| TUTORIAL

|
54 December 2007

ART143.tut_1 Sec2:54 2/11/07 15:34:27


ON THE CD
You’ll find all the files you
need to do this tutorial in
the folder named
Tutorials\lowbrow on this
issue’s CD.
TIME NEEDED
2 hours
SKILLS
• Smart Objects
• Template layers
• Gradient meshes
INFO
Derek Lea is
an award-
winning
illustrator,
author and instructor at
Centennial College in
Toronto, Canada. Check
out more of his work and
his latest book at www.
dereklea.com and www.
creativephotoshop
thebook.com.
ART143.tut_1 Sec2:55
TUTORIAL |
PHOTOSHOP • ILLUSTRATOR
PIXELS AND VECTORS
The gap between working with pixels and vectors in Photoshop and Illustrator is closing rapidly, thanks
to Smart Objects. Derek Lea explains all while creating a highly textured yet vector-sharp masterpiece
As artists, something we all
strive for, besides perfection, is
flexibility. When it comes to working
on an illustration, such as the one you
see here, a non-linear workflow is
always the best way to achieve
stunning results. It’s important to allow
the artwork to flow. When you’re less
hampered by the finality of what you’re Launch Photoshop and open the file
doing, you can relax a little and focus
solely on creating. The process should
1 background.jpg. Launch Illustrator
and open the file rays.ai. Select and copy
4 Keep the burlap layer targeted, but
Ctrl/Cmd-click on the Smart Object
thumbnail in the Layers palette to load it
never stand in the way of your vision. the artwork in the Illustrator file, then as a selection. With the selection active,
For this project it begins with the return to Photoshop. Paste the art into click on the Add Layer Mask button. After
background, and we’ll be bringing your Photoshop file by hitting Ctrl/Cmd+V. masking the burlap layer, drag it onto the
vector illustrations into Photoshop as Create New Layer button to duplicate it.
Smart Objects from the outset. The
great thing about working with Smart
Objects is that they are instances of
artwork, rather than the artwork itself.
You can place your objects into
Photoshop, reopen them in Illustrator,
make alterations, and the amended
content is automatically updated
within Photoshop. This enables us to
check the effects of our changes as we
make them, and go back and forth
between programs until the illustration
2 Choose Smart
Object from the list of Paste As
options and you’ll see your copied art 5 Change the blending mode of your
duplicate layer to Screen and choose
is refined and complete. appear on the canvas surrounded by a File>Place. Navigate to the cloud1.ai file
We use the same approach to create bounding box. Shift-drag a corner point to and click the Place button. In the Place
the main elements within the increase the size and press Enter to apply PDF dialog, leave the Select option set to
illustration. As you progress through the transformation. Change the Smart Page and leave the Crop To option set to
this tutorial, the benefits of working in Object’s blending mode to Color. Bounding Box. Click OK.
this manner will quickly reveal
themselves. The process is simple and
the integration of Smart Objects into
the Illustrator/Photoshop workflow is
so streamlined that you don’t need to
concern yourself with the order in
which you create things. Rather, you
just need to think about what it is you
want to create, which is exactly the
way it should be.
3 Reduce the object opacity to 26% and
open the burlap.jpg file. Use the Move
tool to drag the burlap image into your
6 Again, the vector object is put into your
file surrounded by a bounding box.
Resize it proportionately and reposition it
Tutorial and illustration by Derek Lea working file. Drag the burlap layer on the canvas. Press Enter. Change the
www.dereklea.com beneath the Smart Object in the Layers blending to Color Burn and duplicate the
palette. Reduce the opacity to 51%. cloud object in the Layers palette.
December 2007 | 55
2/11/07 15:34:37
 | TUTORIAL

PHOTOSHOP • ILLUSTRATOR
HIDING OBJECTS

Sometimes when
tracing your artwork
in Illustrator you
need to see the
underlying sketch
layer, but you don’t
want to work in
Outline mode
because it hides
specific objects that
you wish to view in
full colour. The
12 There will be instances when you
cannot see the template beneath
because a shape you’ve already created is

7 Change the blending mode of the duplicate object to Color in the Layers palette.
Duplicate the object again then use Edit>Free Transform to adjust its size and
positioning on the canvas. Change the object’s blending mode to Normal and set the
solution is to hide
individual objects as
the need arises.
obscuring it. Toggle between Outline and
Preview modes by pressing Ctrl/Cmd+Y.
This will enable you to see the sketch in
opacity to 54%. Duplicate this object and move it to another area of the canvas. Simply select an Outline mode and see your full-colour
object and type Ctrl/ results in Preview mode as necessary.
Cmd+3 to hide it.
Then, when you’re
finished, type Ctrl/
Cmd+Shift+3 to show
all hidden objects
once again.

