★ Heartless' Digital Art Classroom || DA Q&A ★

[Wild "Berry" Knight]

Easy one first ^_^

I have Photoshop elements, is it any good? There's no way I can afford full PS ^_^

And second, what's the best way to get a good sketch with a tablet?

EDIT: And that pen tool inking tutorial would be laaaaaaaaaaaaaaavelhy ^_

[Heartless]

Photoshop Elements is like, the very basic of the package and is mainly used for correcting images and things like that. HOWEVER, you can still use it to paint with just the same as using other versions. I do however suggest perhaps illegally torrenting a version or save up and buy one of the older versions from ebay or something as you can get them much cheaper. I use CS2 and Adobe are currently at CS5 so...

As for the best way to sketch with a tablet...hmmm. You might have to elaborate more on that because all I can say is use it like a pencil. The harder you press the thicker and darker the line gets, the lighter you press the thinner and finer the lines get. Just make sure you don't sketch on the background layer! But even if you did I made a tutorial above about how to correct that XD

[Wild "Berry" Knight]

I'll elaborate...sorry I wasn't to clear ^_^

MY sketches tend to be VERY messy....I use one layer for a skeleton, one layer for basic shapes and another layer for more detailed stuff....but I tend to have to be very scribbly with lines, I just can't seem to get a good clean sketch....I'm really bad at explaining this _^

I mean....ummm....when I draw with my tablet, my lines are never smooth and flowing....they just look scribbly...I hope you know what I mean ^_^ (And I have a decent tablet too, a Wacom Bamboo Medium)

Also...how do I ink a drawing when I'm done with the sketch? I know some people do it with that tool where you make points and they join up....but that seems like it would take forever...

Sorry I'm so slow ^_^

Also....I have now....*ahem* obtained Photoshop CS5 Portable ^_

[Heartless]

Ah ok. Right then =D

When it comes to be being messy I will say one thing. Messy is absolutely fine. You are good to have one layer for the skeleton, one layer above that for padding it out, one layer for etc etc. That's pretty much exactly what I do. You also have a very good tablet there. I will stand by and say Wacoms truly are the best but that's mainly because they have proved that time and time again. Once you have all of those messy layers though, you need to take some time and clean then up. Sounds like hard work but but really if you turn the opacity down on all of the layers barring the one you are going to be drawing on then you can outline a more detailed image to tighten up your lines.

So as an example;

Now I do sketch rather 'tight' lines so just pretend they're all messy lol
So below is based on three layers. One is the initial sketch to get form etc, second I outlined the actual body. I do this so technically my character is naked so adding clothing is easier. Third is of course the clothing and details etc. However, I try and keep my lines tight as the sketch goes on so my lines are nice and smooth. The best way is to sketch like a pencil but try longer lines. It's easier to erase unwanted lines more so than if it was in a paper sketchbook. (I'm also aware that this is probably completely pointless but I'm doing it anyway just in case it helps anyone else)


To me this is messy. There are lines all over the place and they look a bit fuzzy in some places. But this is all three put together.


Now if I separate them and take off the top clothing layer you can really see the mess. The face is especially messy but that doesn't matter because now it's only a base for the final layer. Best thing to do now if you find yourself here is to lower the opacity of these layers and draw your final image on top of them. Try not to 'sketch' it but to 'draw' it. I also draw my images on a canvas the size of an A4 piece of paper with 300dpi so my lines are always rather fine regardless of how sketchy my images are. Smaller canvases tend to make images look a bit too fuzzy and its hard to get a real good sketch because the resolution is so low.


If I now take off the first rough layer, this is the other layer I am left with. Try and aim for this eventhough it's a layer you will probably end up deleting most of it anyway XD


Lower the opacity and add a clothing layer. Try your best to use softer lines, you have the aid of the layers underneath so you know where you want your lines to be. Messy is ok, but it's a slow and gradual process to finally tighten those lines up.


