[jakeB]

I'm trying to learn how to paint on the computer. Can you take a look at this pic and give me some criticism.
http://www.webphotos.com/list_photos.asp?mi=3&smi=1&a=45206 (the one called slipknot)

[Shinigumi]

Hmm.. I see what you're going for, but the thing that stands out most is that it's REALLY blurry...

Is this the full size of the image that you're working on, or did you shrink it down to upload it? Also, are you using a mouse/trackball or a graphics tablet? Those can be REALLY big factors in how you do things.

Also, what program are you using? The tools vary depending on what applications you use, so it'll help people to help you if they know what you're working with.

It looks like you're using the airbrush tool and blurring the colors together to get them to blend. Try using hard edged brushes with either airbrush or paintbrush and using the smudge tool to blend only along the lines where the colors meet. Make sure to go along the lines, not against.. I've found that helps a lot...

Also, for details, the bigger it is, the easier it is to put them in.. You can always shrink it down to a size that makes you happy later. Hope this helps a little bit.. I'm not the greatest at this stuff, but hopefully some of that made sense. :P Good luck with it!

[jakeB]

It's the full size (800x600 72dpi). Should I start it a lot bigger, then shrink it?

I used a mouse, but I do have a graphics tablet. I haven't got used to it yet.

I have paint shop pro 7.02

I wasn't sure what tools to use, so I just used the airbrush. I set it to size:5-50, hardness:20, opacity:2-15.

I'll try what you said and post another picture.

[Shinigumi]

I learned the hard way that even though it's SUCH a pain to "draw big," it does wonders for how it looks in the end. Starting with a bigger canvas and shrinking it once you're done can helps a ton..

Also, save lots of versions of your drawings as you're doing them in case you kind of end up going the wrong way. Then you can always go back to a previous version.. DEFINITELY learned that one the hard way.

Tablets are a pain to get used to.. What I did was use ONLY my tablet for two weeks straight. No mouse whatsoever... I still do that a lot, now.. It's helped me get rid of most of the pain in my right wrist.. :P

I don't use PSP, so I can't help you much there.. Never was all too fond of it... I would definitely try harder edged brushes, though, with whichever tool you're most comfortable with..

I'll be watching for when you post your next image. ;D Good luck, and have fun!

[Novacaptain]

Paintshop pro? If your tablet is new there is a chance that it came with some good "bundleware" like "Painter Classic". Now this is really some kickass program - it doesn't have layers but they aren't really essential to make some very good artwork (real paintings don't have layers do they?).

Anyways: Add some background. Where is he? why is he dressed like a caretaker? some of these things aren't left to the observer's lazy imagination if you provide a background.

Working large is generally recommended. A lot of people work at 4000x6000 give or take a thousand or so on any of the dimensions. If you're going to print your images at some printshop (where they have high-quality color laser printers) consider making your images at least 400 dpi (many printers have resolutions that go beyond 720dpi).

It's a very blurred image. He seems to have a very long forearm and a small head.


Use the tablet!

[jakeB]

Shinigumi: is this more like how you said to paint?
http://imagep.webphotos.iwon.com//1000022205/1000022205_1222200190931PM0.7066156.jpg
(full size)

I think i only made the picture about 1500xsomething because psp would slow down a lot if it got much bigger. Is Painter Classic better at bigger resolutions?

Novacaptain: I never know what to do for backgrounds. What could I do? The picture I used as a reference he is wearing almost all black.

How do you choose more colors? I painted the knight without using any blurring and I ended up with only about 6 colors.

[Novacaptain]

well...painter classic rather sucks on bigger resolutions because it doesn't have that useful photoshop Navigator window. It just has a very good "painting engine". I think it's the closest computer simulation of real painting (not considering the full version of painter that is). A good idea is to use both painter and photoshop since painter supports the PSD format

As for the background -
1 some graveyard with creepy tombstones.
2 a carneval house of horrors
3 a helicopter
4 think of this guy as a character and imagine what he does with his life...then think of a place where he is most likely to be at any given time...use your imagination

That knight looks like he's wearing some kind of metal spandex for his pants. Metal has a much more complex lighting than that represented. It should have a high reflectiveness (is that a word?) forming images that get distorted by it's shape: It would be like wearing a large set of bent mirrors.

[evilclown01]

(i lost my password so this is jakeB)

I made the knight in psp. I just found I do have painter classic.


i'm going to redo the knight in painter classic.