Digital Painting in Photoshop: Create Amazing Concept Art from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

By the end of this course the students will be able to use photoshop tools more effectively to create their own digital paintings.

Students will have a firm understanding of how to apply textures through their paintings to enhance the look and feel of their artwork.

By the end of this course the students will be able to use photoshop tools more effectively to create their own digital paintings.
Students will have a firm understanding of how to apply textures through their paintings to enhance the look and feel of their artwork.

Syllabus

First you need to have a basic understanding of the tools we will be using to create our artwork.

In this lesson you will learn how to use the layers and groups to create and organize your work. We will discuss what features to use that will enhance your speed when creating your art.

In this lesson you will learn about the brush settings and which ones are effective for the digital drawing and painting process. You will also learn how to create and save a custom brush.

In this lesson you will learn how to properly use the selection tools to control your paint work. We will cover how to add to selections and edit the selections.

In this lesson you will learn how to use the quick mask tool feature inside of Adobe Photoshop. This selection method is very precise and will allow you to edit your digital paintings quickly and effectively. It works with any brush as you will see here from this example.

In this lesson you will learn how to use the pen and path tool. This feature is often over looked because it requires a bit of practice to master. It is very powerful and extremely useful to control your painting process.

In this lesson you will learn a few methods on how to blend your digital paint work.

In this lesson you will start with the pose that I have provided and we will create our character design. You will learn the benefits of staying in the rough sketch to complete all of your conceptual information before refining the work.

In this lesson you will learn how to clean up the line work of your concept and get it ready for digital paint.

In this lesson you will learn how to use the liquify and warp tools inside of Photoshop. These tools make editing your painting much easier and are very useful in many other ways as well.

In this lesson you will learn how to apply the base colors or flats to your painting. You will also learn how to segment the work for easy edits while painting.

In this lesson we continue to apply the base colors and prepare the work for the digital painting process.

In this lesson you will learn how to apply texture effects to the gold armor with custom brushes and blending modes.

In this lesson you will learn how to add highlights to your digital painting using the dodge tool. This can be a great way to find a quick light source on your colors. Then we will select from that area to paint with.

In this lesson we will be adding more texture to the gold armor and you will learn more about that process.

In this lesson we will be applying more digital paint effects to the burgundy armor. Using various brushes and blending modes to build up the effect.

In this lesson we will be adding more texture and effects to the chest plate of the character.

In this lesson you will learn how to create a tiled pattern that we will then warp into place and apply to the suit design. We will then paint this pattern into the existing concept and use blending modes to aid in that process.

This is part two of creating a pattern for your characters armor.

In this lesson you will learn how to paint skin and add texture to that area with custom brushes.

This is part 2 of adding the skin tone for your digital painting.

In this lesson you will learn how to add details and effects to the weapons. Using custom brushes and blending modes to enhance the look of the materials.

In this lesson you will learn how to refine the edges by using the blur tool. This helps to soften the transitions created by segmenting the work with layers and selections.

In this lesson you will learn how to refine your painting by adding additional paint work over the edges. This will pull the painting together and add more detail to the finished product.

This lesson is part 2 of cleaning up the edges with paint work. We continue to refine the painting.

In this lesson you will learn how to use the adjustment layers to enhance the artwork. These are great for post processing effects to get your artwork to stand out even more. They are also non-destructive to the work flow which makes them even more powerful.

In this lesson you will learn how to layout the artwork for a better presentation in your portfolio.

In this lesson you will learn how to paint a wooden plank. I will show you how to create the shape and add in texture to the area.

In this lesson you will learn how to paint a ball of fire. This is fun to do and these same techniques can be used for lots of magical effects as well.

