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ISSUE 121
WELCOME
Welcome to the latest
issue of Advanced
Photoshop. Beauty
retouching is one of the
key reasons that
Photoshop is used so
extensively by industry
professionals.
ANNALISA SAYWELL In the competitive world of beauty photography,
Editor you need to know how to produce finished
retouched images. This issue offers you just that – a
IN THIS ISSUE: wealth of tips and techniques from retouch
PHOTOMANIPULATION
PHOTO EDITING
GRAPHICS
professionals and a step-by-step tutorial that will
teach you the essential processes used within the
24 15 TIPS FOR CREATING
INDUSTRY FEATURE:
DIGITAL PAINTING
TYPOGRAPHY
NEW MEDIA
beauty industry.
Elsewhere in the issue, take a look at our game
GAME ART
Pro artists share the secrets of creating striking
art feature, in which pro artists share their secrets visuals, from concept through to final product
on how to create epic concepts. Also learn to build
striking graphics using a grid system, and create a
realistic image using seamless lighting techniques
COVER IMAGE in our cityscape composite tutorial.
BRIVAELLE CAPITAINE If that wasn’t enough, we ‘ve even covered the
www.onehundredberlin.com
Aer working as a model, wonderful world of 3D for you. Transform a CG
Capitaine decided to use render using Photoshop tools and master matte
her beauty expertise as a paint techniques at the same time. All of this
retoucher. Since founding
One Hundred Berlin, amazing content should keep you busy until next
Capitaine has worked month. Enjoy!
with high-end editorial
clients including ELLE, GQ
and Vogue. Re-create her
cover image on page 42.
FIND US ONLINE:
@advancedpshop /AdvancedPhotoshop WORKSHOP:
52 TRANSFORM 3D
RENDERS
.co.uk Bring your CG work to life using Photoshop
tricks and matte painting techniques
003
FOR BACK ISSUES, BOOKS
AND MERCHANDISE VISIT:
ISSUE 121
CONTENTS
EYE ON DESIGN
What’s hot, who’s in and the
latest art & design happenings
08 PORTFOLIO INTERVIEW
The evolution of an artist
14 PROJECT FOCUS
A new perspective on advertising
16 STUDIO INTERVIEW
SomeOne
58 HOW I MADE
60 SEAMLESS LIGHTING
004
ISSUE 121 #/.4%.43
TECHNIQUES REVIEWS
Professional artists reveal their high-end Photoshop skills in We put the latest creative kit,
our easy-to-follow workshops books and apps to the test
24 INDUSTRY FEATURE
15 tips for creating game art 60 WORKSHOP
Seamless lighting 80 FEATURE:
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X7
32 INDUSTRY FEATURE
From shoot to Photoshop: Retouch 66 WORKSHOP
Work with colour and texture 84 REVIEW:
Top 10 Photoshop books
42 COVER WORKSHOP
Professional portrait retouching 72 WORKSHOP
Build striking graphics
48 HOW I MADE
Tree Of Life 76 HOW I MADE
The Four Seasons
WORKSHOP
Transform 3D renders 86 READER INTERVIEW
Living the dream
HOW I MADE
Typography Manufacturing 90 RESOURCE PROJECT
Beautiful bokehs
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
SEE PAGE 22 OR 71 FOR THE LATEST OFFERS
48 HOW I MADE
96 ON YOUR DISC
Free with issue 121 of
Advanced Photoshop
TAILORMADE
CREATIVE CONTENT
!NďEXCLUSIVEďVIDEOďTUTORIALďFROMď+IRKď
.ELSONďONďHOWďTOďMASTERďRETOUCHING
PLUS:
eď4UTORIALďPROJECTďFILES
eď%XCLUSIVEďWALLPAPERSďFORďMOBILEďANDďDESKTOP
eď0REMIUMďFONTďWORTHď
EYE ON DESIGN THIS ISSUE’S PRO PANEL
EYE ON DESIGN
© Brandon Cawood
BRANDON CAWOOD
www.flash-light-productions.com
Shoot what you love. Never let anyone tell you that something isn’t possible. You will never catch your dreams if stop chasing them. A vivid
imagination has far more value than a budget. Make friends, not clients.
■ Take a look at Cawood’s photography and re-create his looks on page 66
006
The magazine for Adobe® Photoshop® professionals
Imagine Publishing Ltd
Richmond House, 33 Richmond Hill,
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EDVIN PUZINKEVICH Web: www.imagine-publishing.co.uk
www.edvin.lv www.advancedphotoshop.co.uk
www.greatdigitalmags.com
Sometimes when I need to comp
a CG object into a photo-based
Magazine team
image, I apply some additional Editor Anna-lisa Saywell
texture from a photo of a similar real object. Using anna-lisa.saywell@imagine-publishing.co.uk
01202 586243
layer blending options like Multiply, Overlay, Darken, Editor in Chief Dan Hutchinson
Lighten and Screen with different transparency levels Sub Editor Alicea Francis
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Filter>Distort>Displace is another powerful tool for Senior Art Editor Duncan Crook
texturing using a pre-existing PSD file with texture. Head of Publishing Aaron Asadi
Head of Design Ross Andrews
■ Create seamless composites on page 60
Contributors
Chris McMahon, Larissa Mori, Julie Bassett, April Madden,
One Hundred Berlin, Anton Erogov, Brandon Cawood,
Jorge Marin Gispert, Simon Skellon, Kirk Nelson, Edvin
Flip your image horizontal and Puzinkevich, Dan Bevan, Steve Mumby, Ben Stanley, Gregg
Whittaker, Alison Innes and Charlotte Crooks
Advertising
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© Edvin Puzinkevich
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Disclaimer
The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited
material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the
copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this magazine
may be reproduced in whole or part without the written
permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised
and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review.
Although the magazine has endeavoured to ensure all
information is correct at time of print, prices and availability
may change. This magazine is fully independent and not
© Anton Egorov affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.
Photoshop is either a registered trademark or trademark
of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/
or other countries and is used with express permission.
ANTON EGOROV All $ prices are US Dollars unless otherwise stated.
If you submit material to Imagine Publishing via post,
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grant Imagine Publishing an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-
Periodically check your work using these techniques: merge all the layers on the top free license to use the images across its entire portfolio,
in print, online and digital, and to deliver the images to
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■ Learn to master Photoshop post-production techniques with Egorov on page 52
© Imagine Publishing Ltd 2014
ISSN 1748-7277
007
EYE ON DESIGN PORTFOLIO INTERVIEW
PORTFOLIO INTERVIEW
THE EVOLUTION
www.stillontherun.com
@takeshiwan
OF AN ARTIST
EMERIC TRAHAND, AKA TAKESHI, EXPLAINS THE REGENERATION
OF HIS STYLE TO BOLDER AND MORE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
E
meric Trahand is no stranger to the pages traditional elements. The French artist, now based in HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?
of Advanced Photoshop, yet you might not New York City, shares the reasons behind this I believe the evolution comes from a lack of
instantly recognise the work showcased on evolution and how it is helping him to grow as a satisfaction in the body of work I have produced so
these pages. That’s because Trahand has digital artist. far. Most of my past work I feel ‘just happened’. I was
consciously moved away from his previous style to truly missing a deeper understanding of why I was
focus his energies on a new direction – one that CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT doing things, and how they related to my taste and
offers a blend of stark, digital forms alongside YOURSELF AND HOW YOU BECAME THE inner vision. The process is experimental mostly,
ARTIST YOU ARE TODAY? trying to find inspiration from very unrelated things
I am self-taught and have been pursuing a career as and building slowly in a direction. It takes a lot of
Most of my past work I feel a professional illustrator and art director since 2006. I mistakes, a lot of hours, trying to understand how
‘just happened’. I was truly have, through the years, been involved in a large things work visually, especially when operating in
variety of projects such as commercial print new fields, with flat illustration or abstract work for
missing a deeper understanding campaigns, album art, packaging, and matte example, which I didn’t have much experience of
of why I was doing things painting and design for the motion industry. before now.
01
Fore: This image is an album cover for
New York rapper and producer Fore’s
Going Back Is Not The Same As Staying,
and is an example of Trahand’s more
commercial work
02
Tangerine: When creating personal
pieces of art such as this, Trahand looks
01 all around him for inspiration, looking at
unrelated styles and translating them in
his own way
008
040
02
EYE ON DESIGN PORTFOLIO INTERVIEW
010
05
EYE ON DESIGN PORTFOLIO INTERVIEW
06
06
Paper, Cuts & Tape: Trahand
tries to make time to
complete self-initiated
projects, such as this
artwork, though he admits
that being a professional
digital artist does not leave a
great deal of time for
personal endeavours
07
A Circular Shape: Trahand
says that he is still
experimenting with his new
direction, making plenty of
mistakes along the way until
he is happy with the outcome
07
enough to find a client with a bit of love and trust for unrelated styles or techniques. Inspiration is overall a
what I do. I mean, this is the struggle most of the very vague and fuzzy science. PORTFOLIO TIPS
illustrators I know are facing; there is nothing new TRAHAND UNVEILS HIS ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR
CREATING A STANDOUT PORTFOLIO
here. I’d just be unhappy if every piece I was doing HOW DOES PHOTOSHOP FIT INTO YOUR
■ TAILOR YOUR CONTENT
was marketed or branded; I need to do my own stuff WORKFLOW PROCESS? Don’t expect art directors to always be able to imagine
in order to breathe. I’m an all-Photoshop guy. I literally never touch what you could do with your skills if it’s not explicitly
another software and my drawing skills are pretty visible on your portfolio. Be specific and show precise
examples of what you want to work on. If you want to
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PROJECT THAT limited sadly. I have probably spent a good 100,000 work on sport illustrations, lead your client to it, and have
YOU’VE WORKED ON TO DATE, AND WHY? hours on Photoshop in my life; it just became an a ton of sport illustrations in your portfolio.
I don’t really have one. I’m very unsatisfied with my extension of me really. ■ FIND A BALANCE
work generally. I believe I have a soft spot for a Clients love passionate illustrators with a nice body of
couple of them, for the visibility or love they got me, WHAT KIT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR STUDIO personal work, but what they love even more is creatives
with a strong experience of commercial projects. Make
but no real favourite. THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR DESIGNS? sure your professional work has a lot of space in there; it
I need a clean desk, a very minimal setup. Most of will make clients much more confident in hiring you.
WHERE DO YOU LOOK FOR INSPIRATION FOR the time I use a Wacom tablet connected to my ■ MAKE IT STRIKING
YOUR ARTWORKS AND HOW DO YOU MacBook Pro, sometimes an extra display. I have a With thousands of portfolios available, clients barely
TRANSLATE IT INTO YOUR DESIGNS? few sheets of paper and a pen to draw concepts, and spend more than a few seconds on a page. Make sure the
very best of your work is immediately available once you
I buy art books, I read, I listen to music and let myself that’s it really. Anyway, living in New York doesn’t land on the homepage and forget about anything that will
daydream a little. I usually don’t look at much allow you to have a big workspace or studio. The delay someone from accessing the content, such as long,
animated introductions, subcategories, multiple pages,
illustrative work, or things that are close to what I do. price of life is so high, you often have to do the best
loaders, etc.
I find it more satisfying to get inspired from very with the space you have.
013
EYE ON DESIGN A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON ADVERTISING
PROJECT FOCUS
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
ON ADVERTISING
COFOUNDER OF MIAGUI IMAGEVERTISING CÁSSIO BRAGA DETAILS HOW THE
TEAM CREATED ONE OF THEIR MOST SUBMERGING CAMPAIGNS
H
aving only opened its doors in 2011, Miagui The image itself was first modelled in ZBrush and
Imagevertising is a studio that is already rendered in Mode, before Photoshop was used for
making a name for itself, with international post-production. Throughout this process, the colours
clients such as Nike, Massey Ferguson, Fox were calibrated, some imperfections were corrected
Sports, and recently, National Geographic. In and some key points of the image were enriched to
partnership with art director Gregory Kickow from produce the final result.
Loducca Agency, the company was approached to
create a campaign to promote National Geographic’s DID YOU HAVE A LOT OF CREATIVE CONTROL,
new television programme while creating a OR DID NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEED A
ABOUT THE STUDIO significant visual impact for the audience, drawing PARTICULAR MESSAGE TO COME ACROSS?
CÁSSIO BRAGA their attention like never before. The message was very specific: to announce the start
www.miagui.cc This was no easy feat, but the Brazilian-based of a new show on the station. We are convinced that
Brazillian-born Cássio Braga creative production studio certainly proved it was up we do not create copyright images, but we
double-majored in marketing and to the challenge. In order to create an image with so collaborate with the agency, which in this case was
creation at one of most prestigious much impact, the team used the yellow border so Loducca Agency, from which the project was
universities in the country, ESPM.
