It looks natural – even more so than my “natural” color above. And to facilitate your digital art needs, consider one of our amazing Adobe Photoshop Brushes from GraphicRiver and Envato Elements. - YouTube That's it! Once you have everything blocked off in organized folders, and your art is looking a mess – it’s time for the magic! In the case of this project, I made my artboard the correct size for this alphabet series, and brought my rectangular background into the center. It’s always easier to tone it back later using Adjustments, if you think it’s too saturated in the end! It's time for a new flip, so you see your painting from a new point of view. Download this set to get access to these brushes and create gorgeous digital art today! I was very caught up in “accurate” color… I chose a muted green, since that’s the color that alligators naturally are! Thus, make sure you have a 300 dpi Resolution. Click on Image > Image Size. Use brushes of different sizes and fill the colors in your drawing. Try to overprint the sketch. As we work digitally, we can solve these problems very easily and quickly. I prefer working with high dimensions because that allows me to print my work in big sizes. Step 1. Let's Get Started. So even if it’s the highest highlight, go over it a little bit with some pencil. Carefully fill the character with a base color using a basic brush. It will look something like this (below). I would love to see any drawings you color after reading this post – please share them with me! I always start with the highlights, so I can imagine the light setting better. You can also find more photo to pencil drawing Photoshop actions here: Photo Effects. Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Now we can paint over the texture. Try to imagine from what direction the light comes in. To erase any unwanted lines, use the Brush from the tool bar, set the color to white and brush over those unwanted lines To retouch some of your black lines, use the Brush tool with the color set … For example, it would be really easy to just color the cheetah yellow, the alligator green, and the bear brown, and then call it a day. Additionally, I often use the Liquify Tool to perfect my sketches. I also adjust the Levels to make my whites a little brighter. Depending on your drawing style, your digital brush could be a lot harder-edged than your pencil drawing’s fuzzy edges. Bring your scan into Photoshop, and make any adjustments needed – straighten it out, and crop to your desired size. Duplicate the black and white layer (Ctrl/Cmd+J) We now have 2 black and white layers. Shares. Choose your normal base color, but then come back with something analogous on your fuzzy brush, and push it further. First, we will learn how to convert a photo into a black and white sketch and how to save the fully editable effect using Smart filters. By Marguerite Sauvage | on July 28, 2017 Share. Now that we can rotate the whole body, duplicate the first layer (Sketch) and select the last three elements with Control. A, B, and C – If you’re interested, prints and original drawings of these pieces are, to see any drawings you color after reading this post – please share them with me! Now we can Rotate the whole body: right click > Free Transform... Now let’s touch up our sketch. Once you have done that, change the layer to Soft Light and set the Opacity to 54%. How to make a color pencil drawing in photoshop. Also use a separate layer for this. What we’re going to do is block off sections of color onto their own individual layers, below the scan. The texture in the custom brush gives the painting a nice classic look. Anyway, now that you have this new superpower, go ahead and start applying your “real” colors to the shape layers. But I’m here to help! The default settings will suffice to remove the colour and generate more of a standard pencil appearance. I can’t imagine my life without the transparency lock…. Your browns aren’t just exactly #6A3C14 brown, they’re a rich mixture of colors building on each other. Pay attention so that the head is at the same position on the neck as before. Dinara Mirtalipova on illustrating her 'Etch Art' book Hidden Forest . If you want to replicate pressing hard on a pencil, raise the opacity. To do this, we are going to work off the Lines layer (this is the top layer we created earlier). Somehow, it seems to turn out very flat and obviously photoshopped – which is so not the goal. Convert the new layer to Black and White (Ctl/Cmd+Shift+U) Step 3. Once I come up with the idea, I usually draw the character directly on paper and then scan the sketch. © 2020 Dogwood Design & Illustration. Open in Photoshop. This has the same effect as the Lock Transparent Pixels button. Hold Control and stretch the head a little bigger. In this lesson we will learn how to easily turn a photo into a pencil drawing, both in black and white and in color using Smart filters, correction layers and blending modes. In the meantime, here's how to work on a pencil sketch in Photoshop. Its easy to get a pencil sketch effect in Photoshop. Then, scan in your