Related Topics Mentioned in This Video
Other Tool Pairs
Brush & Mixer
Making overlays doesn't need to be complicated. It's easy to be intimidated by tools like 'clipping masks', but today's video showcases how much you're missing. This tool pair is actually 3 tools, not just two - but it might change the way you paint forever.
Tools work best in harmony. The pencil is nice, but paired with an eraser or ruler it's even better. Digital painting is no different. This video explores one of my favorite tool pairs: the brush tool and the mixer brush tool.
Want to take this concept to the next level? This tool pair is an excellent opportunity for 'Spring Loaded Tools', so make sure to watch my video explaining how to speed up your workflow.
Display your reference in a border-less, floating, window. Awesome.
Reference material is essential. I've talked about it in a number of videos. The challenge is sharing your screen real-estate between a painting, Photoshop's user interface, and your reference. Especially with a small monitor, it's not easy to solve. Until you try PureReference.
This 3rd party indie software allows you to create a sheet of reference images for displaying over Photoshop. Without any extra clutter, you're able to zoom, pan, and manipulate your images. All of this happens in an 'always on top' window, which can be any size you desire.
For more than a decade I've been using Photoshop documents (and a second monitor) for this task. It isn't perfect, but it got the job done. Now that I've used this software, I might just leave the old method behind. If this sounds like a commercial -- don't worry, it's not. I try a wide variety of graphics tools, but some are just too cool to keep to myself. This is one of them. Get your copy today! And make sure to choose a fair price!
Related Keyboard Shortcut Videos
Photoshop has a lot of commands. This means there’s a lot of keyboard shortcuts. You don’t need to use all of them. And since you are only using a fraction of them, why not remap them to be near one another on your keyboard? In this video I argue strongly for the merits of designing your own keyboard shortcuts -- and for starting right now.
Your new brushes
Basic 3 Brushes (download link - .abr)
Installing Custom Brushes (video)
Related videos
Welcome to Photoshop! Before you start painting, you’ll want to get cozy with the software - and laying out the palettes is a great start. The User Interface (UI) is very easy to customize, so sticking with the defaults is a missed opportunity. This is your software - own it!
Related Efficiency Videos
We all want to become better painters. Achieving a flow state, forgetting about the menus, and just painting. Mastering your keyboard shortcuts is a bit part of this learning curve, and is an essential step toward improving as a digital painter. “Spring Loaded Keys” is a neat option, allowing you to temporarily switch between tools. It won’t make you a master overnight, but it will save you hundreds of keypresses a day. What do you have to lose?
In this video demonstration I’ll conclude the lasso painting demo by adding fine details to the beach scene. To show off how versatile the lasso tool can be, I go out of my way to use it as the primary tool for this entire scene. What made it useful for a quick block-in continues to be useful for small details - it’s just a matter of zoom. I hope this mini-series gives you a new appreciation for this often overlooked tool. Even though it will never replace free hand painting, it’s a great weapon to add to your arsenal. Have fun!
As we continue working with the lasso tool, this video demonstration focuses on ‘blocking in color’. When painting, starting simple before getting detailed is a winning strategy - so why not start with the lasso? In this tutorial you’ll see how the lasso offers a nice balance of precision and speed. In the next video I’ll complete the study by adding small details - still using the same tools - so stay tuned!
As we continue to explore the lasso tool's power for digital painting, this video focuses on keyboard shortcuts. If you've been following Ctrl+Paint for long, you know that I'm a huge keyboard shortcut fan - and the lasso tool is no exception. To help you remember the important key bindings, make sure to check out my cheat sheet to the right.
Keyboard shortcuts matter. They really do. In my opinion they're one of the biggest factors that separates beginners from seasoned digital painters. If you're not using keyboard shortcuts, the tools stop being loose and creative. Instead, half of your time is spent hunting through menus instead of just ... painting. So if you want to paint, part of the learning process involves memorizing keyboard shortcuts.
Transform Selection: Ctrl+Shift+T
Add to Selection: Shift + * Tool
Subtract from Selection: Alt + * Tool
Invert Selection: Ctrl+Shift+i
Deselect: Ctrl+D
Hide Marching Ants: Ctrl+H
* This works for any selection tool: Lasso, Marquee, Magic Wand, etc.