As an art director, Cássio Braga characteristic of National Geographic to highlight the developed in partnership with art director Gregory
worked at several agencies before simulated perspective of the observer, giving them Kickow. Throughout the project, we had the exclusive
co-founding Miagui in 2011. The
the impression that they were next to fall into a pool goal of producing the image to exactly communicate
image production studio is
composed of specialists in with an alligator. Using Photoshop together with 3D the concept created by them.
photography, 3D illustration, 2D modelling, a major challenge for Miagui was to
illustration and image treatment.
develop an image so realistic it would sell the idea WHAT DID YOU WANT THE AUDIENCE TO TAKE
NAME OF PROJECT perfectly, despite it being almost impossible to FROM THE ADVERTISEMENT?
MUNDO SELVAGEM
FOR NATIONAL photograph a real alligator in the right position! The aims were to cause shock and create a large
GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL visual impact for the audience, drawing their attention
HOW WAS THE CONCEPT DEVELOPED? to the new programme, which was the purpose of
The visual design was developed entirely with a 3D the campaign. We had some great results for the
illustration, following the concept of the campaign. time we invested towards making that happen!
040
014
Photoshop was used for
post-production, where the
colours were calibrated, some
imperfections corrected and any
points that needed to be more
Miagui Imagevertising initially aesthetically eye-catching were
created the design for the image as enriched using the famous
a 3D ZBrush piece, paying particular Dodge and Burn tool to enhance
attention to creating the correct
proportions, using as many
references as possible, and setting
up realistic materials and light
image, it was necessary to work various different come across the animal, causing a strong emotional
elements before beginning to finalise the image in response. The result was quite impressive right
Photoshop. It was essential to create a 3D model with because of that.
the correct proportions, to always use as many
references as possible, correctly set up the realistic IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THE FINAL AD
materials and light, and add as much detail as THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE?
possible. With the rendering done, Photoshop then Not at all. We had complete freedom to add all our
helped to correct the colour and let us include the final expertise and knowledge from previous projects in
details that completed the image. The tools that I use this work and to develop the image in the best
the most in my Photoshop workflow are masks and possible way. This successful piece is the result of a
Curves. With them, you can really take a picture to long relationship of trust between the art director
another level. from Loducca Greg KicKow, and the Miagui team. Work in progress – alligator
That certainly is reflected in the final outcome.
WHAT WERE THE MAIN CHALLENGES AND was the ability to be very creative and to then to have
SUCCESSES OF THIS PROJECT? WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS the creativity very well executed.
The main challenge was to produce a realistic image HOPING TO CREATE EYECATCHING GRAPHICS? It is fundamental to be relevant, creative and well
using illustration. It had to look like the alligator had Essentially, you need more than a good image. The executed. The coolest thing about this campaign is
actually been photographed in that environment campaign needs to have a good creative concept. I that it is complete in all those aspects, from idea to
– which would be very difficult to reproduce – and that always maintain that a good image simply magnifies execution. And most important of all is that it
it was created to give the viewer the impression that a good idea, and no matter what, you can never save mobilises people to pay attention to the message that
any people who would go down that escalator would a bad idea. In my opinion, the merit of this campaign National Geographic wants to pass on.
015
EYE ON DESIGN STUDIO INTERVIEW
STUDIO INTERVIEW
SOMEONE
MEET THE UKBASED STUDIO THAT HAS BECOME A
WORLD LEADER IN BRAND IDENTITY
G
reat design is at the heart of all good
studios, but nowhere more so than at
SomeOne. The London-based agency is
nominated for a plethora of awards in 2014
– ten and counting by the end of February alone –
and the reason for this is because the studio puts
design at the core of everything it does. As founder
and executive creative director Simon Manchipp is
keen to point out, the studio’s raison d’être affects
everything from the projects the team works on to
the studio’s location and layout.
SomeOne started with a simple aim: “To remove
the fluff and nonsense surrounding the launch,
relaunch and management of brands. To do the best
work, and make enough money to have fun while
doing it.” That focus on the best work above
everything else is the reason why the plaudits just
keep piling up, and why SomeOne is the go-to
agency for developing and redeveloping brand
identities. The studio has just completed work on
Urica (www.urica.biz), a UK government-backed
service that helps small businesses to get their
invoices paid more quickly; creating a bold, graphical
brand identity strongly influenced by placards. Other
SomeOne clients include Royal Museums
Greenwich, Eurostar, Zinc and Weve.
The studio started out in 2003, founded by Simon
Manchipp, David Law, Gary Holt and Laura Hussey,
and has been evolving ever since. “We were four
people. We are now around 34 people. But we’ve
stayed remarkably close to our launch objectives. We
are still very lean and can rapidly work around
problems to get projects solved in very little time. We
believe that you don’t build a company, you build
people. And it’s those people that are essential to
look after above all other aspects of the day,”
Manchipp explains.
Founder Laura Hussey was the one who saw the
potential of what was, in 2003, a run-down area and
is now the centre of London’s art and design scene.
“We are in the heart of the creative industries in
Shoreditch. Laura found it and stuck to her guns
when we all freaked out — as we were used to the
West End and Soho, the then so-called ‘murder mile’
rather worried us — but now it is unrecognisable!
Everyone walks around with an iPad or laptop under
their arm, coffee is exceptionally good (and
important) and you are simply a door or two away
© SomeOne
016
ABOUT THE STUDIO
SOMEONE
www.someoneinlondon.com
@SomeOnes_Tweet
Founded in 2003 by Simon
Manchipp, David Law, Gary Holt and
Laura Hussey, with the aim of
putting all aspects of the business in
Simon Manchipp,
the hands of the designers, Founder and
SomeOne focuses on every area of Executive Creative Karl Randal,
Director Design Director
brand identity.
017
EYE ON DESIGN STUDIO INTERVIEW
Consistent type - The use of typography Complete branding solution - SomeOne produced Weve’s logo
became a key signifier of the Royal and then extended this to cover the mobile commerce platform’s
Museums’ brand identity entire identity, including company stationery and business cards
© SomeOne
That location is a key part of the SomeOne brand, “Ideas excite us, they shape the future, add value and
which pitches itself with masterful delicacy as
Everything is open plan; signal change. We help organisations, products and
on-trend, all-encompassing, future-focused and everyone can see services profit from change. That’s why we
endlessly adaptable. Their studio reflects that brand concentrate on creating big ideas first, then go about
identity perfectly: “We have a three-floor space with a
everyone… People work more making them beautifully. We create monopolies for
loft boardroom, ground-floor cinema and flexible effectively as they are more brands by employing supercharged creativity to
meeting space; we have all the usual stuff like free connect business strategy with memorable and
beer and wine, bike racks and Nespresso coffee, but
likely to share ideas adaptive executions.”
also more quirky elements like a library and bowler Ideas are our business, so we’ve made the most of SomeOne specialises in the whole package, from
hat lighting.” Everything about SomeOne’s working the space to make the most of the people.” logos, graphics and type to film, sound and
space showcases who they are and what they do. This is vitally important in an agency that’s animation. Collaborative and creativity-focused, it
“It’s designed to make the most of chance. becoming increasingly well known for its sometimes has grown from its founding in 2003 to become one
Everything is open plan; everyone can see everyone off-the-wall, but always successful, approach. “We of the UK’s most highly respected design and
and the spaces are connected so the chances of work in all sectors, all countries, all of the time. We branding agencies. A key part of SomeOne’s
conversation are increased. People work more invent brands with clients. Or re-invent them ready approach is to embrace change. “To be consistent is
effectively as they are more likely to share ideas. for new business challenges,” Manchipp explains. to be predictable. Yet it’s what many brand ‘owners’
018
040
WORLDPAY ZINC
MONEY IS EMOTIONAL STUFF, BUT THE
BRANDS THAT SURROUND IT ARE DULL AND
PREDICTABLE. SOMEONE CHANGED THIS
WorldPay Zinc is a new way for small
businesses to take card payments. It’s a
pin pad that connects to your mobile
phone. We worked with WorldPay from
the birth of the idea through to the
launch based on a credentials-only pitch.
Since launch, the client has been
delighted with the outcome and it’s been
discussed and recognised at the Brand
Impact, EuroBest and Transform
Awards as an outstanding example of
brand work within the financial sector. © WorldPay
01 KEEP IT PAINTERLY
When relying on paths and masks, the
image can feel a little clinical. By taking a freehand
02 ADJUSTMENT LAYERS
A designer in my first ever job said
adjustment layers would change my life. I’m not
03 OPACITY
It’s always easy to get lost in the layer you
are working on and then to take it a step further
approach and painting in and erasing back, areas sure they made me a better person, but [being than you had intended. Knocking back the opacity
can be blended, softened and highlighted in a more able] to adjust your layer and then brush back of that layer once you have finished playing around
subtle way. Photoshop can be used in a way that’s areas you don’t want to appear is very useful in with it often helps to blend it back enough to feel
similar to painting, albeit in a very technical context. creating small changes that make a big difference. right again.
04 RETAIN REALITY
Often retouching goes too far and the sense that the subject matter
existed in real space is lost. It might seem obvious, but a photograph is made
05 PERFECT DOESN’T EXIST
When making an image composite, I’m conscious not to try and
make everything perfect. Sometimes a slightly awkward composition or an
up of light and shadow and this gives it its depth, but I find that with heavy element that sits slightly askew can add character, resulting in a more
retouching, unexpected highlights and shadows are taken out. These give life interesting image. Arguably perfection doesn’t exist in nature, so therefore it
to the image and in the end make it feel more like reality. doesn’t need to exist in the created image.
019
EYE ON DESIGN STUDIO INTERVIEW
ask for. But if they truly get it, the approach kills to take card payments. We worked on everything We only hire very capable people. So while many
brands, or at the very least stifles them. If you are a from the name to the mark to the photography to the traditional design companies keep designers away
control freak, you are not going to like the future. end production, even what the point-of-sale would from the realities of running a project, our designers
Brand control is an illusion. We don’t own it, or look like in John Lewis sites around the country. It relish the chance to meet the client and get involved.
control it, the audience does. So we like to create a was a totally integrated project and we were It makes for a far better end result.”
platform for things to adapt and change on — rather delighted with the outcome.” Great design is at the heart of SomeOne, but the
than traditional brand guidelines that are essentially With that kind of all-encompassing project studio also sees its philosophies, and collaborative
a bible of ‘no’.” typifying SomeOne’s client work, the studio’s digital workflow, as key to the great design of the
Photoshop is an essential part of that. “[Digital designers have to be open to all challenges, creative future. “There’s never been a more exciting time to
design has] empowered the individual to get exactly and corporate. “We all do everything. There are no be a designer, particularly in branding — it kind of
what they want. Collaboration is the way forward, but divides. If you are a designer you are expected to be means you can do anything now. It’s amazing. One
with collaboration you never really get exactly what able to do pretty much anything,” Manchipp says. “95 day you can be doing sculpture, the next illustration,
per cent of the people in SomeOne are designers. then typography. It appears the landscape is simply
While many companies Three per cent are project-management focused. evolving to involve more and more platforms, more
Two per cent sort the money bit out. We have a very and more people and more and more ideas. All of
keep designers away from high ratio of designers — and that’s very deliberate. which is a real thrill for those involved.”
the realities of running a project,
ours relish the chance to meet © Weve
0/34ɎLUNCH
09:30 STUDIO
AWAKENS
All the SomeOne employees
10:30 DEEP IN WORK
In full flow, a typical day at SomeOne could
consist of idea creation, strategy and naming, client-side
12:30 BEASTS
APPROACH
THE WATERING HOLE
13:00 FUSSBALL
Fast, frantic and competitive,
arrive at work and settle into a meetings or getting deep into the meat of design. At SomeOne, Lunch, usually taken in the getting ten-balled by the
new day, news is discussed, designers are involved in all aspects of the branding process, not basement, is a big social event opposing team in a game of
hangovers are dismissed and just the behind-the-scenes work. This makes the whole here, or at your desk if you are table football entails a naked
studio banter begins. business run that much more smoothly. stacked with tight deadlines. lap of the studio.
020
040
Food for thought - In the SomeOne lexicon, informality breeds
© SomeOne inspiration, and so the studio team regularly eat and travel together
to strengthen their bonds and expand their creative horizons
■ A SIMPLE SYSTEM
A system can come in the form of numbered, categorised
folders like ‘00 Assets, 01 Design, 02 Comps, 04 Presentation’,
which gives you a simple system to help manage your files.
■ GET ON WITH IT
You’ll find us working hard early in the week, maybe even late
nights on a Monday, but getting on with it at the beginning allows
us to get the job done and grab a beer at the end of the week.
14:00 BACK TO
BUSINESS
Mail, project managers and
15:30 SOME
ANIMALS
Animals are a popular theme
16:00
A common occurrence at
BIRTHDAY
FUN 17:03 SEXY
LIGHTING
To start and wind down the day
18:15 BEER
O’CLOCK
Before the day closes, the beer
‘catch-ups’ in the attic around the studio, whether SomeOne around this time of we instate a studio-wide ban on fridge is busted out and beers
boardroom all try their hardest they’re pinned to clothing, on year is birthdays. Songs will be any bright lighting, switching to at desks becomes a common
to break an afternoon’s top of monitors or hanging sung, cards will be written and our much cosier desk sight among those with an
workflow progression. from our oversized lamp. cake will be eaten. lamps instead. evening’s work ahead of them.
