25 QUICK FIXES FOR PRO DESIGNERS
© Wendy Stephens
- DEVELOP FASTER PAINTING TRICKS
&2%%,!.#%ď'2!0()#ď$%3)'.%2ď7%.$9ď34%0(%.3ď˴777$!2+)2)3$%3)'.#/5+˵ď4!,+3ď53ď4(2/5'(ď
(%2ď7/2+&,/7ď02/#%33 ď"5),$).'ď50ď$)')4!,ď0!).4).'3ď15)#+,9ď!.$ď%&&%#4)6%,
Layer mask: “I then add a layer mask
and start reducing the overall PINKNESSďBYďPAINTINGďBLACKď)ďUSEďAď
SOFT
EDGEDďBRUSHďANDďSETďTHEď/PACITYďto 5% so I really have gentle control
over how much of the original greyscale layer shows through”Flat colour:ď/NCEď)ďAMďHAPPYďWITHď
the overall contrast of the piece I ADDďAďFLATďCOLOURďLAYERď2 ď' ď
"ďFORďEXAMPLE ďANDďCHANGEďTHEďlayer blending mode to Lighten at
ď/PACITYDuplicate:the original greyscale shading layer “My final tip is to duplicate
and set it to Soft Light to add more CONTRASTď4HISďWAYďOFďWORKINGďSHAVEDď
literally hours off my digital painting”Start in greyscale: “The biggest
time saver for me was discovering painting in greyscale before adding
COLOURď)ďPAINTďUSINGďJUSTďONEďROUGH
EDGEDďBRUSH ďADJUSTINGďTHEď
/PACITYďANDď3IZEďASď)ďWORKď)ďorganise my brushes by using
7INDOW "RUSHď0RESETS 0RESETďManager and then drag and drop
them into the order I want”Separate layers: “When I’m finally
HAPPY ď)ďSTARTďWORKďONďTHEďHAIRďONďAďSEPARATEďLAYERď)
VEďALREADYďDRAWNď
EACHďMAJORďSECTIONďHAIR ďFACE ďT
SHIRT ďICEďCREAM ďONďAďSEPARATEďLAYERďUSINGď
the Pen tool to keep the edges sharp and to make selections quicker”-!44%ď0!).4%2ď!.$ď#/.#%04ď!24)34ď*!#%+ď0),!23+)ď˴777*!#%+0),!23+)#/-˵ď%80,!).3ď
(/7ď(%ď53%3ď0(/4/3(/0
3ď15)#+ď-!3+ď&5.#4)/.ď).ď()3ď%.6)2/.-%.4ď$%3)'.- RELIGHT SCENE ELEMENTS QUICKLY WITH QUICK MASK
CREATE THE SELECTION
Next, use Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+U to convert it into B&W mode. Play with
Curves (Cmd/Ctrl+M) and try to manipulate the sliders to get the desired
black-and-white mask. When you’re finished, use Cmd/Ctrl+A to select and Cmd/
Ctrl+C to copy our layer. Hit Q to go into Quick Mask mode and use Cmd/Ctrl+V to
paste the layer. Press Q to quit Quick Mask mode.USE THE SELECTION AS A MASK
While your selection is still visible, create an adjustment layer and the
mask will be created along with it automatically. To keep a non-destructive
workflow put this adjustment layer into a folder and create a mask on top. Hide
it by inverting the mask and use a brush to reveal the elements you want to
change in your work.qď*ACEKď0ILARSKIďSELECT ELEMENTS TO RELIGHT
The first step in relighting elements is to
select the [layers] we will work with. You can also
put a black layer in the bottom for better separation
from other elements. We use the keyboard
shortcut of Cmd/Ctrl+Opt/Alt+Shift+E, which
creates a new layer out of all the visible layers.