Photoshop Tutorial:
The things you'll need for this tutorial are: Photoshop!
This is the first part of the tutorial. I won't make you go out and get everything since you don't need a tablet just yet. Let's start with some simple functions. For this tutorial I'll be using Photoshop CS5, the Mac edition. Don't worry, functions don't change or move between windows and mac versions. If you're going to use photoshop with a tablet, please note that you need to have the tablet plugged in to the computer via usb before opening the program.
Okay so here's our layout. There's much more here that isn't shown but this is really the basics that you'll need to start drawing in photoshop.
1: Select/Transform
This tool is useful for selecting something on the layer you're using and moving that layer across the screen. You'll notice that when you select it TRANSFORM tools show up that can be moved to reshape and resize. If you hold SHIFT while resizing, you'll always stay in proportion. The closer to proportion you remain, the better the chance that what you're drawing will be believable.
2: Free Select
This is more of a 'your choice' tool. On the layer you're using, if you simply drag it across what you'd like to select, you can work within that area without worrying about going outside the lines, or even better, you can delete that portion of the layer you're on. Don't be afraid to experiment. This is also the tool you'll be using for copying or cutting portions of your picture.
3: Lasso
Like the free select, however you draw the shape you want to cut or transform.
4: Wand Select
This is just like free select, however you'll now be selecting the most CONTRASTING areas of your picture. The more contrast the better the tool will pick up on differences. Great for making a transparent background on an image.
5: Crop
Use this tool to cut down the canvas to the size you want around your image. It's suggested you don't touch this until you're sure that you're done.
6: Eye Dropper
If you're working with color, this is the tool you'll want to play with the most. You can use this tool to quickly select a color from your picture to use in coloring.
7: Patch
Kind of like the clone tool, but this tool fills in the area you select with a texture.
8: Brush
The best and most useful tool in photoshop for just drawing. Trust me on this. You can select different brush sizes, different sensitivities, and if you're using a tablet even manipulate things to work the way you want.
9: Clone
Fill the area in with a portion from another part of the image.
10: History Brush
If you've got history on your drawing this can fix any mistakes you've made.
11: Erase
Erase portions of your drawing. Notably, if you've got a tablet, some pens have a bump on the back that you can just use rather than selecting the tool.
12: Gradient
Creates a spectrum of color, usually two or more, that can go any way across the image you desire to give depth
13: Smudge
Smudges the part of the image you select, need I say more?
14: Dodge
Adds light to your image, brightens portions up.
15: Pen
You can use this tool to create flowing and controlled lines through your image. This is the main tool used in line-arts but takes significantly more time than just sketching. I recommend not to even touch it.
16: Text
Adds text to your image.
17: Path Select
Not important.
18: Elipse/Shape
Adds shapes to your image. Think of paint. It's pretty much the same.
19: Zoom
Working in photoshop, you'll be zooming in and out continuously. I promise it. You can use this tool to get the best of your image size and add amazing detail.
20: Color
Who doesn't know what color is? Click the box and you can select a wide spectrum of color to be assigned to your brush or tool instead of just black or white. The little boxes above the color icon will change the colors back to default, aka black and white.
21: Layers
For this tutorial all you'll need to know about is layers over here. These are what give you more than one page so to speak. You can doodle on one layer to see if what you have planned will fit with the rest of the image. To create a new layer, Ctrl+Shift+n
Now for this I'm going to start going into your brushes, since this was requested by someone who uses a tablet. Your brush dynamics can add a lot to different parts of photoshop, and give you different effects. For just sketching however, you should just stick with the regular brush as usually pressure will be default.
For this just make sure that your shape dynamics are checked and that when you click it, Size Jitter is set to respond to pen pressure.
Next, lets move on to the tablet sketching tutorial.
The things you'll need for this tutorial are: Photoshop!
This is the first part of the tutorial. I won't make you go out and get everything since you don't need a tablet just yet. Let's start with some simple functions. For this tutorial I'll be using Photoshop CS5, the Mac edition. Don't worry, functions don't change or move between windows and mac versions. If you're going to use photoshop with a tablet, please note that you need to have the tablet plugged in to the computer via usb before opening the program.
Okay so here's our layout. There's much more here that isn't shown but this is really the basics that you'll need to start drawing in photoshop.
1: Select/Transform
This tool is useful for selecting something on the layer you're using and moving that layer across the screen. You'll notice that when you select it TRANSFORM tools show up that can be moved to reshape and resize. If you hold SHIFT while resizing, you'll always stay in proportion. The closer to proportion you remain, the better the chance that what you're drawing will be believable.
2: Free Select
This is more of a 'your choice' tool. On the layer you're using, if you simply drag it across what you'd like to select, you can work within that area without worrying about going outside the lines, or even better, you can delete that portion of the layer you're on. Don't be afraid to experiment. This is also the tool you'll be using for copying or cutting portions of your picture.
3: Lasso
Like the free select, however you draw the shape you want to cut or transform.
4: Wand Select
This is just like free select, however you'll now be selecting the most CONTRASTING areas of your picture. The more contrast the better the tool will pick up on differences. Great for making a transparent background on an image.
5: Crop
Use this tool to cut down the canvas to the size you want around your image. It's suggested you don't touch this until you're sure that you're done.
6: Eye Dropper
If you're working with color, this is the tool you'll want to play with the most. You can use this tool to quickly select a color from your picture to use in coloring.
7: Patch
Kind of like the clone tool, but this tool fills in the area you select with a texture.
8: Brush
The best and most useful tool in photoshop for just drawing. Trust me on this. You can select different brush sizes, different sensitivities, and if you're using a tablet even manipulate things to work the way you want.
9: Clone
Fill the area in with a portion from another part of the image.
10: History Brush
If you've got history on your drawing this can fix any mistakes you've made.
11: Erase
Erase portions of your drawing. Notably, if you've got a tablet, some pens have a bump on the back that you can just use rather than selecting the tool.
12: Gradient
Creates a spectrum of color, usually two or more, that can go any way across the image you desire to give depth
13: Smudge
Smudges the part of the image you select, need I say more?
14: Dodge
Adds light to your image, brightens portions up.
15: Pen
You can use this tool to create flowing and controlled lines through your image. This is the main tool used in line-arts but takes significantly more time than just sketching. I recommend not to even touch it.
16: Text
Adds text to your image.
17: Path Select
Not important.
18: Elipse/Shape
Adds shapes to your image. Think of paint. It's pretty much the same.
19: Zoom
Working in photoshop, you'll be zooming in and out continuously. I promise it. You can use this tool to get the best of your image size and add amazing detail.
20: Color
Who doesn't know what color is? Click the box and you can select a wide spectrum of color to be assigned to your brush or tool instead of just black or white. The little boxes above the color icon will change the colors back to default, aka black and white.
21: Layers
For this tutorial all you'll need to know about is layers over here. These are what give you more than one page so to speak. You can doodle on one layer to see if what you have planned will fit with the rest of the image. To create a new layer, Ctrl+Shift+n
Now for this I'm going to start going into your brushes, since this was requested by someone who uses a tablet. Your brush dynamics can add a lot to different parts of photoshop, and give you different effects. For just sketching however, you should just stick with the regular brush as usually pressure will be default.
For this just make sure that your shape dynamics are checked and that when you click it, Size Jitter is set to respond to pen pressure.
Next, lets move on to the tablet sketching tutorial.