021
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Studio, which has worked with notable clients throughout illustrator is to create designs that not only inspire but also inform production.
the videogames world. This concept environment is an early What makes a concept artist good at his or her job is their ability to create
visual exploration piece that West Studio created for Playdek for its game designs. They need to not only excite those working on the project, but also
Unsung Story, a tactical RPG. For West, it is important that concept art not only inform artists who rely on those images (modellers, lighters, animators, etc).
looks great, but that it also does its job and helps further the rest of the Concept art is not just about expression; it is also about fabrication.”
024
15 TIPS FOR CREATING GAME ART TECHNIQUES
025
TECHNIQUES 15 TIPS FOR CREATING GAME ART
© 2013 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. The trademarks, copyrights and
design rights in and associated with Lamborghini vehicles are used under licence from
Lamborghini ArtiMarca S.p.A., Italy. General Motors Trademarks used under license to
Ubisoft Entertainment. Ford Oval, Lincoln Star and nameplates are registered
trademarks owned and licensed by Ford Motor Company. 3400k emblem and RUF body
styling equipment are trademarks and/or intellectual property of RUF Vertriebs GmbH
03. VISIT CONCEPTART 04. CATCH UP ON YOUR 05. TAKE A COMPUTER 06. SIGN UP TO DIGITAL
WORLD.COM READING LIST GAMES ART DEGREE TUTORS.COM
This website acts as both a blog and a Videogame designer Sam R. This course at Teeside University, UK Online digital art training courses
directory for artists working in the Kennedy presents How To Become A looks at 3D character modelling, look at the basic principles of
entertainment industry. It profiles and Video Game Artist (£14.99/$21.99), environment modelling, vehicular designing a videogame character in
showcases artwork from the latest which features interviews with pros modelling, basic real-time animation Photoshop, including sketching,
releases and is frequently updated. and step-by-step tutorials. and 3D effects over its three years. design, rendering and more.
026
07. MASTER PHOTOSHOP EFFECTS
HUGO CENEVIVA FOR ELEVENDY
www.elevendy.com ■ Textures
Senior visual artist at Elevendy, Hugo Ceneviva, Use a variety of textures to add
explains how he uses Photoshop’s tools to get this realism, blend with different
modes and use High Pass to
distinctive videogame ‘look’ for key art, as shown in increase detail moderately
this example for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist for Ubisoft.
■ Lighting
Play with highlights and shadows
to make the action or storyline of
the game come to life
■ Colour
Use colour layers (on
Overlay) to make the
lighting effects more
realistic and believable
Image by Elevendy Inc. ©2014 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
■ Contrast
Work with Brightness and
Contrast levels to create a
dramatic effect on your character
027
THOMAS BRISSOT
www.thomasbrissot.com
Thomas Brissot is a concept artist and
illustrator who has worked for a number of
game clients. Here he shares three essential
tips for creating striking game art designs…
028
15 TIPS FOR CREATING GAME ART TECHNIQUES
04 FINISHING TOUCHES
To finish the image, I added some finer
details, as well as upped the overall contrast using a
Curves adjustment layer. For the glowing bits, I
added a Glow layer effect to some simple lines with
the colour set to the same orange as the
lines themselves.
029
© Alien Apple Studios
030
TIPS FOR CREATING GAME ART TECHNIQUES
031
3. Shape - Benoliel shaped the face and
1. Original shot - This is the original shot body with the Push Left tool on in the
before any retouching has taken place Liquify panel and applied sharpening
CONTRIBUTORS
-!2).!Ĉ$%!.Ɏ&2!.#)3Ĉ JULIE MARIE GENE GOBELIN IVO DE KOK */!..!Ĉ+5342!Ĉ DAVID BENOLIEL
WWW.MDFRETOUCHING.COM WWW.JULIEMARIEGENE.COM WWW.IVODEKOK.COM WWW.JOANNAKUSTRA.COM WWW.DAVIDBENOLIELPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Dean-Francis Gobelin is a De Kok studied Kustra is a Benoliel is a
is a high-end French at the renowned Polish fashion French fashion
Photoshop freelance Fotoacademie and beauty and beauty
retoucher, photographer in Amsterdam photographer photographer.
working on based in Lyon, and now works and retoucher He has been
projects in the specialising in for various based in Costa living in the US
commercial portraits and clients and del Sol, working between New
and advertising fashion magazines in in the UK, Spain York and Miami
industries. photography. Europe. and Poland. for four years.
032
FROM SHOOT TO PHOTOSHOP RETOUCH TECHNIQUES
RETOUCH
BEAUTY RETOUCHING IS A METICULOUS AND DIFFICULT ART, ONE THAT MUST BE
APPROACHED WITH DELICACY. DISCOVER HOW TO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS
I
n many ways, the art of beauty
retouching could be considered as one
of the most difficult Photoshop
techniques that there is. We’re so used
to seeing other human’s faces that our
subconscious minds are attuned to the
smallest details – if something is off, we
know it instantly.
As such, beauty retouching is no easy
© Mikhail Malyugin, Model:
task. It requires a delicate balance of Kseniya Balakhnina, Make-up:
Anna Nerezova www.nerezova.com
natural and digitally enhanced beauty,
with pixels used to subtly soften pores,
remove blemishes, and present a portrait
that could not have existed otherwise.
“From the photographers to the
make-up artists to the retouchers
themselves – we all create beautiful, even
impossible things that fill the eyes and
tickle the imagination,” says beauty and
fashion retoucher Stefka Pavlova. “As a
retoucher, the main task is to detract that
viewer from wondering where and how an
image has been enhanced, and to leave
them to just enjoy the beauty, while
maintaining the details and features that
are present in the original shot.”
Read on to learn how our panel of
professional Photoshop retouchers
approach the discipline of beauty
© Ferhat Yurdam
MIKHAIL MALYUGIN JULIA KUZMENKO MCKIM STEFKA PAVLOVA VICTOR WAGNER FERHAT YURDAM
WWW.MIKHAILMALYUGIN.COM WWW.JULIAKUZMENKO.COM HTTP://STEFKAPAVLOVA.COM WWW.VICTORWAGNER.COM WWW.FERHATYURDAM.COM
Malyugin is an Kuzmenko is a Pavlova works Victor Wagner is After university,
internationally Russian, as a professional a 25-year-old Yurdam
published LA-based retouching artist professional worked in a
photographer beauty, fashion in beauty and retoucher based fashion
and high-end and portrait fashion in Brazil, photography
retoucher, and photographer, post-production. specialising in studio. There
specialises in digital artist, She has a beauty, fashion he discovered
beauty, fashion, retoucher and master’s degree and commercial the magic of
and CG art. educator. in fine arts. images. Photoshop.
033
TECHNIQUES FROM SHOOT TO PHOTOSHOP RETOUCH
@Ivet Fashion
some custom Actions that I created to speed up my However, knowing the tools is one thing, but the
workflow – that’s basically all I need. I also use some process doesn’t start and end with Photoshop. “I’m a
Photoshop filters such as Gaussian Blur and High strong believer that retouching itself can’t really
“Before I start an image I make sure I have a goal in mind,” says
Pass as part of the Frequency Separation technique, ensure that the image will end up being outstanding,” Stefka Pavlova. “Once the concept is clear, the task is easy.”
“I always use a mix of the Patch tool and Healing Brush for removing
small skin imperfections,” states Joanna Kustra
© Julia Kuzmenko McKim, Concept, Make-up & Hair: www.sherrijessee.com/Sherri_Jessee/SHERRI_JESSEE.
html, Model: www.modelmayhem.com/773686 Jamillette Gaxiola, Las Vegas, NV, Photo & post: www.facebook. BEAUTY MAKEOVER
com/JuliaKuzmenkoPhotography - Julia Kuzmenko McKim STEFKA PAVLOVA DELVES INTO SKIN RETOUCHING
AND COLOUR CORRECTION
SETTING UP A SHOOT
DAVID BENOLIEL AND JULIA KUZMENKO MCKIM OFFER ADVICE FOR SHOOTING WITH RETOUCHING IN MIND
David Benoliel: “If I decide to shoot a black and white series with a model with strong features, I will
use really hard light, even if the skin will not look as good. This is because I want my shadows to be
dark and the photo to have a lot of contrast. I know it means more editing, but that’s okay. Another
thing to do is to work closely with your make-up artist to place your highlights, by adding shimmer
on the cheekbones and nose, for example. This will help contour the face, and not only will it help to
better place the lights on your set, but also during the editing process, where the shadow/highlights
will only need to be accentuated rather than created from scratch.”
Julia Kuzmenko McKim: “In beauty retouching, like in most retouching types, the source materials
and their quality are of high importance. You should always keep an eye on the things that can be
easily fixed during the shoot, and will take a lot of time and effort to doctor in post-production if you
03 FINAL COLOUR CORRECTION
This is the fun part – the final colouring of
the image. You can experiment with different colour
don’t. I’m talking about frizzy hair, smudged make-up, flyaway hairs that are crossing the face, or adjustments and blending modes for hours. To
accessories that got tangled. If you have an experienced team of creative professionals on set, allow create this cold yet warm look, I used several
them to stay right outside the frame and watch your model’s make-up and hair during the shoot. adjustment layers with specific settings for shadows,
They should be able to jump in to make corrections when needed.” midtones, highlights, blacks and whites.
035
TECHNIQUES FROM SHOOT TO PHOTOSHOP RETOUCH
036
© Joanna Kustra
ADDING A
ROMANTIC
TOUCH
JOANNA KUSTRA REVEALS HOW TO
APPLY CREATIVE COLOUR GRADING
TO ENHANCE NATURAL FEATURES
001 MAKE FRECKLES POP
Add a Selective Color adjustment
layer, darken the reds and yellows
and brighten the whites. Then
change the layer’s blending mode
to Darken and with a soft brush
on the layer mask, bring out
freckles you want to be darker.
003 ',/339Ĉ4/5#(Ɏ50
Add a new layer, set Mode to
Overlay and tick the box ‘Fill with
Overlay – neutral colour’. On a
new 50% Gray layer, paint over
the area you want to affect. Use a
soft white and black brush at
around 5% Opacity – I have
separate layers for highlights and
shadows. I edit my picture as if it
were in 3D – closer parts are
brighter, further away are darker.
037
038
FROM SHOOT TO PHOTOSHOP RETOUCH TECHNIQUES
RETOUCHING HAIR
We sat down with professional retoucher Marina Dean-Francis to
learn about her techniques, tools and processes…
Can you please tell us a little about the techniques you used
to create this image?
To create natural-looking skin I used the Healing Brush to remove
blemishes and imperfections while maintaining the natural skin
texture. Next I used Dodge and Burn to make the skin look
smoother and more polished. I never remove natural lines and
bone structure of the forehead or the face unless it’s distracting or
requested by the client. To get rid of stray hairs I used the Clone
tool in Darken mode on an empty layer, also in Darken mode. It
makes it quite easy to remove the visible strays and make the
surface of the hair cleaner. Next I copied the best parts of the
spare pictures from the shoot and composited them to create the
perfect flow of the hair. I blended it together using either the
Eraser or by simply painting the missing parts, although I always
try to avoid painting the hair as it can look cartoonish sometimes.
I prefer to borrow some good parts from the spare images. To
add shine I simply used the Lasso tool and Curves and put in
highlights and lowlights where I felt they were needed.
How did you make the most important areas stand out?
I paid most attention to the hair. Luckily, as this was my own
shoot and I was both the photographer and retoucher for the
project, I had a lot of control during the shoot, and paid a lot of
attention to ensuring the hair was as perfect as possible on the
day. That helped me to create natural-looking, beautiful hair in the
final images.
039
TECHNIQUES FROM SHOOT TO PHOTOSHOP RETOUCH
STARTING OUT
Starting out in the beauty retouching industry can be Ivo de Kok suggests learning as many different
challenging, and unfortunately there are no magic processes and approaches as possible will help
workarounds to attain a professional level of quality. when it comes to working to deadlines. “Read as
“Practice, practice, practice!” exclaims Julie Marie many books, watch as many tutorials, and follow as
Gene Gobelin. “I don’t think there is really any secret many workshops as you can – even those about
for good work. It’s the same in every field; you have selections, masks, brushes and so on. It will speed
to practise a lot to learn, be better and to be faster!” up your workflow if you know a range of different
techniques that can be used to reach the same goal.”
