Digital painting
is somewhat different than physically painting with a brush, but it follows most of the same principals of design and light. The only thing that changes is the technique of achieve them. As with the differences in technique between watercolor painting and oil painting, digital painting uses a different approach to achieve the final result. Digital painting can be done with programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Digital Painting Flexibilty--Utilizing Layers
The most advantageous part of digital painting is the ability to be flexible with a painting and try out new effects without having to start over if a bad element is applied. Utilizing layers in digital painting is the best way to accomplish this type of experimental painting.
Defining the layers in the software keeps you from having to separate out a piece later if you decide you don't like it. For instance, you've added several elements to make a new tree in your landscape, but realize you really want to put a shrub there instead. If you have used layers and all of the elements of that tree are on one layer, you can simply click on that layer, make it invisible, move it to another area or delete it all together. If you decide you want the tree to be bigger or smaller, simply select that layer and re-size the tree.
Coloring and Shading the Painting
Using the gradient tool or gradient mesh tool is a very effective way to shade and color elements for a more realistic look. You can select an element and simply fill it with color and you will have a nice piece. If you learn and use the gradient tools you can make that nice piece look 3-dimensional. The mesh tool allows you to select certain points along the mesh and choose the colors to use for them. Use darker colors to shade areas that would be in the shadows. Always remember to keep your lighting direction the same throughout the entire piece of art.
Using the Artistic Effects
When the artwork is colored to your satisfaction and shading complete, using the Effects menu can make a flat digital piece feel like an oil painting, a watercolor or look like a 3-D piece that is wrapped in plastic wrap. Feel free to experiment with this menu. In it you will find more effects such as embossing, underpainting, charcoal drawing and pen and ink. Some can be combined with others for a seemingly endless supply of special effects that can change the entire look and feel of the piece.
Using the Brushes in Your Painting
There are a variety of brushes that come standard in most digital art programs and many more to download. Experiment with the various brushes to find the look you like. It is important to note the opacity and the flow of the brush play a large part in what the brush will do. Keeping your opacity low will help to blend brush strokes together or to keep a smoother look to your painting. If you want to highlight or shadow using the brush tool but not have brush strokes, use a larger brush with a low opacity.
