Advanced_Photoshop_Issue_139_-_2015_UK_

07

REPEAT AND RANDOMISE

At this point you simply repeat the

previous three steps. Lasso, add highlights and

shadows, and refine the shape. Play around

with the downloaded brushes and try the Rock

and Pebble brushes for hard surfaces and the

Cloud ones for haze and our waterfall mist.

Don’t forget to use your different painting

modes to achieve more contrasting values.

Multiply adds shadow and Overlay/Color Dodge

emphasises brights. Staying with a high

opacity, detail the grounds, the underlying

rocks, and use a flat brush with a white (#111)

for the waterfalls.

06

REFINE YOUR SHAPES

Increase the Hardness to about 60%,

reduce the size of the brush, and begin

painting over the general shapes for refining.

Lassoing comes in very handy at this point, as

you can define sharp edges and create jutting

cliffs in a matter of seconds by simply painting

in your selection. Use your Eyedropper tool

(Alt/Opt) continuously in this step to match

the particular area you are painting in. Begin

using the Rock brushes at varied sizes for

rock highlights.

QUICK TIP: PRACTICE PAINTING

Reading each tutorial step may become technically

overwhelming. Viewing the real time video of the painting

and practicing on a blank canvas with each brush and its

08

ENHANCE THE BACKGROUND

Since the background is a bit bland at this

point, use the Lasso tool to carve out large rock

formations and paint a grey darker than the sky

beneath using a 0% Hardness brush sized at 400px

or above. Keep the selection intact, and paint in

Overlay mode towards the top to darken and in Soft

Light to add haze towards the horizon. Now, select

the rock brushes and paint textured highlights and

shadows, altering size, opacity, and blend modes.

09

ADD SOME LITTLE ROCKS

Use the Lasso tool and scatter several various jagged-

edged small rock shapes around the canvas, emphasising cliff edges

and the foot of mountains. Choose a Soft Round brush and fill in with

grey (#222). Tap V for the Move tool, hold down the Alt/Opt key, and

drag a duplicate layer. The layer right under the current one in the

layer window will be used as our shadow layer. Go to

Filter>Blur>Motion Blur, angle the layer proportionate to your light

source, and lower the distance to about 30 pixels.

10

FINALISE GREYSCALE

Before heading into colouring, ensure that values, contrast, and details are

sufficient. Use the Rock small brush at 100% Opacity, 60-80px. In the brush window

(F5), keep Shape Dynamics and Transfer set to about 10% minimum pen pressure. In

brush mode, hold the Alt/Opt key to sample your greys and vigorously detail the

landscape, adding grass textures and rock highlights in the distant mountains. The

Kekai brush can be used for small bushes or flowers. Alternate your brushes

frequently and don’t stick with just one painting technique.

different settings is highly encouraged. Much like in oil

painting, it’s not always the actual brush and paint that

make the piece, but rather your technique.