[Fineus]

Hey all, I got my pad today, and of course I'm diving in the deep end with using it, but the quickest way to get things right - other than practice - is posting up a product and seeing what can be improved (and indeed how) since I'm not used to working with a graphics tablet and this is my first image with it (once the basics were down).

So, opinions. The entire thing was done by me - in particular I'd like to know how to sort out the jagged/fat outlines... I'm thinking increasing the resolution while drawing them will help a lot - but all opinions and aid are welcome. Thanks!

Edit: Ok, second attempt at this thread (copied from the original). Constructive posts only please

[Nico]

Well, you don't draw the outlines with the wacom

[Jiggyhound]

hehe

go here:

www.GFXartist.com

One of the biggest digital art communities, has a great tutroial section with pieces written by a number of pros. Plus some pretty stonking artwork

[Fineus]

Nico: Duely noted... but I'm not sure what the best way to get line art into Photoshop is (and indeed make it decent)...

Jiggyhound: Thanks man, nice tutorials!

[J3Vr6]

FISHY!!!

[Carl]

Originally posted by Kalfireth
I'm not sure what the best way to get line art into Photoshop is

pen tool.

[Nico]

hand made, then scanned, touched up, etc.
That's the only real way, I'm afraid, to do.
Of course you can use splines, pen tools etc, but yeah, you don't build a house with a fork, right?

[Corsair]

Vasudans wuv fishes.

What is it that you're using to draw with, Kal?

[Fineus]

Cheers for the feedback guys, I'm currently playing with Carls pen suggestion (which is turning out very well) on an old drawing I already had scanned in. Expect complete coloring with the tablet.

Corsair the entire image above was created using Adobe Photoshop and a Wacom Graphire 3. That's it (it was done in freehand by the way, hence the jagged lines. Carls pen suggestion has entirely removed this).

[Fineus]

And here's the results of my pen tool work... not sure how I'm going to apply it to more detailed objects. We'll see.

[Flipside]

Actually, that, to me, looks like that could open like a Chrysalis, with rows of ships inside. Sort of like a Shivan 'Carrier'

[Turnsky]

ookay, now that i've finally seen this, great stuff getting a wacom,

but the real trick is getting it to look 3-d without the lines..

like so..


but it can be used to get decent looking cartoony style stuff as well..


th' real trick is getting the lines to look smooth.  a wacom's great for that...

the more you practice with it, the better at it you'll get

pressure sensitivity rocks..

oh, nico, i need to pick your brains about making air/spacecraft in photoshop..

EDIT: this was done with a tablet, BTW http://www.deviantart.com/view/5047759/ (not mine, but immensely cool)

[Nico]

Originally posted by Turnsky
oh, nico, i need to pick your brains about making air/spacecraft in photoshop..

I can't
I make them in 3D, and just touch 'em up in PS.

[Fineus]

Turnsky, dude! How do you get your line art into Photoshop.. so far the prefered method seems to be:

1. Sketch.
2. Scan.
3. Ink using pen tool in Photoshop/Illustrator.
4. Color using Photoshop.

Obviously thats the condensed method but you get the idea. Is that on the money?

[Turnsky]

mine's a tad more long-winded;)

lessee..
i use a technique simular to this one: (albiet with a few minor differences of my own.. not exactly efficient, but it works..

http://www.machall.com/indexcontent.php?doshow=info_art

altho, you can scan direct, and work away at it like so..

[Fineus]

Nice mate, thanks - time for me to go sketch something

[Nico]

Originally posted by Kalfireth
Turnsky, dude! How do you get your line art into Photoshop.. so far the prefered method seems to be:

1. Sketch.
2. Scan.
3. Ink using pen tool in Photoshop/Illustrator.
4. Color using Photoshop.

Obviously thats the condensed method but you get the idea. Is that on the money?

My exact method:
1. Sketch
2. I stick a transparent sheet ( tracing paper ) over the sketch
3. I redraw with ink following the sketch ( Rotring or Pilot pen, depending on if I'm brave enough to recharge the Rotring or not ).
4. Scan
5. Inking adjustement ( with level, contrast, etc ). Because of step 3., this becomes much easier
5. Colouring. in PS

Edit: on a side note, that Alpha Shade comics on your link is cool, Turnsky
"adds to favourites"

[Turnsky]

that works too..

[Setekh]

Great start on the fish and the station, Kal. I'm totally ignorant about tablets, so I encourage you to go with what has led me through every other thing I've had to learn from scratch - experiment experiment experiment.

@ the winged fox, Turnsky...

[mikhael]

Man, Steak, if you EVER draw stuff by hand, you owe it to yourself to give a tablet a try. Heck, if you ever have to touch up a photo or render, you have to try a tablet. The fine grained control you get with it is vastly superior to a mouse in every way.