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. ;)

I started off in ArtRage on a 4"x6" 200ppi canvas:

1) 10min Grayscale speedpainting on first layer (not background). This was a mix of the roller, brush, and palette knife tools.
2) Duplicated original layer. Dropped original layer to 40% opacity. Turned duplicate into overlay layer.
3) Created layer under first layer to establish color underpainting, just roller and palette knife. Created layer on top of other layers to establish minor linework with brush.

Then I ported the painting to Photoshop.

4) Duplicated color underpainting layer (still below everything else). Ran it through the watercolor filter, shifted it to a multiply layer, and dropped it to 14% opacity.
5) Selected the whole image, copied it merged, and pasted it on top. Filtered with poster edges, and changed layer opacity to 42%.
6) Pasted same previously selected layer on top. Filtered it with paint daubs, changed layer opacity to 25%.

7) Pasted again. Filtered it with dark strokes, desaturated it, shifted to overlay layer, and dropped opacity to 20%. Erased selectively to start bringing more pop to the image.
8) Pasted again. Filtered it with accented edges. Dropped opacity to 46% Erased much more of the layer, selective, just leaving certain areas that I wanted highlighted.
9) Pasted again. Shifted to multiply layer at 46%. A bit more selective erasing to accentuate the depth.

Finish version:

(Click image for full size.)

Just under 2.5 hours, if that. 12 layers, counting the blank background and the signature layer.