For complete beginners, Kuzmenko emphasises
I don’t think there is really the importance of pacing yourself, and learning
any secret for good work. commercial retouching techniques from the ground
up. “I always recommend learning the software first:
It’s the same in every field; you all the basic tools, panels, layer masks, filters,
have to practise a lot to learn, be blending modes and adjustment layers. Practise very
simple retouching with them to know how they
better and to be faster! work. Read as much as you can on colour theory and
Julie Marie Gene Gobelin, www.juliemariegene.com
colour management. Learn the visual arts basics,
such as composition, visual weight, rendering of light
Mikhail Malyugin is quick to agree. “Practise, do © Hugo Toni
and shadows, human anatomy – and start paying
more research and then practise again,” he says.
more attention to the current global or local beauty
“Don’t be lazy – the hours of practice and patience © Fernando Tomaz
trends (make-up, fashion, colours). When you are
will be worthwhile. You might spend 4-7 hours on a
familiar with the fundamentals and current beauty
photo at first, but the more you practise, the faster
trends, you have a lot more chances to succeed at
you will become. Your retouching skills and the use
learning more advanced retouching techniques and
of the advanced techniques should become your
not get discouraged.”
second nature.”
However, as with all things based in art, it’s
It’s important, however, to remain observant of
passion that matters most. “Anyone who has found
others’ work, and not get too caught up in your own.
their satisfaction in being a retoucher, who is willing
“Look at the top photographers’ and retouchers’
to jump in with both feet into a boundless field full of
work a lot,” continues Malyugin. “Observe and work
beauty, will succeed,” says Stefka Pavlova. “Just be
on developing your own sense of style and vision.
extremely patient and prepare for very hard work.
Watch the industry trends and innovations and “It can be really hard, but here is always someone looking for
Your skills will evolve with experience!” young, new retouchers in the industry!” says Victor Wagner
constantly work on your own skills.”
A LAYERED APPROACH
OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS DISCUSS THE AMOUNT OF LAYERS USED IN THEIR WORK AND
HOW THEY APPROACH THEM
Joanna Kustra: I rarely flatten layers while working on a PSD file, so I can always
come back to a certain stage and adjust again if needed. My average PSD file
contains from 30 up to 50 layers. I keep my layers in a few named folders – usually
they are grouped by a few stages of my retouching: overall touch-up, skin and hair
retouch, local and overall colour adjustments, highlights and shadows.
Mikhail Malyugin: On average about 20-30 layers. It all depends on the photo and
assignment. Sometimes I use more than 100 layers. I always name my groups
Healing, Colour, Hair, D&B, Hands, Background and so on. Sometimes in each group
there are several groups.
Julia Kuzmenko McKim: Over the years I’ve worked out a routine that suits my
retouching workflow perfectly – I create new or duplicate layers while working on
each segment of a photo, then merge them, duplicate the merged layer, and start
© Julia Kuzmenko McKim, For LA Fashion magazine, December 2013 issue, Los Angeles, CA working on the next part. This way, if at any point I want to take something back, I
Creative Director: Matthew Mitchell, Hair: William Williams, Make-up: Gabriel Valdez, Model:
Amanda of PhotogenicsLA, Photo & Post: Julia Kuzmenko McKim can simply retrieve it from one of the merged layers in my stack.
040
© Julia Kuzmenko McKim, Model: Carolina of Aston Models, Make-up &
Hair: Germaine Nichols, Photo & Post-production: Julia Kuzmenko McKim
01 CREATE VIRTUAL
COPIES AS LAYERS
Once I have chosen a strong
02 START RETOUCHING
After my final image is
composed out of different parts, I
photo for retouching, I normally merge all the layers in the stack
create a few virtual copies with – this will be the background layer
different exposure and colour in my master file. I normally start
settings, then take them into with a round of the Spot Healing
Photoshop as layers in one PSD. brush, targeting spots, blemishes,
To do that I select all the virtual fine lines and stray hairs on the
copies I’ve created, Ctrl/right-click skin. I work with a very small
on them and then go to Edit brush and jump to the Healing
In>Open As Layers In Photoshop. Brush tool or the Clone Stamp.
03 FREQUENCY
SEPARATION
I then do a round of the Frequency
04 FINAL TOUCHES
My final touches are
usually colour grading and a
Separation technique and some round of global Dodge and Burn
dodging and burning to finalise where I enhance some shadows
the skin. If you are not familiar and highlights, which I could have
with the concept of the Frequency flattened a bit while retouching
Separation technique and the the skin. When it’s a client shot I
settings, google ‘Frequency double-check with the client what
Separation’, and my Fstoppers format, colour space, colour
article will be at the top of the mode and resolution they would
search list. like the final file in.
041
START IMAGE
042
PROFESSIONAL PORTRAIT RETOUCHING TECHNIQUES
PHOTO EDITING
PROFESSIONAL
PORTRAIT RETOUCHING
STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN NATURE AND PERFECTION
WITH EXPERT TECHNIQUES AND LIGHTING ADJUSTMENTS
P
ortrait retouching is a delicate skill, one that Lightroom or Camera Raw. I recommend using
demands a balance between enhancing Capture One, as I find this software very easy to use.
beauty digitally and ensuring that the When you open the file, you will immediately see
portrait stays believable. But this tutorial will that the right side of the model’s face appears darker OUR EXPERT
show you how to master it like the pros. I personally than the rest. The idea will be to develop the image BRIVAELLE CAPITAINE
prefer it when the retouch is not too obvious and the twice: one normal development with nice details and www.onehundredberlin.com
After five years working as a model,
identity of the photographed person is maintained, skin colour, and another development for the dark Capitaine decided to use her beauty
so here you will learn how to enhance the natural part of her face. expertise as a retoucher. She
graduated with a master’s in digital
beauty of the model rather than fake it. So grab your start image, fire up Photoshop, and art and later founded her own
agency: One Hundred Berlin.
The first step of a good retouch is a good get ready to transform the portrait from a natural
development. You will find the RAW file on the disc, beauty to a flawless piece of art that could grace the
which you will need to open with Capture One, cover of any high-end fashion magazine. SOURCE FILES
On the disc you will find the RAW file
of the model (‘Untitled Catalog4130.
nef’) so you can follow this tutorial
GETTING STARTED step by step.
DEVELOP YOUR RAW FILE BEFORE MOVING INTO PHOTOSHOP
WORK IN
PROGRESS
FROM RAW DEVELOPMENT
TO THE FINAL LOOK
043
TECHNIQUES PROFESSIONAL PORTRAIT RETOUCHING
044
RETOUCH THE FEATURES
CHANGE THE SHAPE OF THE NOSE, EYES AND LIPS AND ADD TONE TO SKIN AND HAIR
09 CREATE SYMMETRY
Create guidelines to help see what needs to be transformed. Place these under the eyes and in the
middle of the nose, then Transform the image (Cmd/Ctrl+T) to straighten it. Open the layer in Liquify to
change the shape of the nose, eyes and lips. The Pressure of the brush should be close to 100%.
001
003
002
045
TECHNIQUES PROFESSIONAL PORTRAIT RETOUCHING
14 COLOUR BACKGROUND
For the background, create a mask of the
model and add a colour. First you will need to convert 15 ADD DIMENSION
Neutralise the colour of the original image 16 LEVELS ADJUSTMENT
To create even more relief within the image,
the image to 16 bits. This will improve the quality of with a Desaturate layer. Place it under the colour use Channels. Go to the Channels panel and choose
the gradient. I generally use a Curves adjustment layer, so it doesn’t affect it. You can also brighten the a channel, generally blue or green. Duplicate this
layer to make this mask, because the Refine Mask is light behind the model’s head. Do this by creating a channel and go to Image>Adjustments>Levels.
very easy to use on a desaturated layer but doesn’t new layer, clip it to the colour mask (attached to the Select the white pipette and click on a highlight point
work on a colour layer. Select the model, create a Desaturate and Curves layer) and simply make a (like on the nose, for example), then select the black
Curves layer and refine the mask. Clip a colour layer white circle gradient behind her head. Create a Black pipette and click on a dark part (for example the
to this. To make it look more natural, it’s a good idea & White adjustment layer set to Soft Light mode only shadow under the ear). Click OK and activate the
to reduce the Opacity of this layer when possible. on the model (30% Opacity) to bring some dimension selection by Cmd/Ctrl-clicking. Go back to the Layers
Here it is set to 67%. to the image. panel and create a new Levels layer.
17 CURVES ADJUSTMENT
Next, create a Curves layer under the Levels
18 OPTIONAL: ADD EYELASHES
Select both the eyes and copy this selection
on a new layer. Sharpen this selection and add a
SKIN SOFTENING WITH THE CLONE STAMP
Softening the skin with the Clone Stamp is a nice
layers you just added (with the channel masking). mask to soften around it. Create a new layer and
thing to do, but I always try to maintain as much
Invert the mask so it is completely black, then take a select the brush at 100% Opacity, in black, with 0%
texture as possible. To do this, I copy my image
soft brush (30-50% Opacity) and paint in white on the Hardness. Then simply draw some new eyelashes
twice, and on the top layer I add a High Pass filter
Curves mask where you want to bring in highlights. with your brush, generally at 1px Size. Create a mask
in Soft Light mode to keep the texture of the skin.
It is also possible to activate the channel another on the layer and mask the extremities of the new
On the layer beneath, I use the Stamp on a very
time (Green copy), create a new Levels layer, invert eyelashes with a brush set to 50% Opacity. Duplicate
soft setting (20% and 20%) everywhere the skin
the mask, and move the black slider to the right. This the layer for more intensity and mask any areas
needs to be softened.
will also bring more dimension to the image. where it is too visible.
046
HOW I MADE
TREE OF LIFE
FERDINAND D. LADERA
THIS TALENTED CONCEPT ARTIST SHARES WITH US THE
SKILLS BEHIND HIS ATMOSPHERIC DIGITAL PAINTINGS
T
ree Of Life is a personal piece by Ferdinand D. Ladera the movie Avatar. “I chose this concept because I really enjoy
(www.ferdinandladera.com), who is a senior doing landscapes and trees,” says Ladera. The concept was
concept artist with seven years of experience in the first created in greyscale to establish the right values and
games industry. Specialising in fantasy and sci-fi contrast. Ladera then painted over it with photos to make
illustration, and with a background in fine art, photography building up the environment easier and quicker. This also
© Ferdinand D. Ladera
and graphic design, Ladera is certainly a versatile artist. helped to make some of the elements look more realistic. He
This image was created solely in Photoshop CS5 using made the most of custom brushes to further speed up the
digital painting techniques and was inspired by scenes from painting process.
048
TECHNIQUES HOW I MADE
01 INITIAL SKETCHES
I usually do different studies of landscapes
before I pick the one that stands out. Here are all of the
sketches that were done for this particular painting.
02 FINAL IDEA
This is the concept that I chose to go with for this
painting. On the right-hand side of this image are the
brushes that I used in the creation of the landscape.
049
TECHNIQUES HOW I MADE
08 FINAL TOUCHES
Here, I added more
details like the trees that you
can see on the left side, and I
also made some tweaks to
the contrast and the colour.
050
CREATE THE ART OF THE FUTURE
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052
TRANSFORM 3D RENDERS TECHNIQUES
PHOTOMANIPULATION
TRANSFORM 3D RENDERS
BRING YOUR 3D RENDER TO LIFE USING PHOTOSHOP TRICKS
AND MATTE PAINTING TECHNIQUES
N
owadays it’s hard to be a Photoshop artist At the beginning of the tutorial you’ll learn how to
and not use 3D at all, just as it is to be a create a landscape background from scratch, from
3D artist and not use Photoshop. The sketch to photo compositing and colour correction,
most modern techniques overlap different using matte painting techniques. You will then
branches of computer graphics, creating images polish a 3D render using a lot of adjustments and
like never seen before. Over the following pages, differently blended layers, and will discover which
you will see that 3D post-production isn’t harder passes of a 3D render can be very helpful for
OUR EXPERT
than the usual compositing techniques that you are post-production. You will then learn how to
ANTON EGOROV
used to. It isn’t a strict cookbook only teaching you composite photos again to create a photoreal www.behance.net/egorov
how to create aeroplanes, as you can apply these cockpit. By the end of the tutorial, you will have Egorov is a self-taught CG artist
methods to any type of 3D render. On the way you’ll learnt how to easily add some special effects like a living in Saint Petersburg who mixes
Photoshop with 3D applications to
pick up some Photoshop tricks that will be helpful burning rocket trail and scattered particles. So don’t create stunning infographics and
in many different cases. delay, let’s go! illustrations. He is currently working
worldwide as a freelancer.
SOURCE FILES
TAKE OFF On the disc, you can find the basic 3D
render files. The photos for
CREATE YOUR SCENE USING MATTE PAINTING TECHNIQUES compositing and special effects can
be found at www.cgtextures.com
and www.istockphoto.com.
01 CREATE WORKSPACE
Create a new document
at 3600 x 3600px. A square
format is handy when creating WORK IN
multipurpose images. Make a PROGRESS
grey background layer and a FROM IDEA TO FINISHED
group. Name the group ‘Sizes’. ARTWORK
Create two layers at 16:9 and A4,
fill them with dark grey and set
their Opacities at 70%. Make
rectangular holes in them sized
3600 x 2025px and 2776 x 3567px.
