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Digital A rt on a Tablet-
And getting started with
basic art programs.
Step One-
What
you
need-
The basic tablet: Wacom
tablets are easy to work with and not too expensive. Out of Wacom’s
products, the ‘Graphire’ is usually the cheaper brand, and it really
works well. It’s also more common, and it’s easy to find in your local
technology store. It comes with basic programs like ‘Painters
essentials’ and ‘Photo shop elements 3.0’, and it turns out to be a
really good deal. We are starting basic, so getting a more complicated,
professional and expensive tablet will end being a waste of money,
especially when you have no idea what your doing. Other types of
tablets (by Wacom) are-
Bamboo-
if you can’t find ‘Graphire’, bamboo would be your next safest bet.
Another basic tablet that’s not too complicated, and is easy and fun to
use. Very simple and concise.
Intuos-
A truly amazing tablet (one I’m saving up for.) Very professional and
advanced. It includes leading art programs such as Adobe Photo shop,
and
Corel Painter.
CinTiq-
A higher ranking product. Something you should invest in only if you
are doing professional work. This tablet lets you work directly on
screen. Comes with a special 'pixel-level pen.
Wacom's Cintiq, in action.
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Programs-
I work with
'photoshop
element 3.0', with my wacom. Some people love to work with this
program, but honestly, its really not that fantastic. Its good for
basic work (and it comes with the Wacom...so it doesn't cost any extra)
you can get uset to working with a program that uses layers and
different brushes/ effects and such. Its not good to jump into an
extremely advanced program without knowing what your doing.
Classes in photoshop and other art/ graphic programs is a very good
idea. I'm completely self-taught. I figured out the programs I use all
on my own, although there's still allot that I could probably learn. As
stated however, classes are neccesary, and extremely helpful.
Pointers/ Extra tips-
If you choose what style of art you want to do on
your
wacom before purchase, it will help you decide what brand you need.
Also, choose what your going to achieve WITh your wacom... Are
you going to do art for some on line sites?
(I did so for a virtual pet site called Subeta... I got
allot of recognition on the web for doing that.)
are you going to do some serious art for sites like DeviantArt or
Elfwood?
fan art Submissions?
Commissions?
Web comics/ cartooning?
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After
Purchase
Now that you have your wacom, we can start with pointers in your
programs.
Most basic art programs use layers
this should help you start to understand layers, and how to use them.
Starting with Layers-
Seeing that this program is just about the most basic of them
ALL, we're starting with photoshop elements 2.0.
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Screenshot
tutorial!!
(It took me awhile to get all these screenshots together.. i did them
myself.. so you better appreceiate them!! haha.)
Here's the basic overview of the program, Photoshop elements 2.0.
This is a blank page. |
(right) This is the layer panel.
we are starting off with a simple background.
Most programs will let you create layers simply and easily. but this
program (photoshop elements 2.0) is not as simple... but, no worries,
creating a new
layer is still a piece of cake.
All you have to do is go to the photo shop elements 2.0 browse bar and
click 'layer' and 'new.' (example below)
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A window will
pop up, asking you what you want to name your layer and what mode/
opacity you would like for your new layer. For now, name it Layer 1,
leave the mode at normal, and keep the opacity level at 100%.
(opacity will help you later on if you want to trace/ do other things
with graphic design...)
but lets keep things simple.
Alright! So, now you have ONE new layer.
Repeat this procedure ONE more time, and create another layer.
So now you have TWO layers.
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Now for some drawing.
Click layer 2, and make
sure
your ON layer two, and sketch out something simple.
I would suggest that you use the BRUSH tool, rather then the pencil...
(pencils are used for pixel pictures.)
If you want a nice clean drawing, select the BRUSh tool.
(example to the right)
Near the browser bar in Photoshop Elements something will appear when
you have selected the BRUSH tool.
This is where you can select the SIZE/ STYLE of your brush.
For a simple sketch, please select 'default brushes' an the size you
prefer. (size 3 is suggested)
Unless you want a sloppy pixel effect, I would suggest you DONT select
a size 1 brush.
(example below)
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<>After
you
made your sketch, take the eraser tool, and clean it up a little.
(example, left)
OR, if you make a mistake, simply click the 'undo' button.
(example below)
Alright!! Now you should have your drawing.
Now we should COLOR it.
You know why I had you use layer 2 to sketch?
Now you can color UNDER your lines and not have to worry about messing
up your outlines.
So, now to pick your color...
To do this, you must click the two boxes at the base of the tool bar.
The box you should choose is the one overlapping the bottom one. ( the
box on top.)
(<<<<<<<<<
the box's I'm talking about are right here.)
make sure your on layer ONE now.
LAYER 1.
Now you can color with your brush tool.
(you can use a bigger brush.)
You can shade too.
first get a blurry brush (example below)
when you select the brush tool, an opacity level selection will come up.
if you would like to shade your drawing, take a color a little darker
then the base (just a little) and choose an opacity anywhere from
40-50%.
(example of these instructions below.)
When I'm shading, i always remember that the shadow will be on the
places farthest away from the light.
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Now you should have
a
great little digital pic!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY. |
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