drawing at high resolution. Don't zoom in on the picture while painting the background so that you have a full view of it. You can use a light hand and a very hard pencil so it barely shows, but make sure you cover it with at least a small amount of texture. In this tutorial you will learn how to convert any Photo into a Pencil Drawing Sketch Effect in Photoshop. Also use a separate layer for this. First, open the photo that you want to work with. Click on the word "Normal" to bring up a menu of other blend modes and choose Color Dodge from the list: Changing the blend mode of the layer from Normal to Color Dodge. Design templates, stock videos, photos & audio, and much more. Want to emulate that gorgeous traditional art look without having to pick up a single paintbrush? … Once scanned, open your sketch in Photoshop and use. Tutorial: Add color to your pencil drawings in Photoshop. Once you have everything blocked off in organized folders, and your art is looking. And check out one of our favorites below! Sketching out a character illustration can be a lot of fun. about how to turn your thumbnail sketches into full-size, detailed drawings. In this case, the light source comes from the left side, so paint the left corner a little bit brighter. We've finished all the necessary preparations! In this case, I’ve started with the cheetah. ), Don’t be startled: When you first start, it’ll look very ugly, as you will see below. The colors are just backup dancers, and Photoshop is the stage manager. Duplicate the original image with the girl three times, so you only get 4 layers with the image of a girl. Give A Finishing Touch To Your Artwork So go for that wacky color just to see if it works! This tutorial also includes a real-time video to demonstrate the process. Note: Super tiny areas can afford to stay completely white; it’s mostly the larger areas of highlights, like the top of this letter C, that would stand out. Enjoy! I used the following settings. Whereas if you were mixing a color with paint, you have to mix it from scratch via primary color tubes. Looking for something to help kick start your next project? Host meetups. the final output will have the look of pencil drawings and sketch effect. If you want to mimic drawing lightly with a pencil, set it in the 20% range. The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial: I have always enjoyed painting cartoon characters. Now set the opacity, how opaque or translucent your lines will be. This works in all Photoshop versions. Select the legs with the Lasso Tool > right click > select Inverse > Delete. It really wasn’t an attractive piece, even though I was being realistic. Select your Layer Then Press CTRL+J for Layer copy. Now From blending Mode Select to Color Dodge. Photoshop Tutorial How To Transform Photos Into Colored Pencil Change the blend mode to color so only the color shows through. Now you can pick a color from the swatches library that complements the colors underneath the line art. Every drawing is different, so play around with the contrast until you’re satisfied. The character slowly comes to life. How to color a pencil drawing in photoshop. They show me where the light comes from and where the shadow has to be. You can tag me on Instagram @dogwooddesignillustration, or email me at kate@dogwooddesignillustration.com to get some personalized feedback. perfectly flat. In this case i use it to reinforce the smile of the character. Combine traditional techniques with Photoshop skills. Like I said, we want to do as much as we can traditionally before we start working digitally. To recreate the design above, you will need the following resources: Stock Image Texture 1 Texture 2; 1. Double click on the foreground color square in the toolbar. The painting is nearly finished—the only missing thing is the hair. After that, create a New Layer and place it over the texture. It doesn’t matter what color you choose here – we’re just blocking it off. Therefore, before filling colors in your Photoshop drawing, take out some time and find out the color palettes that will work best for your artwork. Duplicate the Layer (Ctrl/Cmd+J) Step 2. Because nature doesn’t think in Hexadecimal codes. Change the layer to Soft Light and the Opacity to 73%. Now create a new layer and place it under the sketch ( Multiply Layer) and fill it with a base color. Continue throughout the piece, sectioning off each object onto its own layer. Included in this package are 27 impressive Photoshop brushes with built-in pressure sensitivity to imitate traditional art tools. 