interested in the process then anything else, I had a look at dhabih's tutorial (which is v good) but came out feeling a little confused.
Also, after and if you reply...would it be possible to use your original sketch to practise the technique on?

Thanks a lot

Blue

[Awetopsy]

I like this dude..

Its exactly what I needed thanx!!

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I think Im wearing out my CTRL-'z'
http://noelsart.cjb.net

[Pigeon]

Not a newbie, but just curious henrik,

do you ever use complimentary colors or reflected colors in your painting, or do you tend to lay down a flat local color, then develop light/dark values during the refining process? I always find that color is easy to use, but hard to use effectively, and some of the best pieces can have green in the shadows of red objects, blue objects that have a lot of gold, beige objects that are painted with blue, etc etc.

-Dean

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-Pigeon
http://www.darklight.org/dunakin

[synj]

its neat to see the steps. The keyboard isn't nearly as refined as anything else though. How about giving that section a hug and I'll tell you i enjoy it?

-synj www.synj.net

[Krazy]

hey i have one of those yellow mechanical pencils too hehehe cool, ehy how do you get such strait lines? do you paint the different parts on seperate layers and use the marqee to square it off? or some thin else?

[Akolyte]

Henrik, don't worry. Your participation in the board will soon be noticed. The fools jump easily to post at offensive topics, while it takes a while for constructive and informative posts such as yours to be noticed by inquiring minds. Good idea for the tut.

[milano_j]

Awesome Tutorial,

But, how about some descriptions and explanations for each little pic you got?

For example, pic 3's lines are very rough, then in pic 4 they are suddenly nice and straight. My opinion is that you explain what exactly you did to get that result (as an example).

=) Great pic btw, amazing from sketch to near life-like.

-

2001 here I come!

[henrik]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I Appreciate that.

Zaar: Hi there! I sense in my soul that we've met before
It's correct that I always use one layer, at least for the first basic steps and when it comes to things like refining the details on the yellow pens. But if I want to add an extra red pen next to the yellow one, then I'd add a new layer to keep the elements separated. But that situation wouldn't have occured if I'd done my planning better. I Always want to paint as much as I can in the beginning, so the "directing" of the picture becomes less important to the end.
Why use only one layer? I don't really know why. Biggest reason i guess is the computers memory. But also the feeling about one layer...I don't know really. I got used to it and it works fine for me...

No photoreference was used. Only real objects like the mouse and bag. The desk for example was entirely made up. But it works anyway i hope.

Pigeon: I always use reflective colors. It adds a lot of realism to your image.
I do lay out flat color in the first step. But I try to get the correct color/lightning/color w reflection etc...
in the 1 step. That's why I want to keep it so simple. Simple forms, correct local color with reflected light in mind.
I hope you somewhat understand what I'm trying to say. I'm bad at explaining

And yes what you say about shadows is very important. Shadows occur on colored surfaces but with less direct light. Shadows have color. They're not only black.

synj: Can't I have that hug anyway?

Krazy: Line tool. Try to soften them afterwards so they don't look like razor edges. I use the marquee tool sometimes yes.

Akolyte: Thanks. Glad to be of any use.

KidBlue: I use only the paintbrush tool. Mostly hard edged brushes.
Just click the color square to select colors.
After that, lay out the color in you image where you want it, and then "alt" click the blended color to tweak it as you want it. Alt clicking is good for making smooth transitions and quick color selecting.

You mean you want to use the picture posted here? Sure go ahead.