A gessoed, heavy brushstroke surface works well. See the blog post "Creating a Texture to Scan." The texture should be optimized to tile (covered in the previous blog post), and the resolution should be 200 to 300 ppi.
I started with a fully rendered painting, then made a composite Layer from all of the visible Layers (cmd-opt-shift-E).
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| The beginning illustration. Click on any image to enlarge. |
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| Composite Layer (cmd-opt-shift-E). |
To create a “bump map” texture over a selected area (or over the whole Layer if you don’t have anything selected), go to Filters > Filter Gallery > Texture > Texturizer. Next to the Texture drop-down menu there’s an icon for a flyout menu that allows you to load your own texture.
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| Use the drop-down menu to find your texture. Photoshop also has presets. |
Click on the flyout menu and choose your texture to load. Adjust Scaling and Relief.
Consider blending the texture effect by lowering the Opacity for that Layer.
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| Use a Layer Mask to tone down the texture in some places. |
One problem with this method is that the brushstrokes are more or less random and don't follow the form. You can remedy this by using the Bristle Brush (on a copy composite Layer, of course). I prefer the Round Fan Stiff Thin Bristle variant, but I like to lower the Bristle Count to around 40% (on the Brush Panel). You can paint across the form to give the object dimension.
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| The Bristle Brush controls on the Brush Panel. |
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| Just about done ... |
You can blend in the Bristle Brush Layer by painting on a Layer Mask and/or lowering the Layer Opacity.
Now your illustration has a more interesting surface and brushstrokes that follow the form.
7 comments:
Thanks I am finally seriously learning to paint in PS and am finding you tutorials beneficial.
Susan, I'm glad that you're finding these tutorials helpful!
Brilliant! I never thought of using the texturiser.
When you talk about using a bristle brush, do you mean when you're actually painting, i.e. you're using an extra layer of paint of the same colour?
Moira, yes, I'm saying to make a copy Layer (cmd-opt-shift-E), and paint (with your Foreground Color--usually a touch lighter than what' already in the image) using a Bristle Brush and follow the forms in the composition.
Thanks. I've tried both methods, and it's great.
The texturiser is exactly what I've always wished existed!
This is just what I have been looking for David. I am trying to naturalize the look of my digital illustrations. I've tried adding paper textures etc. but have not been satisfied with the results.
However, I work in Corel Painter. Have you ever created art using that software. I'm still back on Painter 11.
Stephen, yes, I use Painter and love it. The Variable Chalk (for texture) and Real Round oil brushes (for brushstrokes) are great! Often my last step is bringing an illustration into Painter to add some final touches. Thanks for stopping by the blog and I hope it helps you with your illustrations.
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