02 ROUGH SKETCH
Open the supplied ‘draft-render.png’ file and
place it into the scene so that it looks great in both
03 DRAFT LANDSCAPE
You now need a pile of misty photos. Go to
a photo stock site and collect as many as you can.
size frames. Hide the Sizes group. Now your task is Replace the sketch with preview photos. Place them
to create the backgrouonund of the artwork. Paint a using rough masks and colour corrections. We used
scene using any kind of rough brush, photos and ‘25817889’, ‘25817914’, ‘25014376’, ‘25013547’ and
whatever else you want. ‘2640502’ from www.istockphoto.com. Progress 3: Final effects
053
TECHNIQUES TRANSFORM 3D RENDERS
0,!#%Ĉ()'(Ɏ2%3Ĉ0(/4/3
04 When you are happy, replace the previews
with high-res images and refine the masks using
05 FOREGROUND
Choose a tree photo or download
‘24864654’ from iStock. Replace the preview with it
brushes. Some photos will need colour correction, and improve the mask with artistic brushes, like the
like ‘25817889’. Deepen its shadows using a Levels
adjustment. Clip it to the photo and move the left
slider to 37. Desaturate the photo using a new Hue/
Rough Round Bristle brush. Create a subtle speed
effect with the Motion Blur filter. Set the Angle at -6
and the Distance at 31px. Create a new clipped layer
06 COLOUR CORRECTION
You now need to reconcile the different
photos with each other. Create a new Solid Color
Saturation layer. Set the Hue at +3 and the Saturation and another one beneath the photo. Use a soft brush layer in Color mode and choose a blue-grey colour.
at -55. Then create a Solid Color layer in Soft Light with low opacity to brighten pieces of the landscape Set the Opacity at 40%. In order to diversify the
mode and choose a tan colour. where it’s needed, settling the pines into the scene. colours, create a new Curves layer. Vary the channels
individually: for Red, move the bottom marker up,
and for Blue, move the centre of the line down. To
make the colours more natural, create a new layer in
Soft Light mode. Paint with broad strokes using
large soft brushes in different colours.
!%2)!,Ĉ0%230%#4)6%
07 In order to make the scene deeper, use aerial perspective. This means that the distant objects,
especially on the horizon, are less contrasted and lighter than the foreground ones. Сreate a new Brightness/
Contrast layer. Set the Brightness at 28 and the Contrast at -29. Clean the foreground using a large soft black
brush on the mask of the layer. Create a new Levels layer and move the centre slider to the left to 1.65. Make
08 MORE FOG!
Go to www.cgtextures.com and find the
‘Smoke0403’ set, then download the first photo.
a similar mask for it. Refine the result with other adjustment layers if it’s needed.
Create a group and place the file into it. Remove the
sky, the chimney and excess smoke using a layer
QUICK TIP
mask and brushes. Reduce the opacity. Create a
When you place a new photo into a scene, convert it to a Smart Object. This way you have the possibility to
Levels adjustment, clip it to the group and move the
re-transform it without any losses, and you can even change the Filter settings! This trick is very useful in
centre slider to 1.51 and the right to 138. Add a Solid
real-life work when you always have to go back and adjust things you’ve already finished.
Color layer filled with grey-blue in Soft Light mode.
054
PLACE 3D RENDER
IMPORT 3D PASSES AND SETTLE THEM DOWN INTO THE SCENE
12 ADDITIONAL LIGHTING
A common problem of 3D renders is their lack of imperfections, especially in lighting. So let’s make
the lighting of the plane more natural. Create a new clipped layer in Overlay mode. Select the Brush tool and
paint shadows and highlights with a soft black and white brush. Feel free to work instinctively.
001 002
055
TECHNIQUES TRANSFORM 3D RENDERS
BRING IT TO LIFE!
MIX PHOTOS WITH THE 3D RENDER TO ADD REALISM
14 TEXTURE
The fighter is still too clean, so let’s add dirt!
Go to www.cgtextures.com, search and download
15 COCKPIT
The cockpit is located in the centre of the
illustration, and truth be told it’s deadly dull and 16 GAUGE PANEL
Don’t concentrate on minute details – only
‘ConcreteLeaking0118’ or another dirty texture, then clumsy. The best solution is to make it again from the most noticeable ones. The next task is to
place it into the scene. Convert it to a Smart Object scratch. Create a new group and name it ‘Cockpit’. re-create the screen on the gauge panel. Create a
and set the layer mode to Overlay. Unhide the Guides Choose the Pen tool and outline the glass with a path new group for it. Grab the Pen tool and outline the
group and hit Cmd/Ctrl+T to activate the Transform (by the way – the top separator of the cockpit frame of the screen. Fill it with a grey colour picked
tool on the texture. Rotate and move the points using shouldn’t be there, so it’s a chance to remove it). from a nearby area. Add a new clipped layer and
Cmd/Ctrl to lay the texture onto the plane. Reduce Create a vector mask for the group using the path. paint highlights with a white brush, then draw a
the opacity twice. Duplicate the layer and cover all of Place the supplied file named ‘cockpit-base.png’ and shape for the glass of the screen. Fill it with a blue
the fighter. align it with the fighter. colour and add some reflections with white strokes.
17 PILOT
Go to a photo stock site and collect as many
pilots, thumbs-up hands and seats as you can. Place
18 GLASS
Paint the needless cockpit parts behind the
pilot with a dark grey brush. Get images ‘render- USE PHOTO PATCHES
previews into the scene. Choose ones that you like Reflection.png’ and ‘render-Specular.png’ and align Often 3D models aren’t perfect and some parts of
(or just download ‘35116366’, ‘33404702’, ‘35321320’ them with the fighter, then set their modes to Screen. them look awful in high resolution, especially if
and ‘32214514’ from iStock). Use adjustment layers The first one is a pass that only shows reflections. you use a low-poly model. In other cases, far too
to settle the parts into the environment as you did Enhance its contrast to get a nice result. The second much time has been spent making them, so they
with the plane. Feel free to reuse parts of the body one is a pass that shows highlights. Use a Levels are unnatural-looking. For both problems there is
making the pose. The original helmet of the pilot layer to add more white (set the right slider at 170). a good solution — photo patches. Photos are the
looks a bit strange so you can replace it with the Create a new layer and mask it to show only the top best way to amend clumsy parts of a 3D render
other one. Paint shadows using a soft black brush. glass. Add some highlights using a white brush. and bring a touch of realism into it. These can be
textures, screens and gauges or even whole
QUICK TIP
parts of an object like headlights. When you place
Aerial perspective is a truly powerful tool for achieving realism. It isn’t so noticeable in real life but it can
a photo into a 3D render, use it as a guide for
greatly improve your work. It isn’t obligatory to have a ZDepth pass. You can make a similar mask yourself
lighting and contrast correction.
using black and white brushes.
056
19 FOG
The fighter is flying through the mist, so let’s
add some fog on the wings to demonstrate this.
20 FIGHTER TRAIL
Let’s add a motion effect on the illustration.
Unhide the guides and create a group beneath the
21 MISSILE TRAIL
The missile also needs a trail. In this case
you need a photo. Go to a stock website and find
Create a group above the fighter and drag in the fighter. Name it ‘Fighter trail’. Create a new layer in some photos of launching rockets, shuttles and so
same ‘Smoke0403’ image that you used for the Normal mode and just draw trails using a soft black on. Choose one or just get image ‘18769121’ from
landscape. You even can use the same adjustment brush. Check the direction against the guides! Then iStock. Create a new group for it and place the file
layers. Hit Cmd/Ctrl+T and place the fog on the right create another layer and draw some trails using a into the scene. Rotate and transform the image,
wing. Duplicate it and place the copy on the other white brush. Change the mode of the group to checking it against the guides. Then remove the sky
wing. Then create a new layer and draw some small Overlay. It’s too intense, so set the Opacity of the from the photo using a mask and the Quick Selection
pieces of fog on the shoulders of the plane using any group at 30%. Create a mask and hide some parts of tool. Apply some adjustment layers to reconcile the
rough white brush. the trail using a black brush. image with the scene.
23 PARTICLES
In order to make the illustration more
dramatic, add some particles flying into the camera.
24 FINAL TOUCHES
Congratulations! Your action scene is now
complete. But there is one thing that you can
Go to CGTextures and download the first image from improve. The fighter is currently slightly too merged
‘Fireworks0008’. Open it and remove the background with the landscape, but you can pull it out using
using the Magic Wand tool. Place it into the scene. lighting. Create a new layer in Overlay mode beneath
22 LIGHT EFFECTS
Let’s start with missile trail reflections. You
can use the same image but it’s quite pale, so go to
Rotate and move it to the left-bottom corner using
the Transform tool. Create a Brightness/Contrast
the fighter and brighten the space in front of the
plane with a large soft white brush. Then darken the
layer and greatly reduce both the sliders with Use space behind it with a black brush. At the end,
CGTextures and find image ‘Flames0002_M’. Lay it
Legacy checked. Use a Hue/Saturation layer to darken the corners of the scene with broad strokes.
on the top-right side of the cockpit scene in Screen
desaturate them twice and change the colour. Now it’s finished!
mode. Do the same for the helmet of the pilot. Also
add some yellow tones on the nose of the fighter.
QUICK TIP
Now let’s add a bright flare on the missile. Get the
For special effects like fire, smoke or splashes, using a stock photo is the fastest way to achieve a great
supplied file ‘light-effect.png’ and place it into the
result. Don’t hesitate to experiment and try various photos and blending modes. At least you don’t need to
scene in Screen mode. Feel free to experiment with
wait for a lengthy 3D rendering to be performed.
it using adjustment layers.
057
TECHNIQUES HOW I MADE
© Omar Aquil
058
HOW I MADE
TYPOGRAPHY
MANUFACTURING
OMAR AQIL
OMAR AQIL REVEALS HIS TECHNIQUES FOR ENHANCING
3D TYPOGRAPHY USING PHOTOSHOP EFFECTS
A
fter over six years of working in the composition as a whole and produce the soft colours
advertising industry, freelance designer I wanted, and I knew that Photoshop was the only
Omar Aqil considers typography to be his software that could fulfill my needs,” he says. “In
favourite genre to create. To realise this today’s modern world, we are surrounded by
mechanical design, he experimented using 3D machines, buildings and a lot of other variations in
techniques in CINEMA 4D combined with typography materials. I feel I am attracted to metals and
and Photoshop to form something abstract that mechanical tools and tend to use them in my
would also have a hyper-realistic feel. “The difficult concepts and designs, but I aim to give them a
part about creating this image was to build up the softness and an elegance too.”
53).'Ĉ,)'(4Ĉ!.$Ĉ&).!,Ĉ0,5'Ɏ).3
03 Next, I added a dramatic feel to the image
by using Image>Adjustment>Hue/Saturation and
increased the Lightness for a smooth feel. I also
used Photoshop plug-in Magic Bullet to add more of
a soft effect.
059
PHOTOMANIPULATION
SEAMLESS LIGHTING
COMPOSITE A REALISTIC CITYSCAPE SCENE OF WORLDFAMOUS LANDMARKS
USING COLOUR GRADING AND ADJUSTMENTS
T
he idea for this image came from Firas O. cover the Photoshop techniques that will allow you
Tirhi, managing and creative director of to do this. You’ll learn the main principles, tips and
Icon Advertising LLC (UAE, Dubai, www. tricks that will help you build up a believable scene,
behance.net/icon-ad). He asked Edvin including lighting, contrast and colour grading using
Puzinkevich if he could build a realistic-looking Curves, Selective Color and Color Balance
scene for an ad campaign that would combine adjustments. You’ll also discover easy ways to cut
different landmarks. Puzinkevich certainly rose to out objects from their backgrounds and how to save
the challenge, seamlessly building a surreal city that the depth of field of the original plate. The last steps
makes you look twice at its composition. of the tutorial will show how to get a polished,
The difficulty when creating this type of image is cinematic look by adding lens flares and a vignette
maintaining the realism of the original plate during to the image. But before you start, make sure you
the compositing of images with different contrast, download the stock imagery from Shutterstock
lighting and colour balance. The next few pages will (www.shutterstock.com).
01 SELECT BACKGROUND
The goal of the sketching
stage is to find the best solution for
achieving the best look and
composition. It’s also a good time to
make a decision about the light and
colour of the final image. The
selected background will define the
whole image’s light direction and the
mood of the composition. Using the
Polygonal Lasso tools, roughly
separate the landmarks from their
backgrounds and place them on the
chosen background just to get an
idea of the position you want them in.
The image can stay low-res during
this step.
060
SEAMLESS LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
OUR EXPERT
EDVIN PUZINKEVICH
www.edvin.lv
Edvin Puzinkevich is a digital artist
based in New York. He focuses on
the magic of creative retouching and
the CG world. He is currently a senior
retoucher at Vault49 Studio (www.
vault49.com).