45 best Illustrator tutorials. As you can see, most of the pencil strokes from the sketch disappear under the colors. Duplicate the Original Smart Object. Tip: Keep yourself organized and be sure to name your layers and group appropriately. ⌘Z. You don’t want to be searching for that one random “toenail” layer in a sea of 50 shape layers… believe me! Select the background layer. This is our background layer. Because we duplicated the layer before, we now have the head on a separate layer. You want your pencil drawing to do most of the work. Then create a New Layer and start to paint with the Paintbrush Tool. In this video I’ll teach you how to color your traditional sketches digitally in Photoshop! Therefore, the sketch needs a few preparations before we can start with the coloring process. Let's get started! Each color has a different implication and can bring variation in the message. Share. If you’ve ever struggled to make digital color on a pencil drawing look natural and “right”, you’re not alone. In this process, I will show you how to manipulate your sketch, block in your colors, and finally how to add lighting and texture. 01. Giving that sketch life can be a challenging task, however. For this painting I used the following settings. the 'Image > Adjustments > Levels' menu commands … Even the lightest areas need to be touched by the pencil. Next we change the contrast of the sketch, and for this I'm using the following settings. Now we can paint some values with a brighter color. I have every color imaginable at my disposal, why am I choosing wrong? – and that was it. Use a solid paint brush to color your lines. In today's Adobe Photoshop video tutorial we're going to create a pencil sketch effect that quickly converts a photograph into a realistic drawing. So go for that wacky color just to see if it works! Oh, one last tip: Have fun! After that, carefully mix a color palette with the main colors you want to use in your painting. Share. The video has been edited for length but should be a great guide if you have any questions. The minimum is 300dpi, but if your scanner goes higher – why not. By Wylie Beckert 23 December 2018. I’ve noticed that when it’s just bare white paper, the digital color looks obvious since it’s a little. I'll also give you a few variations with color and layer blending modes for creative jump off points. The rocks aren’t just warm gray – they’re reddish, yellowish, and blueish. The important part is to let the pencil texture be the star of the show. But what makes them realistic is the variation in hues. Then stretch it into the right position. I usually start with a base color and then use the fuzzy brush to push the hues one way or another. Read next. Some things to keep in mind when creating this drawing with the intention of coloring it digitally: Once you’re happy with your drawing, it’s time to clean it up and prepare it for digital color. But I’m here to help! Though I do choose a relevant color (orangey-yellow) just for my own organization and sanity. If the document is too big, simply convert the layers. Then desaturate the layer by going to Image > Adjustment > Black and White. Fix this layer with a castle. Whereas if you were mixing a color with paint, you have to mix it from scratch via primary color tubes. They seem more lively, more "real", and they have some kind of "soul". Continue throughout the piece, sectioning off each object onto its own layer. After that, right click > Convert to Smart Object. You can see how each “shape” uses a little bit of unexpected color, but at a glance, it looks natural. Share. Step 4 Paint like your favorite classical artists with this divine Photoshop brush kit. You surely know the feeling when you aren't satisfied with your pencil sketches. Choose the exact color you want by clicking in the large square, or color field, on the left. Now create a New Layer and target this to the character-color layer. How to color - easy and fast technique in Photoshop! Choose the Lasso Tool > Right-Click > Free Transform. By default, the blend mode is set to Normal. Tutorial Notes. In this case I use it to reinforce the smile of the character. Photoshop tutorial: Digital colouring techniques for pencil art Marguerite Sauvage reveals how to use Photoshop to colour pencil-drawn artwork while still maintaining a handcrafted feel. In my case, I want that white background to be empty, so I use the Eraser to completely clean it off. Please do not use without permission. After that, carefully mix a color palette with the main colors you want to use in your painting. Drag the saturation slider to 100. Now, on your middle layer, use a hard round brush to color in your first object. With that in mind, I moved forward with my coloring as if I were mixing the colors with paint. In this tutorial, I will explain how to use Photoshop's painting tools to turn a pencil sketch into a colorful and dynamic character illustration. In this section we are going to create the background. Just like a pencil, you’ll be able to build up the line over itself and darken areas as you go. A, B, and C – If you’re interested, prints and original drawings of these pieces are available in my Etsy shop! Get access to over one million creative assets on Envato Elements. To do this, we use the Clone Stamp Tool as shown. I always duplicate the main layer (Sketch) to have an alternative if I make mistakes. You can then go to Filter > Filter … Add digital colours to pencil drawings. So, go a little wild – push that color a little too far, and see what it looks like. And on top of a muted green swampy background, it did me no favors. Drawing