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Software: Ulead
PhotoImpact 6, 7, and 8 Skill Level: All Featured Tools: Paintbrush, Scratch Removal Tool, Wacom or other graphire tablet is preferable. Description: This
is a fun way to try out your artistic ability with painting an apple. I
hope you will find this fun
and relaxing. You don't have to be an artist to get very pretty
artistic results. One thing to keep in mind is that this is NOT
intended to create an absolutely exact replica of an apple, but merely
to show you some of the basic techniques in digital painting.
Emphasis is on the highlighting
of a painting. I didn't have an actual apple to use as a subject,
so I used a bit of "artistic license". |
HIGHLIGHTS
1. Highlight is on the form.
2. Highlight is small in size.
3. Highlight is lightest in value.
4. Highlight is located closest to lightsource.
5. In dull, diffused light there are no highlights
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1. Open a new image, 200x200, white background. 2. Choose the Paintbrush Tool, size=1, transparency=85%, color at a light golden color. This will give you the basic outline to follow with your subject. It is also an easy color to either erase or color over. 3. Lightly sketch the basic form of the apple using
light strokes.
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| 5. You will note that both the Retouch Toolbar &
Paint Toolbar are open for convenience, as well as the Color Swatch box
for quickly choosing colors for the tools you are using.
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This is YOUR option and the following screenshot explains how to set up the Tool Panel views:
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| 4. Change the size of the paintbrush and set
transparency to about 65% and choose a dark red to outline and for the
left side of the apple (the shaded side). Fill in the apple,
varying your colors from dark to medium reds. I used the
Paintbrush tool, but the Airbrush Tool can also be used.
Smoothing can be done with the Retouch Tool for Removing Noise, if desired. NOTE: I keep the color palette open to change the colors easily. NOTE: Let me also remind you to save your image as a UFO file often, and now would be a good time to begin. I use CTL S after naming the file as apple.UFO. |
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5. Continue filling in the leaf area with dark and light greens. The darkest parts are the non-highlighted areas. 6. Start interjecting the lightest value of each color and begin highlighting. Do NOT get rid of the darker colors or else your painting/drawing will become monochromatic and lose its vividness. 7. Carefully, begin introducing the lightest highlights (pale yellow) to the apple and its leaves. 8. The final SMALL highlight will be the lightest shade of yellow. NEVER use PURE WHITE as a highlight. A highlight must always have some hue to it. 9. Finally, if you choose, select the FM Tools Blend Emboss effect to add further drama to your painting. (See furthest picture to the right) 10. Feel free to "tweak" your painting by introducing a bit of the green into the red and vice versa, as well as deepening the darks and lightening the highlights. NOTE: Most important is to have values which are light, medium and dark for a good balance to your subject.
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This digital drawing/painting was done rather quickly but I hope that you will find that you can be very artistic, with little effort. I hope you enjoy trying this tutorial and that you will begin exploring all the possibilities of just adding the right highlight to change your painting from monochromatic to exciting and trying your very own style of artistry! Pardon the pun, but I hope this will shed a little light on highlighting!!! :)
That's it. Just sign it and claim it as your own! Please feel free to pick up your Complimentary Award here!
Good luck and email me if you have any questions.
Hillary
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