TO COMPLETE THIS
TUTORIAL IN FULL,
DOWNLOAD THESE IMAGES
FROM SHUTTERSTOCK.COM:
35276251, 60026929, 95471923,
117587290,118963108, 126049961,
127408904, 133653437, 139886302,
144121687, 144121720, 154449206,
168427115, 175308839, 112137230
123996982, 52000468, 133653437
129812237, 125333915, 43163083
WORK IN
PROGRESS
FROM IDEA TO REALITY
061
TECHNIQUES SEAMLESS LIGHTING
02 EXPLORE COMPOSITION
Create a new document and set it to
International Paper with A3 size, 300 dpi, Adobe RGB
(1998) colour profile and a white background. Rotate
the image 90 degrees to make your workspace
landscape. Place the background on a new layer in
the centre of the workspace. Use the Brush tool to
03 EXTEND BACKGROUND
Because the ratio of the background image
is different to the A3 landscape format, you will need
04 SEPARATE LANDMARKS FROM
BACKGROUNDS
First of all, put every landmark into its own group.
paint the shapes of buildings into the composition. to extend the image to the left and right. Separate There is a small trick to separating objects from their
This will give you an idea of the type, size, angle of the sky from the rest of the image and use the backgrounds and placing them on the scene: use the
view and lighting of buildings you want to find later. Transform tool to scale it up horizontally. Use the Polygonal Lasso tool to select each landmark but
Clone Stamp tool to fix ‘holes’ in the sky that will use a different Feather option. If the object is located
appear after transformation. You cannot do the same closer to the horizon, its contour will be a little out of
When masking out images, with the cityscape, as in this case the buildings will focus, so in this case the Feather for the Polygonal
use different Feather lose their natural proportions. To extend the city, Lasso tool will be 0.5-0.7px. The closer the object to
simply duplicate part of the existing cityscape by the foreground, the sharper the contour will be. For
options with the Selection tools using the Polygonal Lasso tool and copy and paste buildings in the foreground, use a Feather option of
to imitate depth of field the left and right parts of the skyline. 0.1-0.2px. Add a layer mask to isolate the object.
06 ADJUST CONTRAST
Add a new layer, fill it black and change the
mode to Color. This will convert the image to black
062
07 DEPTH OF FIELD
To blend new objects with the scene, you
need to adjust the depth of field of every landmark.
The distant objects must have fewer details than the
foreground buildings. The best solution is to compare
the placed landmark with the environment and find
out if the new object looks sharper or blurrier
08 ADJUST MAIN TONE
When you have adjusted the contrast of all the landmarks, delete the top black layer. Now it’s time to
make the first rough move into colour adjustment. Apply a Solid Color adjustment layer to the object, and in
compared with the buildings from the original plate the opened window, pick up the colour of the building located next to the landmark you have placed using the
located next to it. If a new object is sharper, apply Eyedropper. Don’t pick up a colour from the lightest or darkest places. Then change the blending mode of the
Gaussian Blur. If it’s blurrier, apply Unsharp Mask. Solid Color adjustment layer to Color. This makes the building colour closer to the environment it is in.
09 COLOUR TUNING
In real life the colour is not monotone. To make the picture more believable, you need to perform
some colour grading for the highlights and shadows to bring in some variation in colour. Depending on the
that should be lighter and apply a Brightness/
Contrast adjustment layer, making it brighter. Then
select the part of the object that should be darkest in
situation, there are different tools that can do this, including Color Balance, Selective Color and Curves the new environment and apply a Brightness/
adjustments. To add more variation, mask different parts of the buildings and apply different colour Contrast adjustment layer, but reduce the Brightness
adjustments to them. In the Properties of the Color Balance adjustment layer, add some yellow tone into the value. Use the Polygonal Lasso tool to select
Highlights, red in the Shadows and magenta in the Midtones. different parts of the building with different Feather
options depending on the depth of field. Stay
QUICK TIP
consistent with the rest of the image and do not
The Selective Color adjustment layer is one of the most powerful colour adjustment tools. Begin the
allow the object to pop up out of its environment. The
adjustment with the Midtones, Shadows and Highlights, then make precise tweaks in any of the four
same kind of treatment could be done with a Curves
colour channels.
or Levels adjustment layer too.
063
TECHNIQUES SEAMLESS LIGHTING
14 ADD A VIGNETTE
Add a Curves adjustment layer on top of all
15 FLARES
To finalise the visual and make it more cinematic, add two lens flares from stock images ‘95471923’
and ‘144121720’. Place these images in new layers on top of all the layers. Place and rotate image
the layers and invert the mask to black. Make it ‘144121720’ over the sun and change its blend mode to Screen. Place the second image ‘95471923’ to the
darker in the middle values. Select a soft brush and right of the bridge and rotate it to match the direction towards the sun, change Opacity to 67% and set the
adjust its Size to 1100px, 0% Hardness and 25% layer blending option to Screen.
Opacity and paint with white over the mask in the
QUICK TIP
bottom-left and upper-right corners to make it
There is no need to cut out light effects (flares, light beams, sparkles, etc) from a dark background. Instead,
slightly darker. To avoid banding that can appear in
push the contrast of the image and try to make everything except the light effect as dark as possible but
the sky as a result of using a soft brush, add Uniform
don’t lose details, then change the blend mode of the layer to Screen.
Noise with a value of 4% to the mask.
064
Learn to inspire
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PHOTOMANIPULATION
I
f you are wanting to take your action shots to the your advantage, and many of the techniques perseverance you will harness these skills, and
next level, then this tutorial is for you. In it, you involve using multiple layers so that you are soon be on your way to creating images like you
will learn how to turn a regular photo of a SWAT working non-destructively. are used to seeing on the covers of your favourite
team into an action movie poster-style image. You will want to pay close attention to detail. first-person shooter games! Once your learn the
The steps have been written with the assumption Believable composites take time and patience. It is principles behind these techniques, you will be able
that readers following along have a moderate grasp important to work in layers, and save your to adjust them to fit the needs of other composite
and understanding of Photoshop. Knowledge of progress often. Some of the steps may seem projects. Learning these steps is just the tip of the
layers, blending modes and masking skills will be to complicated to begin with, but with practice and iceberg on your epic image journey!
066
WORK WITH COLOUR AND TEXTURE TECHNIQUES
OUR EXPERT
BRANDON CAWOOD
flash-light-productions.com
Brandon Cawood is a commercial
photographer who is addicted to
superheroes and action movie
posters. He is the owner of Flash
Light Productions, a photography/
videography company specialising in
environmental portraiture.
SOURCE FILES
All the necessary textures needed to
re-create this look can be found in
the PRO Texture 5 Pack, available
from www.phlearn.com/
pro-textures.
WORK IN
PROGRESS
FROM PRACTICAL TO
TACTICAL
LAYOUT ELEMENTS
ORGANISE YOUR LAYOUT, CREATING THE BASIC CONTENT SHAPES
Progress 2: Position layers
01 CLEAN MASK
The key to any great composite is having a very clean
mask. There are many ways to mask an object or person. Always
add a layer mask so you can use black to remove and white to
add back. A pen tablet comes in handy. Take your time. You want
to make sure you don’t have a black edge around your mask. You
want your edges to blend into the background just as they would
if it weren’t a composite. If you make a mistake, just switch your
brush to white and paint it back in. Progress 3: Add wow factor
067
TECHNIQUES WORK WITH COLOUR AND TEXTURE
03 ADDING DETAIL
Choose a layer and make two copies by
pressing Cmd/Ctrl+J twice. Next, invert the top copy
04 ALIGNING LAYERS
When placing models on a background,
matching perspective is imperative to making a
by pressing Cmd/Ctrl+I. Change the blending mode composite believable. It’s always better to adjust
to Vivid Light. With this layer still selected go to your perspective on your background rather than
Filter>Blur>Surface Blur. A good starting point is your models. As long as the perspective is close, you
Radius 30px and Threshold 40 levels. Go to Layer> should be able to tweak it by selecting Edit>
Merge Down to merge the top copy to the middle Transform>Perspective. By dragging the top corners
02 PHOTOGRAPHY TIP
If you are shooting your own images, it is
always good to think about post-production while at
copy. Press Cmd/Ctrl+U and desaturate the layer.
Next change the blend mode to Overlay. You can
in or out it will make the perspective higher or lower.
If you drag a corner up or down it will cause that side
adjust the Opacity on this layer to adjust how much to move closer or further away. Adjust the
the photo shoot. Shooting a clear mask while using
detail is added. Repeat this step to any layer you perspective until it matches the angle and
strobes can sometimes cause unwanted reflections
would like to add detail to. perspective of your foreground models.
that can add extra time to the editing process. By
simply grabbing a shot of the face without the mask,
BLENDING MODES
you can place it on top of the mask in a separate
One of the greatest things you can do is learn how to use blending modes. Knowing how and when to use
layer. Simply bringing down the Opacity of the face
your blending modes can take your images to the next level. As a photographer, you can shoot and plan
layer will allow you to add some details back into the
composites more efficiently knowing how you can blend your images together in the final build to create
face and eyes while still giving the appearance they
desired effects. Shooting something on a black background and then using the Screen blending mode will
are behind the mask. Make sure that the eyes line up
make all the black transparent. This is a great way to add things like dust, rocks, smoke, fog, water,
and the scale matches the underlying layer. You can
bubbles, or anything you can think of to your composites!
Transform and Warp if needed.
06 MATCHING COLOURS
Use a Curves adjustment layer on the
background. Make sure it is only clipped to the
background layer by selecting Layer>Create Clipping
05 ADDING TEXTURES
Paste the fog textures between layers. Because it is on a black background, select the Screen
blending mode and all the black will become transparent. If your fog or texture has colour in it, choose Cmd/
Mask. Use the RBG channel to adjust the exposure
so that it matches the models. Next, use colour
channels to match the temperature of the models.
Ctrl+U and pull the Saturation down. To bring down the fog, press Cmd/Ctrl+L and move the left slider to the Add another adjustment layer over the whole image.
right. Do this for any added texture. Select the texture layer and add a mask. Use a soft, black brush with the To warm the image up, select the Blue curve and
Opacity set to 25% and paint out the part of the texture you don’t want. drag the middle of the line down slightly.
068
08 MATCHING HIGHLIGHT COLOURS ONLY
Your highlights should match your ‘light
source’. In this image the highlights need a little
more yellow/orange in them. Create a Curves
adjustment layer below your flare/lighting layers. Go
to the Blue channel and pull it down slightly in the
middle. This will add some warmth to the image like
you did before. The adjustment will affect the entire
069
TECHNIQUES WORK WITH COLOUR AND TEXTURE
13 SHARPENING
Save your Photoshop document. Once you
have saved it, select Layer>Flatten Image. Make a
duplicate copy of the flattened image by pressing
Cmd/Ctrl+J. Select your top layer. Next, select Filter>
14 ADDING GRAIN
Lastly, add grain. Create a new layer above
your sharpened image. Hold down Shift and click
15 SAVING
You can save the image in several different
ways depending on its use. If you are going to use a
Delete. Choose Fill With 50% Gray. Change the good-quality printing lab, you can leave the image in STAMP VISIBLE LAYER
blending mode of this layer to Soft Light. Next, select Adobe RBG and select File>Save As. Save the file as If at any time in your composite you want to
Filter>Noise>Add Noise. The size of your image will a JPEG or TIFF. If you are planning on using a create a flattened image without flattening the
determine the amount you use. Choose Uniform and low-end printer or saving for online use, you want to entire document, just add a new empty layer
leave Monochromatic unselected. Once you have convert to SRGB. Select Edit>Convert to Profile. on top of all your layers. Select this layer and
applied it, hold down Cmd/Ctrl+U. Then pull down Choose Working RBG. Save it the same as before. hold down Cmd+Shift+Opt+E (Mac) or
the Saturation to -85%. Leaving a little colour in the For online use it’s good to scale it down before Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E (Windows). This will give you a
grain will make it look more natural. Be sure to saving. Select File>Automate>Fit Image. Do a Width stamped visible layer and allow you to test out
perform this step at 100% zoom. You can adjust the of 2048px and a Height of 204px. Save it as a JPEG, different ideas without affecting the layers of
Opacity if it feels like it’s too much. Once this is done, and put it in a separate folder so you know it’s for your composite.
save your PSD. online use.