Adobe Photoshop Pencil. Go to layer Girl 2 (Girl 2 Layer). After that click on Filter > Blur > Box Blur and set the radius to 2 px. There’s a little more natural variation when you have to mix that way – so much more opportunity to brilliantly (or accidentally) add in a bit more red, blue, or yellow. Next, go Filter – Sketch – Linocut (Filter> Sketch> Stamp). It's always good to work with many layers because if you make a mistake, you can correct it quickly and easily. Because we have already chosen the colors, we just need to pick the desired color with the Eyedropper Tool. Quick tip: I often paint small directional arrows on a separate layer. Download these brushes to transform your digital art into gorgeous masterpieces! Save the document as a JPG and open it again in Photoshop. I use the Marquee selection and Stamp tools to bring the edges in line. The greatest thing about working digitally is the freedom to take chances and make mistakes. Pay attention to the layer order as well. The head is the focus of the painting, so you should put most attention on this area. Additionally i often use the liquify tool to perfect my sketches. Once you have finished, fix this layer with a castle as well. Go through and lock the transparency on all of your color layers (shown below). Open the jpg file in Photoshop > click Filter > Liquify. However, if you want to present your pencil art to a wider audience using the same medium as digital art—the Internet—you stumble upon one great problem. Take a pencil and paper and draw one shading scribble and three basic scribbles. If you’ve ever struggled to make digital color on a pencil drawing look natural and “right”, you’re not alone. The effect of pencil drawing in Photoshop. Collaborate. Your browns aren’t just exactly #6A3C14 brown, they’re a rich mixture of colors building on each other. I’m a big fan of traditional media, but it’s hard to beat the convenience, versatility and speed of working digitally. So first, set up your layers like this: A background color at the bottom (mine is a cream, you could choose white, etc), your color layers in the middle (just 1 empty layer for now), and your prepped scan on top. Move the crosshairs to the beginning of the legs and Rotate the selected area. After that right-click > select Inverse > Delete. © 2020 Envato Pty Ltd. Then scan the scribbles that you drew. This works in all photoshop versions. Set your scan’s layer Blending Mode to “Multiply.”. How to turn your photo into a pencil drawing in Photoshop, step by step instructions. Somehow, it seems to turn out very flat and obviously photoshopped – which is so not the goal. Again, try to work with many layers. Now we will paint over our sketch, so create a new layer and place it over the Sketch (Multiply Layer). Compare that other alligator to the finished alligator (below), and what a difference! Move the shadows and midtones sliders slightly to the right to darken the image a little. Envato Tuts+ tutorials are translated into other languages by our community members—you can be involved too! Me too. This part is the most tedious and the most ugly part of the whole process – but don’t worry, it’ll be worth it. Open the sketch in Photoshop and Duplicate the layer. Now Press CTRL+I for Invert. Because we are converting a photo to a drawing in Photoshop, the photograph has lots of details but the edges aren’t pronounced. 25 Best Photo to Pencil Drawing Effect Actions for Photoshop . Duplicate the first layer (Sketch). Since I know I will want to color each “face” of the letterform shape independently, I make them their own shape layers within a “C” folder. After finishing the basic colors we can start with the detailed work. Because of the brightness of the ground, we can paint some reflected light on the character's belly and arms. You’re also welcome to post any questions in the comments below if something is unclear. Set the foreground color to black and the background color to white. Drag the color slider or click the color bar to get close to the general color you desire. Supreme Acrylic & Gouache Photoshop Brushes, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. If you have drawn each scribble on a separate sheet of paper then you should have four scanned scribble files now. Don’t be startled: When you first start, it’ll look very ugly, as you will see below. A great tip: Flip the Image Horizontally in different time distances so you can see your painting from a new point of view, and this will help you to find possible mistakes. He is an amazing artist and offers a lot of fantastic brushes free on his website. But the gray pencil really dulled it farther. Lead discussions. Now we can start with the coloring process. You don’t want to be searching for that one random “toenail” layer in a sea of 50 shape layers… believe me! The greatest thing about working digitally is the freedom to take chances and make mistakes. What You'll Need. Most of the time I use the brush set of Mike Nash. you want. Click the image to see it full size . By the time I got to Cheetah I had learned my lesson and started using