Press Enter / Return to begin your search.

Visual Elements: Digital Tools

Notes Photoshop by

Digital Painting and Coloring Notes 1 – Introduction to the tablet

Digital Painting

Download the Wacom drivers here

Shortcuts

Keyboard

  • B – The Brush Tool
  • E
  • [ and ] – Increase or decrease the brush’s circumference
  • [ and ] – Increase or decrease the brush’s hardness
  • OPTION – Color picker shortcut
  • SPACE BAR – Hand tool
  • TAB – Hide or show all tools
  • COMMAND E – Merge current layer with the one below it.
  • COMMAND OPTION SHIFT N – New Layer

Pen

  • Upper button – Brushes mini palette
  • Lower button – Hand tool

Using the tablet

  • How much you press down on your pen can affect the thickness and opacity of your stroke.
  • Click on the icon with the pencil and checkered circle to turn on/off the pressure sensitivity for opacity.
  • Click on the icon with a pencil and a few concentric rings to turn the pressure sensitivity for stroke thickness on or off.
  • There are a number of custom brushes available in the brush pallet some of the effects depend on the tilt of the brush. This is not supported on the bamboo tablets you have access to but will be available in upper-level classes when you get to have access to the Professional Intuos Tablets.

Mixing colors

  • Make sure you have the flow control (the small airbrush icon in the top menu bar) turned on. Flow is how much color you put down as you cross over the strokes. Opacity is the threshold of the opacity.
  • Set the flow control to about 50% to start you can always adjust this later.
  • Add the first color you want to use to the image.
  • Add the second color you want to mix to the side, use a light touch.
  • Press the OPTION key to bring up the color picker up and move it around until you find the color you want to use.
  • When you let go the new color you’ve mixed will now be the color on the brush.

Adding highlights and shading

This technique was originally presented by Matt Khor on his Cntrl + Paint website.

  • Add a new layer above the main image.
  • Using a large, soft brush add your highlight or shadow. Don’t worry about overspray.
  • Using the eraser tool (shortcut ket E) with a harder edge, erase the overspray.
  • If you are happy you can collapse the layer with the one underneath it using the keyboard shortcut COMMAND E.