070
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072
BUILD STRIKING GRAPHICS TECHNIQUES
GRAPHICS
BUILD STRIKING
GRAPHICS
USE A GRID TO GENERATE A UNIQUE GRAPHIC
OUR EXPERT
JORGE GISPERT
www.metric72.com
COMPOSED OF GEOMETRIC FORMS Gispert is a graphic designer who
allied himself with geometry, using
the universe as inspiration for his
L
earn to create a complex graphic shape illuminate the scene, and also allows us to texture personal artworks. These support
from simple patterns using cloning the image properly. Blending modes are the best concepts related to all kinds of data
that he considers outstanding,
techniques. You will use a grid to determine way to get a quick final result and increase the constructive or innovative.
the location and dimensions of all the possibility of getting multiple effects while creating SOURCE FILES
graphical elements that give rise to the visual minimal graphic expressions. You will find a selection of basic
metaphor that suggests the concept of the poster. You’ll discover how to get the best balance in Smart Objects created in Illustrator
and a couple of the vector groups
Many steps in this tutorial can be achieved design, exploring each element weight according to applied in this tutorial at http://blog.
advancedphotoshop.co.uk/
through alternative methods and therefore are its colour, position and angle for greater tutorial-files. Please remember
subject to personal creativity. Even using the same understanding. You’ll use a grid to get a good reading that these assets are to be used in
non-commercial projects only.
techniques can result in very different graphic of the poster but with the ultimate aim of generating
expressions, and therefore support a wide variety of an asymmetric graphic that metaphorically
concepts. Adobe Photoshop allows us to intuitively represents an ‘error of measurement’.
WORK IN
PROGRESS
FROM GRID TO FINISHED
ARTWORK
01 LAYOUT CREATION
Use the Pen tool to create an adapted
version of the golden ratio in order to provide new 03 CREATING VECTOR PATTERNS
Start creating the vector patterns that will
spatial references that you will see applied in the form the more subtle parts of the graph with the Pen
final design. Then apply a grid or squared pattern tool. You will see the design of the next pieces can be
that will help you when you are placing the different worked using Photoshop, but in this case use Adobe
graphical elements, including the shapes and text, in Illustrator due to the vectorial nature of the graphical
a balanced way. elements. Draw the first lines and parallelograms. Progress 3: Text and lighting
073
TECHNIQUES BUILD STRIKING GRAPHICS
08 PLACING TEXT
Make an initial placement study for the text.
Create white squares that represent text boxes
within the shape, using the grid as a reference. The
07 AXES OF SYMMETRY
To establish the basic axes of symmetry on which you will place new graphic patterns and all textual
content, create a basic division of the canvas. That way you will centre the area of attention on the point where
hierarchy established by your initial grid determines
the position of text, but this will also be determined
by what they are (headers, body etc), so you must
the axes cross, and will create the balance necessary to more easily interpret where the next elements should know the message you want to communicate, the
be placed and the ‘weight’ of their colours. Making the axes of coordinates visible gives the graph a certain amount of information to show and the relevance of
solidity and forces the graphical elements to merge with the background. every word or sentence in advance.
074
DOWN TO DETAILS
BACKGROUND AND SECONDARY GRAPHIC ELEMENTS
12 EXPORT ARTWORK
It’s time to export the whole design into PSD
format. Choose CMYK colour model and High
placement of graphics, text and secondary graphic
elements, select the entire workspace (Cmd/Ctrl+A),
copy the resulting image (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+C) and
parallelograms, you need to extend it in a
direction that gives the impression of lighting in
the design. The softer tone functions as a soft
resolution. The content must remain editable to paste (Cmd/Ctrl+V) it into a new top layer. With the light and the darker tone as a soft shadow. Using
allow possible changes and improvements. You can entire design in a single image, modify the graphic Illustrator, you can change the direction and
also import the graphic elements separately using settings using the Levels adjustment. Before finally distribution of the gradient by its two parent
the Paste action as a Smart Object, due to its editable placing a white border as a frame, place a gradient nodes. In the case of Photoshop, you can apply
capacity and vector properties. Using this technique (G) covering the entire workspace in a new top layer the gradient using layer effects applied to a
will give you the ability to rescale graphics without with a diagonal direction and the following colour vector path, or by selecting the polygonal shape
losing quality. Generate a template from the design values: C=1,M=87,Y=58,K=0 to C=67,M=19,Y=2,K=0. and filling it with a gradient using the Gradient
and place it as a background on the PSD file to Select the Lighten blending mode for this layer with tool (G), extending it for your graphical purposes.
properly co-locate each group of graphic elements. 54% Opacity.
075
© Cleberson Pires Faustino
076
TECHNIQUES HOW I MADE
HOW I MADE
THE FOUR
SEASONS
CLEBERSON FAUSTINO
C
urrently working in the advertising industry, retouch artist and photomanipulator Cleberson Faustino
created this quadruple-sided montage for a local car dealership. The Four Seasons was a challenge
The Rotate tool was an
that Faustino tackled head on, and he eventually discovered one particular tool that helped bring the essential component in
composition together: “This project gave me the opportunity to experiment with the Rotate tool. This
tool was an essential component in the making of a complex project like this.”
the making of a complex
Being able to call upon his experiences with Photoshop was crucial. Having seen Photoshop progress and project like this
acquire new features, Faustino is able to reflect constructively: “I have been using Photoshop since version 7
and ever since then I have been amazed with the advances.”
Faustino’s imagination doesn’t stop here. To see more of his work, head to www.behance.net/cfaustino.
02 IMAGE CHOICE
I used mainly images from stock photos, so
it was very important to do a preview of them to see
how they could fit in the project. After choosing the
right images, I started cleaning and cutting them.
03 COMPOSITION
With all the images cut the way I needed, I
01 ROUGH COMPOSITE
The first step to creating this complex image was to create a rough comp to get a complete vision of
the project. In this case, I used the Brush tool and the images of the cars.
started the assembling step of the project, working
on the background of the scene and always looking
back at the rough comp to guide me.
077
TECHNIQUES HOW I MADE
04 SCENERY PART I
This was the most important step of the
project, where I had to integrate each car into its
05 SCENERY PART II
The second part was defining the right
lighting for each environment to integrate the whole
06 SHADOW AND LIGHT
In this part of the project I worked on the
contrast and exposure to obtain more realism in the
respective environment. For this, I used brushes, image. And to achieve this, I used adjustments such image. Some of the tools I used were Dodge, Burn
masks, paths and other images. as Black & White and Gradient Map. and Curves adjustment layers.
FACING CHALLENGES
HEAD ON
FAUSTINO REVEALS THE WINNING TOOL THAT
HELPED MAKE THIS AD SO INTRIGUING
The main challenge of this print advertisement
was to present four different vehicles of a local
Ford dealership in their appropriate
environments. And to achieve the desired
result, the image was constructed using tools
such as the fluid rotate options with the
powerful Mercury Graphics Engine.
07 LENS FLARE
One of the things I most like to do is add a
Lens Flare over a black layer on Screen blend mode
08 HDR TONING
Since I worked with stock images, I
recovered the textures at the end of the process. The
Combining style with the right message is never an easy task, to give the image a special effect. I use this filter method I used was HDR Toning with a duplicated
but Faustino has it down to a fine art © Cleberson Faustino
every time I need to give more realism to the image. image. After that, I created a layer with Soft Light.
078
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080
CORELDRAW GRAPHICS SUITE X7 REVIEWS
CORELDRAW
GRAPHICS SUITE X7
COREL’S FLAGSHIP EDITING SUITE UPDATES TO INCLUDE SOME CREATIVE NEW
FEATURES WE GET THE LOWDOWN
www.corel.com either a simple book cover or a big promotional supporting apps, including a screen capture module
campaign, with the help of supporting software and and a font management suite. The latter is ideal if
OPERATING SYSTEM: greater workflow coherency. This new version gives you find yourself working with typographical
mÍ5GLBMUQÍÍMPÍJ?RCP a lot more room to be creative from scratch, and will projects. Font Navigator will search your entire PC
mÍ% Í0+ provide extra tools on top of what’s in Photoshop and present your installed fonts for easier picking.
– perhaps ideal if you don’t have access to the This is where we also had the opportunity to group
Creative Cloud. our preferred fonts together, looking up new ones
£399 EXCLUDING VAT When looking at anything for the first time, online. Accessing content online is something that
appearance usually takes precedent. With a very grey becomes a bigger part of working with the suite.
APPROX $667 interface that doesn’t promise any sign of visual After registering the software, we could have access
F
resh off the conveyor belt comes the inspiration, the new X7 scores low on presentation; to more design content such as images, templates,
Graphics Suite X7 by Corel, a set of there’s a strong sense of the old-hat Windows-based patterns fills, updates and more. Opting for a
applications for photo editing, graphics interface design. Of course we approach something premium membership for just under an annual fee
creation, media management and layout like Corel’s new suite with fierce scepticism, with of £180 (approx $297) opens a gateway to even more
design. This new iteration of the suite has been built Photoshop not far behind. exclusive content, as well as free upgrades to future
to be more efficient, with the added bonus of being As part of the new Graphics Suite X7, there are versions. Content Exchange is a marketplace for
able to share content with other artists more easily. now three primary applications – DRAW, PHOTO- artists to share their own graphics and design assets
X7 lets you get started on your next project, be it PAINT and CONNECT – and a couple of handy to broaden their creative reach.
Object creation: Creating and controlling objects and vector designs in DRAW X7 is easy using a combination of Object Properties and Align and Distribute panels
081
REVIEWS CORELDRAW GRAPHICS SUITE X7
NEW TO X7
WE RUN DOWN THE UPDATES TO THE LATEST
VERSION OF COREL’S GRAPHICS SUITE
There have been a handful of new features
added to version 7 of the suite, with a
redesigned welcome screen being one. This
offers you access to additional pre-made
resources and document layouts, popping up
whenever an application in X7 is loaded up. This
can now remain permanently open in a
separate tab in the interface. More default
workspaces have been added to X7, with
options such as Lite that make it easier for
newcomers to work their way around the
software’s many menus and tools. There are
also added custom workspaces for kicking off
an illustration or page layout. Much like
Photoshop, the Graphics Suite features tabbed
documents, ideal for flicking between content
being worked on. On top of this, if you design
under a dual monitor workspace then
documents can be dragged and placed on your
supporting monitor for one application.
Other helpful new features include the new
Font Playground panel, which meant we could
preview a font before incorporating it onto the
Connect to stock providers: The new CONNECT X7 will sync with stock providers such as Fotolia and iStockphoto, so you can browse
page, and a reworked Object Properties docker through royalty-free images quickly for your next project
introduces more fluid controls over
It all starts with CONNECT X7, your personal line-drawing tools and an arrangement of other
transforming and previewing effects.
content browser to keep photos, graphics and easy-to-handle ones, and there’s a wide range of
Featured in the new iteration of DRAW X7 is
downloads in one handy place. From the Libraries brush and pen tips in the Artistic Media, too. As well
the Dynamic Guides panel that gives quicker
panel you have direct access to Flickr, Fotolia, having a good selection of brushes, exploring
access to things such as alignment choices.
iStockphoto, SkyDrive and Corel’s Content Exchange. DRAW’s preset shapes such as banners and flow
Other improvements have been made to help
Entering a keyword will call up search results from charts opens the doors to more graphical layouts for
arrange and edit colour styles, and with the
any of the selected websites, and you can either those seeking to create infographics or promotional
addition of the new harmony rules and preview
jump straight to a chosen stock image online, or load material. To top it all off, the new Smooth tool lets
options, it’s easier to form complementary
a low-resolution version into one of the applications you iron out creases in jagged edges and control
colour schemes and combinations.
for composing into your project. Just like any other smoothing effects with the pressure sensitivity of a
content browser, you can catalogue images for stylus pen.
easier reach, and highlight the best files before The improved Color Styles docker makes it easier
moving into one of the applications or Photoshop. to keep an eye on colour styles used throughout
Corel’s PHOTO-PAINT X7 is a dual-purpose DRAW, with a new View Options panel offering quick
application for tweaking exposure, retouching go-to commands.
images, applying camera effects, as well as the odd
painterly filter or brush stroke. Much like Photoshop,
there is host of tools for selecting and masking parts
of a composition, and applying vector graphics or
PHOTO-PAINT X7 has new tools for retouching, pixel-based objects to separate layers. Using what
for example the Liquid tools and Unsharp Mask are named ‘dockers’, much like Photoshop’s panels,
Lens. The Planar Mask tool enables a method of the Content Docker can stay open to present your
masking a reflected gradient across an image, images and design assets stored on your PC. Corel’s
with controls over transitions and overall size. vector-based application, DRAW X7, is not too
dissimilar to Adobe’s Illustrator, containing freehand
082
CORELDRAW GRAPHICS SUITE X7 REVIEWS
Making it easier to design are the interactive CorelDRAW X7), helping to make the whole applications to work alongside Photoshop in
placeholder frames. Moving content over PowerClip application feel more like familiar territory. generating designs for a range of purposes, Corel’s
frames, we were able to quickly replace or add Corel’s Graphics Suite X7 will appeal to those Graphics Suite X7 will provide a supporting role in
content within them. In addition to these workflow- artists who are looking to design advertising flyers, your Photoshop production line. On top of this, if you
enhancing features, there’s also PowerTRACE that newsletters, business cards, corporate graphics, or don’t currently have access to additional applications
will convert bitmap objects to vector-based ones, perhaps a quick calendar. Of course these are just then this should slot in neatly.
with an automatic colour palette that is generated some of the examples, but with a wide range of
from the original.