10 Because you can’t create objects

on a template layer, you’ll need to
13 For the tentacles, create a custom

8 Use the File>Place method to bring

the remaining two Illustrator cloud
files into your Photoshop file as Smart
create a new layer in your file and ensure
that it’s targeted in the Layers palette.
Use the sketch as your guide and begin
SMARTER OBJECTS

Although they are

Objects. Alter their size and positioning as
you see fit. Move them up or down within
the Layers palette and experiment with
the blending modes and opacity settings.
to create a series of closed shapes on the
current layer in various colours.
suction-cup shape and use
duplicates of it, altering size and rotation
as you go, to fill the underside of each
very different from tentacle. When you’ve finished defining
layers, Smart the basic shape, duplicate the current
Objects reside within layer by dragging it onto the Create New
the same palette. As Layer button in the Layers palette.

11 At this
point
don’t worry too
a result they are
privy to many of the
same features. Just
much about the because you’re
details within placing objects from
the character. Illustrator, it doesn’t
Instead, focus mean that you can’t
on constructing take advantage of
the objects that Photoshop’s layer
are integral to defining the overall shape features. Add layer
In Illustrator create a new file.
9 Choose File>Place and put the
sketch.jpg file into your document. Adjust
and exterior contour. It’s also good to get
into the habit of turning off the visibility of
the template layer periodically, to view
styles, alter opacity,
change blending
modes and mask
14 Lock the duplicate layer and
select the contents of the original
layer. In the Pathfinder palette, select Add
the size if necessary and double-click the your creation clearly. your Smart Objects To Shape Area and click Expand to convert
current layer in the Layers palette. Enable just like you would the layer into a single object. Specify no
the Template option and click OK to any normal layer. fill, but add a stroke of the same colour as
convert it into a template layer. the stroke on the cloud objects.

|
56 December 2007

ART143.tut_1 Sec2:56 2/11/07 15:34:46

 TUTORIAL |

18 After you’ve darkened your new

shape to indicate shading, select
the duplicate shape that lies directly
20 Select an area that you’d like to
add a gradient effect to, such as
the front of the TV screen, and choose the

15 Ensure that the

visibility of your
template layer is disabled.
beneath it as well. With both objects
selected, click on the Intersect Shape
Areas option in the Pathfinder palette.
Gradient Mesh tool. Click in the area
where you’d like a highlight to appear and
select a lighter colour from the Color
Save your file and quit This makes the shaded object visible only palette. Add more graduated highlights
Illustrator. Return to your where it overlaps the underlying shape. using the same method.
working file in Photoshop. Ensure that the
top layer is targeted in the Layers palette
then use the File>Place function again to
add your new Illustrator art to the file.

19 Use this method to add shading to

all of the different parts of the 21 Use the methods you’ve used so
far to finish creating the creature
within Illustrator. Create eyes and teeth
16 After you’ve had a look at your
object within the Photoshop
environment, you’ll see what basic colour
TEMPLATE LAYERS
creature. Use it with lighter-coloured
overlapping objects to create highlight
areas as well. Carefully begin creating all
using gradient meshes and remember
that you can edit your meshes using the
edits are required to help the overall The advantage of of the remaining details that are indicated same tool. Add further details on new
composition. To reopen this Smart Object using a template by the template layer’s sketch. layers above and below as you see fit, and
in Illustrator, simply double-click it in the layer that’s save your changes when you’re finished.
Layers palette. Unlock the original objects immediately evident
layer. Select objects and edit fill colours is the decrease in
as you see fit. opacity of your
sketch, making it
less of a visual
distraction as you
work. While you
could just place the
sketch on a normal
layer and reduce the
opacity, a template
layer remains visible
even when you’re
22 After saving, quit
Illustrator and return
to Photoshop. It may take a

17 Add some shading to the flat areas

of your creature. An excellent
method for shading involves making a
working in Outline
mode. Art placed on
a regular layer is
few moments but the Smart
Object within your Photoshop
file will update automatically,
duplicate of the desired object in the displayed as an reflecting the changes that
Layers palette. Then draw an object that empty box when you just made. Continue in this
overlaps the duplicate and indicates viewing your artwork manner, bouncing back and
shading, and place it directly above the in Outline mode. forth between applications,
duplicate object in the Layers palette. until you’re satisfied.

December 2007 | 57

ART143.tut_1 Sec2:57 2/11/07 15:35:00