[Light]

I know most of the painting techniques and processes that are used.

I'm interested in FAST techniques for creating gradient shading of complex surface areas in Photoshop. (just like pencil shading). Preferably these techniques would be highly suitable to the tablet and offer some degree of spontainity with minimum preparation time.

I'm open to all suggestions.

The current areas I'm looking at are:

1. Masking with gradient tool. This is requires prepartion, not a ton of spontainty, and is not really suitable to a lot of complex surfaces. So, darn why didnt photoshop make a better gradient tool.

2. Airbrushing... needs build up + masking. Not so fast.

3. Laying down a few shades and blending with smudge. Maybe? But this is usually a repetitive process. Plus, blend via smudge is not the best in photoshop as turning off spacing create artifacts. -- of cuz some custom brushes can do this fairly well (ie check big "spongy" brushes).

.. anyone have some good ideas?!

lets hear em.. meanwhile back to my experimenations.

Again.. I'm looking for FAST methods of creating highly complex smooth gradients that preferably dont require much masking.

[ May 12, 2002: Message edited by: Light ]

[Socar MYLES]

If you have a reasonably steady hand and at least 128 megs of RAM, you can just set the Paintbrush tool to 0 spacing and about 120 pixels or so, hard-edged, and scribble it quickly across the area to be shaded in rapid lines, without lifting the pen from the tablet, and decreasing the pressure as you move down the gradient. You can do this for as large or as small an area as you like--just vary the brush size. If you're used to graphite shading, this is the easiest way, because it feels almost the same.

[Mr. T]

btw, artifacts when smudging (spacing off)only occur when you do it too fast.

i use socar's technique a lot, just with smaller brushes.

it's all about simplification and thinking before you draw. speed usually results in a mess. (thanks spooge)

[Lee Yiankun]

recently took that technique into training. & Really likes it! good for skies & oceans. I wish I'd found it sooner. But the Gradient fill mocks me :-P