I
n this article we will focus on compositing
different images together to create a vibrant
and fun generic drink illustration full of
energy. First do a little search to find as
many image assets related to your project as
possible. Having a large variety to choose from
will help the compositing process go smoothly.
We will also learn different Photoshop shortcuts
and tricks that will help you bring your image to
life. Photoshop has many more options that willtake your work to the next level, and learning
the essentials from this tutorial will open your
mind to those endless possibilities. Compositing
is a skill that anyone can learn, but it requires
patience and diligence to make beautiful,
believable images. You will need to focus on
making sure that masks and selections are
precise, that lighting and shadows are properly
placed and that colours bounce off each other in
exactly the way they would in real life.ALEX LANIER
http://www.laniercreations.com
@laniercreationsOUR EXPERT
A self-taught artist with a
background in architecture,
Alex Lanier is a freelance concept
artist and illustrator best known for
his creative innovation and attention
to detail.LEARN THE ESSENTIALS OF COMPOSITING AN
ILLUSTRATIONFROMCONCEPTTOFINISHEDPRODUCT
COMBINE PHOTOS
LIKE A PRO
GET YOUR IDEAS DOWN
MAKE A SKETCH AND DECIDE ON THE COMPOSITION01
CREATE A CONCEPT SKETCH
Draw a few quick thumbnails sketches to
figure out different ways to express your idea. Keep
thumbnail sketches small and you’ll instantly be able
to see whether a composition works or doesn’t. You
can sketch these on paper or in Photoshop,
whichever is easier for you to refer to when you’re
making decisions about which one to progress with.02
DECIDE ON THE COMPOSITION
Work on a few concepts for the
composition layout. Figure out what elements
might work and those that won’t work. Start to
think about the basic light source and where you
want it to come from, so that later you have a
guide to place shadows and highlights.BeforeAfter