Photoshop elements issues/New digital artist, any advice?

[Outkin 35]

I just got myself a multitouch bamboo drawing tablet with photoshop elements. I'm happy with it so far, I'll be able to transfer what little skill I have with real art to the digital world, and I'm with photoshop, and while dummed down, I know how to use it.

 

First question I guess would be do you have any general advice for drawing using this? Or doing ponys in general?

 

Second question, I use alot of references, I don't have a good memory and can't remember the fine details of things if I draw. I figured this would be a snap on a computer, I had multiple tabs open while operating full photoshop all the time! But now....I get a weird grey background and can't see my desktop. I'm not committing to this change or w.e, sorry. It's inefficient to have to keep clicking between tabs, horrible design choice, I want this removed so I can see my other tabs. If for some reason this can't be done, is there an alternative program I can use with the drawing tablet where I can actually see the desktop?

[Emperor Posh 360]

This is how I do it. I drag the image I want a reference to into the document I am working on in that moment. I put it on it's own layer and lock it, and when I do not need it I just delete the reference layer. This way I can avoid tabs altogether until I need a new reference . Sorry If I did not answer your question.

[Remi 1,309]

I would recommend creating a rough sketch layer, with the brush on pressure and opacity sensitivity, and after, create a layer for fill, another for shading, lighting, retouching, outlines, and so forth. I can give you a few I articles I have collected about digital painting.

 

I would recommend also considering Paint Tool SAI as a program for artistry, as I find it to be much more practical, easy-to-use, nice interface, and efficient.

[DustJacket 213]

Multiple layers is a must, it organized your art in a specific layers but note that layer tidiness is a must as well or you'll end up getting confused to determine which which and which not, so use group layers after some time you've began making one piece of art.

 

Don't forget to apply a layer mask tool, it is a really powerful tool for you to work with. 

 

But the key to a digital painting is to know art very deep first. You need to know color combination - which color combination is a harmonic combination, think it like you're playing music. And colors that gives you certain emotions. Note that this coloring technique is commonly used more by communicative designer.

Basic shading, people at my school sometime get confused when it comes to shading, so I'm telling you this. Know when to use a shadow shading or light shading. For this, you can use the burn tool and the dodge tool for raising up the brightest of a section.

Use a large resolution, 300 is the minimum resolution setting and start of either with an A4 size worksheet or a 200 x 200 px worksheet, 200 x 200 is quite big.

 

I think that should get you started for your journey in the digital painting.

 

And one more thing... if you want to do some pony vectors, use Adobe Illustrator, it helps you really well on maintaining neatness since it is used more for logo designing and in which, it is very useful for vectoring. Vectoring is like tracing only you use solid colors for a fill instead of a soft combination of light and dark colors. 

 

Hope this helps.

 

EDIT: I was mistaken, use dodge tool and burn tool only to adjust the shading that you've applied

Edited October 10, 2013 by c45tl3

[nooneimportantwashere 705]

grsesgersegrgrsesegrgersgser

Edited February 10, 2022 by nooneimportantwashere

[DustJacket 213]

@, 

oh geez, at least you don't need to increase the size of it like that. 

You know, if you know how to use those two tools efficiently, it won't end up giving a dull and monochrome look.

And I might as well had written that one wrong/incomplete.

Edited October 10, 2013 by c45tl3

[nooneimportantwashere 705]

grsesgersegrgrsesegrgersgser

Edited February 10, 2022 by nooneimportantwashere

[Outkin 35]

Thanks alot guys, especially with that guide! I'll have alot to work on it seems...I haven't done any shading or things like that...one step at a time I suppose. One final question and I'm good to go, is there a free alternative or scaled down version of illustrator? $400 is unreasonable in my book.  

[nooneimportantwashere 705]

grsesgersegrgrsesegrgersgser

Edited February 10, 2022 by nooneimportantwashere