(I may rename this, depending on whether I’ve got the hybrid naming off or not.)
2.5ish hour speedpainting, a mix of ArtRage 3 and Photoshop CS4:
Working with the same methods that I used with the 2 previous pieces, trying to flesh them out a bit. While it took a bit more time than I initially planned on investing, I learned some new things, so it was worthwhile.
One of the other differences between Photoshop CS4 and ArtRage 3 Studio Pro is the blend mode layer options. While there are some that are the same, and others that are simply named differently, at the same point there are at least a couple in ArtRage that are unique to that program, at least when compared to Photoshop. When exported to .PSD file, those layers are reinterpreted to the closest approximation in Photoshop.
Also, whereas previously, I generally did my edge clean up erasing via a soild, hard eraser tool, I had an idea to try something different iwth this one– I used a very fine, soft/blurred edge eraser tool. This helps soften the outside of an image, so it’s not quite so stark, especially if you’re wanting to integrate it into a larger piece or such. In turn, it also helps tackle digital pixelation a bit better– the selection tools, whether magic wand (which is in both), or layer content selection (only in ArtRage), almost always leave a hard, jaggy, pixelated edge. So using the fine, blurred eraser allows for one to really clean that up, while still keeping concise detail.
I’m shifting gears this morning, doing a trial stab at coloring another Savage Mojo artist’s pencil work. The trade off to coloring scanned pencils is that one often has to contend with trying to clean things up a bit. There are ways of doing this, but much of it depends on what methodology one wants to take, and what one’s comfortable with. It’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll see me posting my observations on that process here at a later point.
And to the 6 of you that actually might have read this, have a good morning. ;)
