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Open the psd document in Adobe Photoshop. First I need to resize the picture to the required size.
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In this step I want to set up a rough guide to the atmosphere. Using the gradient tool, I draw out the background - Sky and Water.
Photoshop tool used: Gradient Tool |
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Add on the background items - clouds and light rays. I also made a rough indication of ripples on the water surface. I work with either soft brush or hard brush at low opacity.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool |
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When done with the background, we go into doing the character. First we use a medium to large size hard brush at 100% opacity to fill in the colors we want for each part. Zoom into the part you want to color and brush away! Erase away any spill out with a hard eraser. Remember to do each color on a different layer!
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool/Eraser Tool
Tip: Press Ctrl-(plus key) or Ctrl-(minus key) for quick zoom in or zoom out. |
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When you are done, you should have your character filled with the base colors. Check that every part is filled with a solid color (even the whites).
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool/Eraser Tool
Tip: If your pc is unable to support too many layers (it may start to response slowly), merge the layers with items far apart to save ram and space. |
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Determine the light source and we can lay on the shadows and highlights! I always start with coloring the skin. Using a soft large brush at 40 - 45% opacity, roughly brush out the different tones with darker or lighter skin color.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool
Tip: Use the Eyedrop Tool to select the base color and select the different tones using the color picker. |
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Select another darker skin color, fill in the details for shadows using a small hard brush at low opacity and Muliple Mode. Work on a new layer grouped to the base color layer.
Do the same for the highlight details, but using a lighter skin color, with Screen Mode.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool |
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After laying out the details, use a Smurge Tool at low strength to smooth and soften out the edges.
Photoshop tool used: Smurge Tool |
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Smurge the rest of the details. As you are doing this, you can add on more highlights or shadows in areas you feel that need more of it.
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Once happy with the highlights and shadows, merge the layers to the base color layer.
I continue to do a little touch up with Dodge and Burn Tool, by brightening certain areas of highlights and darkening certain areas of shadows.
Photoshop tool used: Dodge Tool/Burn Tool/Brush Tool |
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Now for the next few slides, we will add life into the eyes.
Go to the white color layer, using the Smurge Tool, gently brush the edges of the whites around the eyes.
Using a soft brush with low opacity, brush a small amount of pink at the top edge of the eye whites. Do this on a new layer (grouped to the base layer) and merge it to the white color layer when done.
Photoshop tool used: Smurge Tool/Brush Tool |
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On a new layer (grouped to the eyes base layer), use a soft brush at multiply mode and a darker red, brush out the darker part of the eye.
Photoshop tool used: Smurge Tool/Brush Tool |
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On the same layer, use a small hard brush at Screen Mode, brush a paler red color in a bean shape at the bottom of the eye.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool |
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Smurge the 2 edges of the bean shape upwards and use the Dodge Tool to further brighten the shine part.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool/Dodge Tool |
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Now for the last touch up of the eyes, create a new layer on top of the lineart layer. Use a small soft brush at 100% opacity, add in the light spots on the eyes.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool |
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Do the same with the other eye, and zoom out. We are now done with the face!
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Using the same method as how you add shadows and highlights to the skin, color the clothings and hair. Merge the grouped layers to the base layers once you are happy with your shadows and highlights.
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Now let's touch up on other items. Zoom into the belt and use the Dodge Brush to brighten up edges of the “metal” parts. Do the same for the headphones and other “metal” parts.
Photoshop tool used: Dodge Tool |
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Zoom into the potion bottles, use a hard brush at very low opacity (10 to 15%) and brush a few strokes along the shape of the bottle. You may want to use the Smurge Tool to soften some edges. Do this on a new layer. You should create a “glass” effect.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool/Smurge Tool |
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Now we will give the wings a softer feel. On a new layer grouped to the white color layer, use a hard brush at 40 - 45 % opacity, add light blue to indicate shadows in some areas.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool |
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Smooth out the edges with the Smurge Tool. This is very similar to how you add shadows and highlights to the skin and clothes of the character.
Photoshop tool used: Smurge Tool |
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After adding the shadows, create a new layer and group it to the lineart layer. Use a small hard brush and start to trace the lines of the wings on the new layer.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool |
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Zoom out and you are almost done!
Further touch up I have add is to lightly erase some white areas of the wings to create a translucent effect and also smurge some edges of the wings to give the wispy feel.
You might notice I redo the hair coloring at this point, as I was not happy with the previous coloring.
Photoshop tool used: Eraser Tool/Smurge Tool |
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Now to add the herbs spilling out from the pouches, use a small hard brush at 50 - 60% opacity and draw the plant shape you want on a new layer on top of the lineart. Brush on a small amount of other colors such as a darker green or yellow to make it look more natural. Also, I like to use Smurge Tool to smooth out some edges.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool/Smurge Tool |
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Use a small hard brush, dot out shapes of little flowers. I used white and yellow, but you may want to use other colors.
Photoshop tool used: Brush Tool |
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On to the final section - Background! On a new document, select two different shades of sea green and select from the menu: Filter - Render - Clouds.
Photoshop tool used: Filter - Render - Clouds |
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On to the final section - Background! On a new document, select two different shades of sea green and select from the menu: Filter - Render - Clouds.
Photoshop tool used: Filter - Render - Clouds |
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Lastly apply Filter - Distort - Zigzag on the document.
Photoshop tool used: Filter - Distort - Zigzag |
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This is what you should get in the end - a twirl ripple effect. Please note, you need to create this effect on a canvas with a width wider than your picture.
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Copy and paste the effect document into your picture and group it to the “water” layer. Transform it to give the shape and size you want.
Now also activate the clouds and light rays layers. Use Smurge Tool to smooth out areas you think could need a little touch up.
Photoshop tool used: Filter - Distort - Zigzag |
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Here we are at the final touch uPhotoshop!
First I lightened the opacity of the light rays layer to around 40%.
Secondly, I changed the twirl ripple effect layer to Color Burn mode.
Lastly add in the text, sign off and the picture is complete! |
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