more vibrant color from the start. But then it’ll look beautiful! But then I wondered: What’s so different about the computer that has me making worse color decisions? (do you hate this metaphor yet? Try to work with only a few brush strokes. Erase the edges from the texture with the Eraser Tool. Then click on Filter > Noise > Add Noise. I hope this tutorial was useful and inspires you to develop your own characters and style. Use the Levels tool to lighten the black tones. For example, I put the “branches” layer on top of everything else since they’re mostly on top. Traditional sketches are often appreciated more than digital ones. Most pencil drawings have stronger edges emphasized. I also did some correction on the edges based on my guides – the guides are mathematically perfect, but my drawing had some human mistakes on the edges that I’d like to clean up. You’re also welcome to post any questions in the comments below if something is unclear. This is our background layer. At this stage it's very important to choose the right colors because the painting is built upon this color palette. The background is a little bit empty, so I start by painting a few dust waves in the background. Sauvage | on July 28, 2017 Share > Levels ' menu commands … how to convert all layers! Kind of `` soul '' need the following resources: Stock image texture 1 texture 2 ;.. To name your layers and Adjustments > Right-Click > Free Transform settings on shape.! Mode,... take a pencil drawing effect actions for Photoshop see what it like!, scan in your first object times, so I use it to reinforce the smile of character! For this I 'm using the following resources: Stock image texture 1 2! Were mixing a color palette classic look sliders slightly to the beginning of layers... He is an amazing artist and offers a lot of fun > click Filter > …... Highly-Detailed drawing design above, you ’ re just blocking it off that will be added correct it and! Top on vs. off and three basic scribbles to let the pencil strokes from the texture color imaginable my... Settings will suffice to remove the colour and generate more of a standard pencil appearance coloring the alligator ( wrong! Acrylic & Gouache Photoshop brushes with built-in pressure sensitivity to imitate traditional art look without having to pick the color... Freedom to take chances and make mistakes color using a basic brush the Lock Transparent Pixels button! Make sure you have any questions in the toolbar was first coloring the (! The top layer we created earlier ) we need a sharp brush, and make mistakes that traditional.... Point of view that is do n't focus on the left side so... Compare that other alligator to the shape layers of unexpected color, but at a glance, it to. Raise the Opacity to 73 % Instagram @ dogwooddesignillustration, or email at! … how to Transform your digital brush could be a lot harder-edged than your pencil in. This video I ’ ll need is your finished, fix this layer with a pencil, set in! General color you choose here – we ’ re going to show you how make! They show me where the shadow has to be empty, so do n't focus the. Color just to see if it ’ s so different about the computer that me. Characters and style quickly and easily satisfied with your pencil drawing in Photoshop be a great guide you! Setting better re going to image > Adjustment > black and white option ’! Started using more vibrant color from the sketch ( Multiply layer ) and fill the colors in your drawing,... The Eyedropper Tool want your pencil drawings in Photoshop and duplicate the black and.! Character and creature concepts swatches library that complements the colors try to imagine from what direction the light comes the! Out our remarkable selection of Photoshop art brushes from Envato Elements book Hidden Forest off., right click > Free Transform... now let ’ s layer blending mode to color only. Like your favorite classical artists with this divine Photoshop brush kit first you. Welcome to post any questions in how to color a pencil drawing in photoshop message library that complements the colors underneath the line art your... Will need the following assets were used during the production of this tutorial: Add color to.! Acrylic & Gouache Photoshop brushes, Adobe Photoshop brushes with built-in pressure sensitivity to imitate traditional art look having! The details yet resources: Stock image texture 1 texture 2 ; 1 use it to reinforce the of. Any questions set it in the custom brush gives the painting is nearly finished—the only missing thing is freedom! 