Popular Post hippiechos Posted April 20, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 20, 2017 This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it A few fellow forum members suggested I make a tutorial after giving shading tips on a different thread. No plug-ins needed. This will work on colored images as well to accent the highlights and shadows, but I tend to play with it the most on my sketches. First, start with your base image. Add a new layer for shadows and set the Blending Mode to Color Burn Add another layer for highlights and set the Blending Mode to Color Dodge Using a dark gray on the Dodge layer, color where you want highlights. The lighter the color, the brighter the highlight. If it looks too bright, try a darker color. Black will probably not show up at all. I like to lower the hardness of the brush to get a softer edge to help with blending later. If you want distinct highlights, you can try a harder brush. Using a light gray on the Burn layer, color where you want shadows. The darker the color, the deeper the shadows. Use Gaussian Blur to smooth out the shadows. Play with the slider to see what works best for your image. Do the same to the highlights. Using the eraser tool, clean up the edges of the highlights and shadows so they don't creep beyond the borders of your image. If you find a section that needs a bit more adjustment, you can color where needed, use the selection tool to choose just that area, and then blur again to smooth it out. Another option is to reduce the hardness of your brush and adjust the opacity to make it slightly transparent, if you want just a subtle change. And then, you're done! You can adjust the opacity of the Dodge and Burn layers if the highlights and shadows are too bright/dark. This same technique on a colored photo (done quickly for this tutorial, not because my daughter needed any dramatization to her face): 1 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishi Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) Yes, the soft brush with varying opacity is a great tool. I think its potential is underrated. I like how 3Dish you made the shadows and highlights with the simple step. This is a forerunner to digital painting in Paint.NET. What the technique was able to achieve on your daughter's picture makes me think of an impressionist painting. Edited April 20, 2017 by Ishi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ego Eram Reputo Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Really like this Hippiechos! Thank you for posting such a neat tutorial. Quote ebook: Mastering Paint.NET | resources: Plugin Index | Stereogram Tut | proud supporter of Codelab plugins: EER's Plugin Pack | Planetoid | StickMan | WhichSymbol+ | Dr Scott's Markup Renderer | CSV Filetype | dwarf horde plugins: Plugin Browser | ShapeMaker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximilian Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Super useful and well explained tutorial, hippiechos! ? I've been studying shading for some time, mostly for pencil-on-paper sketches, and it's impressive how a work's aspect changes when shaded. This will surely come in handy since I also enjoy tweaking my sketches digitally 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beta0 Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 I have a few problems with grayscale painting. This might come in handy. :] Quote A Gallery Where to find me :D (Please, be careful. Some of the sites I'm on might not be family-friendly. 😱 ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LionsDragon Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Thank you! You have no idea how much this helps. Also, your daughter is adorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippiechos Posted April 21, 2017 Author Share Posted April 21, 2017 Thank you, everyone. I'm glad you guys found this useful! I'd love to see what works you create with the technique. @LionsDragon - Thank you. I tend to agree about her adorableness. We were having fun playing dress-up and doing a photo shoot, so I could practice taking pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynxster4 Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Great technique @hippiechos! I would have never thought of highlighting and shading this way. I'll have to experiment. Thank you!! Quote My Art Gallery | My Shape Packs | ShapeMaker Mini Tut | Air Bubble Stained Glass Chrome Text with Reflections | Porcelain Text w/ Variegated Coloring | Realistic Knit PatternOpalescent Stained Glass | Frosted Snowman Cookie | Leather Texture | Plastic Text | Silk Embroidery Visit my Personal Website "Never, ever lose your sense of humor - you'll live longer" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seerose Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 @hippiechos! Thank you for sharing! You have a pretty daughter. *I'll be back tomorrow to give you a reputation. Quote Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Gandhi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ego Eram Reputo Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Added PDF link 1 Quote ebook: Mastering Paint.NET | resources: Plugin Index | Stereogram Tut | proud supporter of Codelab plugins: EER's Plugin Pack | Planetoid | StickMan | WhichSymbol+ | Dr Scott's Markup Renderer | CSV Filetype | dwarf horde plugins: Plugin Browser | ShapeMaker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.