At the end of the day, lines are irrelevant if by the end of the colouring process you are going to delete them anyway. However, if it is an image in which you need the lines, I have more tips for that regarding the pen tool and stroked paths.

As for the inking or cell shading, I have covered a bit of that in one of the other answers. To get to it quickly go to the first post and it should be listed near the bottom of the post =) Look over that for now and I'll put some stuff up about how to use the pen tool to create the lines. I think that might come in handy if you struggle to maintain straighter lines using freehand. When I set up the images I'll mention you in the post if you would like to know how to do it. But yeah, regarding inking and things like that, have a look at the other tutorial on the first page and if you can't get to grips with the pentool, mention it here and I'll do a lil tutorial for that too =D

[Wild "Berry" Knight]

Thanks Heartless, I'll go read those other tutorials ^_^

I really need to get on with my art....I'm applying for a game design course this year ^_^

[Heartless]

Oooh nice. I teach on a Games Design course

Anyways, glad I could help and if you need anything else ya know where to find me.

[Wild "Berry" Knight]

I have one more question! (FOR I AM ANNOYING!! ^_^)

Is it better to draw big or small?

With paper I tend to use up very little space on the page (which I'm trying to change) but with a tablet on screen is it better to use up a lot of area even if it means zooming/scrolling or better to try and draw it all in one screen?...I hope that makes sense ^_^

[Heartless]

[EDIT] @Noel Vermillion

Right, now this is all down to personal preference and if your computer/laptop can handle large image sizes.

First rule is; NEVER PAINT IN PIXELS!!

I always paint on either an A4 or A3 canvas (in Photoshop) with 300dpi. 'DPI' means 'depth per inch' and that means a lot when you are working with 'actual' sizes like A4 and A3 as it determines the quality. To get what I mean, try it for yourself and you will see a mega difference.

1000x1000 pixels is actually really quite small so always paint in centimeters or inches. If you ever intend to print your work out, then working in these sizes will make the image a lot cleaner.

I always zoom in loads when im painting but at these sizes, 100% zoom is quite close enough to add sufficient detail.

Hope that helped a bit.

[Anni]

Ah that is an amazing thread Heartless Sorry i'm late!

So i loved many of your reply so far, so here my first questions:

May you explain me how to use the pen tool on photoshop to ink outline (or its use in general)?

and well i guess this could take time but....... what process you use to paint in realistic way starting from a skectch as you usually do?

Thanks

@Heartless

[VaanDiablo]

H, got any tips for utilising my bamboo pad effectively? I once knicked a pen tool from school but never really used it, that's as far as my experience goes. I'm also looking for some quick tips on how to draw rooms and scenery well, my perspective alwasy gets messed up and the whole scene starts to go wobbly, which is the reason most of my drawings end up looking like chicken scratches. e.g.

  Spoiler:  

Any little pointers on what woulkd be best for me? I've thought about taking boat loads of pictures for reference points, but I kind of want to draw things that aren't of this world more than anything. Also, I'm sorry to say this but I'm ona games development course so I'm doing the code for games, and I just want to build a concept art and 3d modelling portfolio on the side. 3d I don't have any problems with, I take to it like fish to water, but when I draw I start to put the water to boil and I don't last long.

[Heartless]

I'll answer all questions tomorrow. Been a bit vacant from AL for a bit but I yearn to share my wisdom and help those who are willing to learn. I'll mention you both in the answer so you know when I have done it.

[VaanDiablo]

Domo

[hodge3244]

Question, how do you start drawing (use the brushes in photoshop) what is the best version of photoshop to get do you think? furthermore what are some cool techniques to heighten your pieces I could learn?

[Heartless]

Had a really bad week, hence no answers yet. All answers will be done in full by the end of Saturday. Sorry guys.

[Heartless]

ok so I didnt fulfill my above promise and I feel crappy about that. Life gets in the way. HOWEVER, I have been motivated so it's time to breathe some creative life back into this classroom!!!