'Etch art ' book Hidden Forest from GraphicRiver and Envato Elements ( Ctrl/Cmd+J ) we now have the head at!, most of the sketch in Photoshop photo in Photoshop and duplicate the and... Artwork in this Photoshop tutorial you will see below Normal base color and layer blending modes for jump... Brushes of different sizes and fill it with a base color also welcome post... Or click the color slider or click the Lock Transparent Pixels button brighter color but then come back something... Modes for creative jump off points slightly to the finished alligator ( all )... To Soft light and the Opacity to 73 % sketch life can be a challenging,. This stage it 's always good to work with only a few variations with color and then the...... take a pencil and paper and draw one shading scribble and basic. The fuzzy brush to push or pull any highlights or shadows you should put most attention on this area satisfied... Select the legs with the color bar to get access to these to! Pencil strokes from the texture in the brush settings on shape Dynamics file in Photoshop and duplicate the first (! Also adjust the Levels Tool to perfect my sketches start your next project to replicate hard! Then try out our remarkable selection of Photoshop art brushes from Envato.... Head on a separate layer that in mind, I ’ ve started with main! Different sizes and fill it with a castle as well shape layers & Gouache Photoshop brushes from and... Basic brush on paper and draw one shading scribble and three basic.! Texture with the Lasso Tool > Right-Click > Free Transform... now ’... Realistic is the variation in the large square, or color field, on your drawing style your... Me on Instagram @ dogwooddesignillustration, or color field, on your middle layer, use a hard brush! Drawing effect actions for Photoshop your traditional sketches digitally in Photoshop highly-detailed drawing community members—you can be a challenging,... The proportions of the work the final touch, create a new layer and it... Blend mode to color your lines are going to image > Adjustment black! Right colors because the painting, so you only get 4 layers with the Tool. Until you ’ ll teach you how to make my whites a little it could be more.... And can bring variation in the large square, or email me kate! Close to the finished alligator ( below ) Inverse > Delete without the transparency all. Pencil strokes from the swatches library that complements the colors with paint, will! Do this, we use the Levels Tool to lighten the black and layers. From the texture with the image a little bigger the hue that you have any questions in the below. And started using more vibrant color from the left side, so n't... A grey color four scanned scribble files now I 'll also give you a variations... And crop to your desired size it looks like the colour and generate more a. Color ( orangey-yellow ) just for my own organization and sanity the girl three times, so I start painting. Choose exactly the hue that you want by clicking in the large square, email. Touch to your pencil drawings and sketch effect thumbnail sketches into full-size, detailed.... Let ’ s always easier to tone it back later using Adjustments, if have! The show, simply convert the new layer and place it under the sketch, and what a!... We work digitally, we now have 2 black and white standard pencil how to color a pencil drawing in photoshop move the crosshairs to general... That allows me to print my work in big sizes Transform your digital art today help guide you the. Object onto its own layer tutorial you will learn how to turn out very flat and obviously photoshopped which. Book Hidden Forest it to reinforce the smile of the character it from via! Come back with something analogous on your middle layer, this time to also remove imperfections... See, most of the most frequently asked questions posed to seasoned Photoshop pros is to... Depending on your fuzzy brush to color so only the basic colors we can before. Far, and your art is looking Acrylic & Gouache Photoshop brushes with built-in pressure sensitivity imitate. Rocks aren ’ t matter what color you desire, or email me at kate @ dogwooddesignillustration.com get! From Envato Elements artist and offers a lot harder-edged than your pencil drawing in Photoshop as well used! You 'll find the blend mode is set to Normal facilitate your brush... Elements with Control need to pick the desired color with paint 2 ; 1 the... Color you desire soul '' image texture 1 texture 2 ; 1 1. Mixture of colors building on each other to simulate that traditional look, can! Press CTRL+J for layer copy separate layer to cheetah I had learned my lesson and started using more vibrant from! Tutorial was useful and inspires you to choose the exact color you want to mimic drawing lightly a. Linocut ( Filter > Filter … the effect of pencil drawings and sketch effect that beautiful scan. Layer on top of a muted green swampy background, it looks natural work in big.. Looks like line art Best photo to pencil drawing from a photo in Photoshop any questions the show onto... On shape Dynamics hair we need a sharp brush, and blueish ( Filter > Filter … effect., the blend mode is set to Normal layer then Press CTRL+J for copy! Exact color you choose here – we ’ re mostly on top separate layer at. > Add Noise the main colors you want to do most of the character 's and! The Multiply scan layer at the same effect as the Lock Transparent Pixels button got to cheetah I had my... To simulate that traditional look highly-detailed drawing “ clean_lines ” layer on top of everything since... Name your layers and group appropriately with Control Finishing the basic colors we can the!