Perhaps Corel’s X7 is not the most friendliest of
applications to learn from the ground up, and would
ready-made content and pre-designed templates
available too, there’s plenty to help you along the way
and inspire new concepts.
VERDICT
certainly be a test for Photoshop users having to Once we became familiar with the entire suite we Features: 8/10
relearn a set of new interfaces. But it’s not that Corel grew to like it. Although this doesn’t have the same Ease of use: 8/10
has ignored Photoshop completely. As part of the finesse or likeability as Photoshop does, underneath Value for money: 7/10
customisable workspaces in the Suite, Corel gives its plain exterior lies a powerful creation tool that just Quality of results: 7/10
the option to switch to a Photoshop-style interface got even better in version 7. If you’re not signed up to
(in PHOTO-PAINT), and an Illustrator workspace (in Adobe’s Creative Cloud and are looking for FINAL SCORE: 7.5/10
083
REVIEWS TOP 10 PHOTOSHOP BOOKS
TOP 10…
PHOTOSHOP BOOKS
WE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT TEN OF THE MOST POPULAR AND
USEFUL BOOKS ON PHOTOSHOP TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
003
PHOTOSHOP CC: THE
MISSING MANUAL
001
www.oreilly.com Approx £30/$50
This book’s tagline
encapsulates its intent: ‘The
book that should have been
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP in the box.’ Author Lesa
CC BIBLE: THE Snider provides the type of
COMPREHENSIVE insight and knowledge of
TUTORIAL the application that really
RESOURCE does feel like it should have been packaged with
it. This full colour, beautifully illustrated book is a
www.wiley.com must for anybody trying to learn Photoshop.
£34/$50
004
T
he Photoshop CC Bible, written by Lisa feature is covered plainly and reliably. This is an
DaNae Dayley and Brad Dayley, is exactly excellent resource for new users and experienced
PHOTOSHOP CC
what you’d expect from a book bearing pros alike. The book is written in a way that makes
DIGITAL CLASSROOM
www.wiley.com £34/$50
that title. It’s a full, comprehensive guide of it easy to look up a specific feature and quickly
everything you need to know about Photoshop. grasp how to use it. It’s a hefty tome, weighing in at The Digital Classroom
Some would even argue that the content for the 1152 pages and printed in black and white, but with series is publisher Wiley’s
Photoshop Bible is what should appear when a an abundance of screen shots and illustrations to answer to the Adobe Press
user clicks on the program’s Help menu! make the feature descriptions as clear as possible. Classroom In A Book series.
The book is exhaustive in its approach to cover If you could only ever buy one Photoshop book, buy While the Digital Classroom
every nook and cranny of the software, and every this one! offers a similar approach to
presenting the content
002
through hands-on projects, this publication puts
added focus on the digital content, which
includes video tutorials and source files.
T
he Classroom In A Book series holds the
notable distinction of being produced by try out different techniques for
the same company that produces the
software itself, Adobe. The material is
layers in almost every chapter
arranged into the format of real-life, hands-on as you move forward
projects. That way the information isn’t simply a Excerpted from Adobe Photoshop CC Classroom in a Book.
Copyright © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. Used with
reference, it’s practice too! permission of Pearson Education and Adobe Press.
084
TOP 10 PHOTOSHOP BOOKS REVIEWS
005
008
THE COMPLETE
GUIDE TO
PHOTOSHOP’S MOST
POWERFUL FEATURE
2ND EDITION
www.peachpit.com £28/$45 THE PHOTOSHOP CC
BOOK VOLUME 1
Layers are an integral part
of any Photoshop workflow. www.imagineshop.co.uk
Author Matt Kloskowski
does an amazing job of
presenting this foundational
£13/$22
I
magine Publishing’s Photoshop bookazines are
feature in a way that is
perfect for learning the ins and outs of the
colourful, entertaining and
program through in-depth features and
highly informative. There are basic bare-bones
tutorials for users of all levels. The Photoshop
explanations for beginners, as well as obscure
CC Book Volume 1 takes a look at how Photoshop
tricks for experienced users.
fits within the Creative Cloud, and what you can do
with it. From simple photo edits to more
006
PHOTOSHOP DOWN &
adventurous digital artwork, this book will have you
creating some of your best work to date. It also
comes with a free disc that is packed with images,
DIRTY TRICKS FOR textures, brushes, and gradients, so you can follow
DESIGNERS, along with the tutorials or even use them in your
VOLUME 2 own creative endeavours. If that’s not enough, take
www.peachpit.com Approx £30/$50 a look at the disc’s exclusive video content from
Digital-tutors to get some top advice from the pros.
Photoshop is usually
associated with
photography. But in this
book, acclaimed designer
Corey Barker shows why
Photoshop is also the
go-to tool for graphics
designers and illustrators alike.
007
THE ADOBE
PHOTOSHOP BOOK
FOR DIGITAL
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.peachpit.com £35/$55 009 010
If you are a photographer PHOTOSHOP CC: PHOTOSHOP IMAGE
and you use (or want to VISUAL QUICKSTART EDITING GENIUS
use) Photoshop to correct GUIDE GUIDE, VOLUME 2
or enhance your shots, www.peachpit.com Approx £19/$32 www.imagineshop.co.uk £13/$22
this book is an essential
This best-selling series has been a frequent choice This full-colour, vibrant guide to image editing
resource. Award-winning
for university classrooms for a good reason. It contains a huge range of creative, useful and
author Scott Kelby
presents the instruction by logical groupings of inspiring ideas, each presented with a step-by-step
presents Photoshop techniques in a very
features, and structures the content in a way that tutorial including screen shots to carefully guide
entertaining, down-to-earth style, so instead of
builds on itself. Previous lessons are applied during readers through the maze of editing options. Learn
spending countless hours with your nose in a
the instruction of the later lessons. This is essential the techniques here, then apply them to your own
massive manual, spend them with your eye
for getting users up and running with their work! It also includes a fantastic free disc packed
behind a viewfinder!
Photoshop competency. full of tutorial files, video tuition and resources.
085
READER INTERVIEW LIVING THE DREAM
READER INTERVIEW
A
fter having been passionate about art for as I don’t think I could work without the History panel or
long as he can remember, Marc Brunet was the Liquify tool either – those two Photoshop features
first introduced to Photoshop in high school. save my life way too often.
Today, after years of practice refining his
skills as a character artist, he is living the dream DO YOU FEEL YOUR PERSONAL STYLE HAS
working as a senior character artist for Blizzard CHANGED A LOT SINCE YOU FIRST BEGAN TO
Entertainment in California. Here he lets us in on the USE PHOTOSHOP?
secrets to making it in this competitive industry… I definitely feel my style has evolved over the years. At
the beginning when I was learning, I took a lot of tips
WHAT TECHNIQUES WOULD YOU SAY YOU FIND from other artists, so my work was probably heavily OUR READER
PHOTOSHOP TO BE MOST USEFUL FOR WHEN influenced by theirs. As the years went by it started to MARC BRUNET
CREATING YOUR AMAZING CHARACTERS? form into what my style is now, which I guess I would www.advancedphotoshop.co.uk/
user/Bluefley
In my case, I do absolutely everything in Photoshop describe as very ‘painterly westernised manga’. @bluefley
when it comes to creating characters. I start with a I try to merge the Western and Japanese style of
blank canvas, then generally have one layer for my drawings and render it with a more traditional style of
sketch, then another for the colons and a final painting. I did a lot of watercolour paintings when I was
‘polish’ layer where I add in all the smaller details. younger, so there are definitely traces of that in my art.
086
Clockwise from
top;
Zero The Grappler:
This image was
done as a demo on
Brunet’s YouTube
channel, explaining
the process of
going from 3D to 2D
to create
illustrations. He
spent 45 minutes in
ZBrush to get a
base model to work
with, before then
spending another
90 minutes
painting over it in
Photoshop
Winter Night: This
painting is one of
the first in which
Brunet began to
incorporate 3D to
help focus on
design more. He
initially did a quick
30-minute sculpt in
the 3D sculpting
software ZBrush,
after which he
spent an extra hour
painting over it in
Photoshop
REfuel: Quick
speed painting in
Photoshop
detailing a Cyborg
face that had
initially been
created using
ZBrush and
rendered in
KeyShot, taking
one hour and 35
minutes in total
Grounding characters: To help ground
the character in an outside scene, paint
in some of the colours of the sky on
surfaces facing it – the shoulders and
collar in this case
COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR DAILY WHAT WERE THE SKILLS THAT YOU FEEL HAVE WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE TOOLS TO USE IN
LIFE AT BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT? WHAT GOT YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? WHAT PHOTOSHOP WHEN CREATING?
WOULD BE A TYPICAL DAY? WERE THE MAIN CHALLENGES? Since I draw a lot of sci-fi characters, and use tons of
When I was a kid, that’s where I wished I could work I think the main thing that helped me get a job was the decals, the Warp tool takes my number one spot. It
later in life, so it was indeed pretty special when I fact I always worked towards a particular goal. I knew allows me to deform anything to fit any surface as if it
started working there. We have a huge campus here in that I wanted to do game art and I realised pretty early was painted right on it. The Brush panel is a close
Irvine, California, with a cafeteria and a gym, so a that whatever is in the games art books is what I should second – creating custom brushes to answer any
normal days goes like this: be working towards. I thought, “If one day I could match specific situation while I paint is extremely useful, as
I get to work at around 10am, grab some breakfast that level, technically I could replace the guy who drew well as a massive timesaver.
at the cafe and then get to my desk where I’ll usually it”. I never ‘wasted’ time drawing things that wouldn’t
pick up something I was working on the previous day. get me closer to that goal. WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE NEW ARTISTS
Then at noon we usually go eat lunch outside in the The main challenge really was when I had to learn to LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF WORK
sun, work a few more hours and probably have a work for someone else, and suddenly put my ego in the TO BREAK INTO THE INDUSTRY TODAY?
meeting or two, then head to the gym to end the day. trash and try to be as creative at work as I am at home. Generally, what I tell people is that for videogames
Every day is always a lot of fun. That definitely took a while to sink in. studios, you need to be a specialist. As a concept artist,
088
LIVING THE DREAM READER INTERVIEW
RegenPOD: “I had this image in my head for a long time, and painting it was the only way to get it out! I was practising bottom-up light sources
and harder perspective for the face, two things I don’t feel comfortable with. I’m pretty satisfied with the result I got after spending four and a
half hours in Photoshop,” says Brunet
089
RESOURCE PROJECT
BEAUTIFULBOKEHS
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BLURRED BACKGROUND LIGHTS
C
reating beautifully blurred backgrounds is ‘bokeh’, almost everybody agrees that the effect
one of the finer joys of photography. There’s usually improves the shot!
RESOURCE FILES
something special about opening up the
aperture to create a shallow focus range.
In this resource project, we will take a look at a
few different techniques for creating a stock library of
ON THE DISC
Add a series of small, bright light sources to the your own light bokehs. The process is fairly simple
background and you can create more magic – light and straightforward, but will often require several
bokeh. That’s the way the lens renders points of light attempts at dialling in the camera settings to
that are out of focus. This frequently means a soft, produce the right result. But working through the
round glow is created in-camera. While there may be steps and exploring how certain changes produce
widespread disagreement over how to pronounce different results is half the fun!
090
BEAUTIFUL BOKEHS ON THE DISC
BASIC BOKEH
HOW TO CREATE THOSE BEAUTIFUL BLURS
03 ARRANGE
Using the clips, arrange the lights on the
background. If you use too many, the bokeh will be
04 FOCUS
Once you have an arrangement of lights,
hold an object close to your lens and focus on it. The
05 CAPTURE THE BACKGROUND
Once you’ve focused on the object, while
still keeping your focus, move the object and snap
too dense and bright and no longer look magical. lights will grow and blur behind it. the picture. You’ll get a nice, blurry bokeh shot.
BOKEH BRUSHES
USE OUR STOCK IMAGES TO CREATE YOUR OWN CUSTOM BOKEH BRUSHES
091
The background blur is also
critical for the realism of the
effect. Use the Iris Blur and
adjust the location so the
ground that is closer to the
camera isn’t as blurred as the
objects further away
092
040
BEAUTIFUL BOKEHS ON THE DISC
01 MATERIALS
For this project you’ll need a torch. Try a
torch app as your phone will be easier to secure.
02 SECURE THE TORCH
Take two clips and attach the phone or
torch to the backdrop. Try to keep away wrinkles so
03 INTO THE LIGHT
Turn on the light and shoot straight into it to
create a nice flare. Play with the exposure
You’ll also need a black backdrop and large clips. you can’t see any random patches of fabric. compensation to make it brighter or dimmer.
093
ON THE DISC BEAUTIFUL BOKEHS
USING BOKEH
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02 TAKE TWO
Once you have an arrangement that
satisfies you, adjust your camera position to change
the size of the bokeh blooms. Compose the shot to
leave space for the subject. Use an aperture of f1.7
for the smoothest blur.
03 INSERT SUBJECT
Now that your background looks how you
094
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