Tools like the "Brush" and "Eraser" seem like obvious choices for making digital paintings. But what about the "Lasso"? As it turns out, Photoshop's lasso tool can be an incredibly powerful addition to your digital workflow.
Ctrl+Paint has devoted lots of time to the brush tool, so it's only fair to devote a bit to the lasso tool. This is the first video of a short mini-series, and by the end I hope to convince you on the merits of this unlikely tool.
Ctrl+Paint is over 4 years old, and I've gone through a number of site revisions. If you're a long-time reader, you're all too familiar with these organizational revisions. The site finally operates like I originally intended! With this in mind, I decided it was worth making a quick 'welcome' video to show new users their way around.
If you are a new user, welcome! If you're a Ctrl+Paint veteran, hi! I'm glad you're here, and look forward to more years of digital painting videos. Thanks for coming to the site!
Sometimes you'll need to apply color correction while an image is in flux. Maybe you have compositional elements that aren't tacked down, or you're still refining your character designs. There are a million scenarios where you might want to apply a set of color corrections to a group of objects. Better yet, you might want to continue moving and modifying those objects.
Can we have the best of both world? Yes. Layer groups and clipping masks are the solution.
As with most aspects of photoshop, edge control is key. Knowing how to modify colors is great, but only if you can control where you're applying the change. After all, it's rare that you'll want to modify your entire image at once. More likely you'll only want to effect a small region of the image. Masks are one option, but this video focuses on the rarely discussed "Blend If"
This installment of the color correction mini-series deals with the 'curves' adjustment layer. For controlling color and image contrast, nothing compares to this tool - but beginners are often intimidated by it's controls. In truth, I personally avoided it for years. But not anymore, and you shouldn't either. Let's dive in!
Today we'll continue to explore the benefits of Adjustment layers for tweaking the colors in your painitngs. This video is all about the 'gradient map'. If you've never used it before, today is a great day to start.
The Bundle Includes
Portfolio Builders - When it comes to concept art, planning and brainstorming are just as important as drawing and painting. Instead of focusing on painting technique, these series ask the question "Where do ideas come from?"
Each poses a design challenge for you (and me) to follow. The videos document my progress, and show painting demos. But the focus is you. What will you draw? How might you approach the challenge differently than me?
I might not be able to personally mentor you, but these series are the next best thing.
Design Basics 1 & 2 - The bundle opens with two series dedicated to Design. The first, Design Basics, explores the hidden language of images. Color, material, shape, and proportion are tools to tell your story. Are you using them to the fullest? To cover the most ground possible, Design Basics is mostly lecture and doesn't highlight Photoshop demonstrations.
Design Basics 2 continues this exploration of shape language, but takes a more hands-on approach. Here, shape is broken down into 7 principles - which we practice with drills and exercises.
In Photoshop color correction is just as important as using the brush and eraser tools. My favorite way to modify colors is the use of 'adjustment layers', and this video gives a short demonstration.
In the video I make reference to 'Selection Layers', which is a personal term I coined -- to learn more make sure to watch these other videos:
This video completes the slate study by adding texture and polish. Though there are many approaches to adding texture in digital painting, this time we won't be using any photos. Instead, the surface texture is created with a modified custom brush.
Additionally, the rock's sharp edges are softened a bit by modifying the group's mask. Both of these techniques are uniquely digital, so make sure to watch the videos linked at the right if you're unfamiliar with the tools.
As we continue with this rock study, the goal is to add detail. To polish. Starting with the basic block-in from the last video, it's all a matter of close observation. I'll break down large ares of flat gray into smaller pieces of darker gray, and smaller pieces of lighter gray. It's a process of slow sub-dividing, growing ever more specific and detailed.
From a technical standpoint, there's really nothing exciting happening here - it's just a lot of patience and 'temp layers'. Even so, if you're unfamiliar with the techniques make sure to check out the videos linked to the right.
RELATED TECHNIQUES SHOWN IN THIS VIDEO
Why would anyone paint a rock? One great reason is called a 'study'. The idea here is to add depth and richness to your mental library by learning the details of real-world stuff. In this case I'll be demonstrating a study of slate, though the same concepts apply to all subject-matter. If you want your illustrations and concept art to improve, studies are a great way to do it.
If you're unfamiliar with visual research or studies, make sure to check out the videos linked to the right.