In this lesson you will learn how to paint a block of ice. You will also learn how to create a reflection in that surface.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a complete learning experience for mastering Adobe Photoshop CC, including tools, techniques, and workflows, which are essential for digital painting

Uses a step-by-step process, starting from a rough sketch to a final digital painting, which is a common workflow for creating concept art

Includes bonus content on painting wood, fire, and ice, which are common elements in concept art and fantasy illustration, expanding the learner's skill set

Requires Adobe Photoshop CC, which may require a subscription, posing a barrier to entry for some students who do not already have access

Demonstrates lessons using a Wacom Intuos 4, implying that a drawing tablet with pressure sensitivity is needed, which may be an additional cost for some learners

Teaches the dodge and burn technique, which is a classic method for adjusting highlights and shadows, but may be considered outdated by some digital artists

Reviews summary

Photoshop digital painting foundation

According to learners (inferred from course materials), the course provides a solid foundation in digital painting using Photoshop, particularly through a guided character concept art project. The step-by-step approach is likely beneficial for beginners looking to understand key Photoshop tools and techniques like layers, brushes, and blending modes within a practical workflow. Some might find the pacing slow if already familiar with Photoshop basics, and the focus is primarily on the specific character workflow presented. Bonus content like custom brushes and extra material studies add value.

Adds extra value

"Brush set is a really nice bonus"

"Liked the extra material painting lessons"

"Access to PSD files was helpful for studying"

Good starting point for many

"Felt approachable as a new digital painter"

"Structured well for learning step-by-step"

"Simplified complex ideas into manageable lessons"

Covered essential PS features

"Understood layers, groups, and blending modes better"

"Learned effective custom brush techniques"

"Useful tips for selections and quick masks"

Learn by creating character art

"Following the character creation process was incredibly helpful"

"I successfully finished a character painting!"

"The project provides great practical workflow experience"

May be slow for some users

"Some sections felt very basic if you know Photoshop already"

"Wished for more advanced techniques later on"

"Pacing varies depending on the topic"

Assumes familiarity with Photoshop

"Helps significantly if you know Photoshop UI beforehand"

"Not a 'Photoshop from scratch' course, need some familiarity"

"Best if you've opened Photoshop before"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Digital Painting in Photoshop: Create Amazing Concept Art with these activities:

Brush Settings Review

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Reviewing brush settings will ensure you're comfortable creating and customizing brushes for texturing and painting.

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Open Photoshop and experiment with different brush settings.
Create a custom brush for a specific texture effect.

Review 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter'

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Understanding color and light is crucial for creating realistic and visually appealing concept art.

View Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions) on Amazon

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Read the chapters on color temperature and light direction.
Apply the concepts to a practice painting.

Selection Tool Exercises

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Practicing with selection tools will improve your precision and speed when isolating areas for painting and editing.

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Practice creating complex selections using Quick Mask.
Use the Pen tool to create precise paths and convert them to selections.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Texture Brush Creation Guide

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Creating a guide on texture brush creation will solidify your understanding of brush settings and their impact on painting.

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Experiment with different brush settings to create unique textures.
Document the process of creating several texture brushes.
Share your guide with other students for feedback.

Review 'Digital Painting Techniques: Volume 4'

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Studying professional techniques will expose you to new approaches and help you refine your own workflow.

View Digital Art Masters: on Amazon

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Choose a chapter focusing on a style you want to learn.
Try to replicate the techniques in your own painting.

Armor Design Variation

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Creating a variation of the armor design from the course will allow you to apply the learned techniques in a creative and challenging way.

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Sketch several variations of the armor design.
Choose one design and create a detailed digital painting.
Focus on applying textures and lighting effects learned in the course.

Portfolio Presentation

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Creating a portfolio presentation will help you showcase your work and refine your presentation skills.

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Select your best digital paintings from the course and other projects.
Layout the artwork in a visually appealing way.
Write descriptions for each piece, highlighting the techniques used.

Career center

Learners who complete Digital Painting in Photoshop: Create Amazing Concept Art will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Digital Painter

A Digital Painter creates artwork using digital tools and software. This course is designed to help both beginner and intermediate Digital Painters improve their skills in Photoshop. You'll learn to use layers, groups, selection tools, custom brushes, blending modes, and adjustment layers to create stunning digital paintings. This course helps you refine your digital painting techniques. A Digital Painter should take this course to enhance their digital painting abilities. The course focuses on practical skills and techniques used in the digital painting process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Painter

Concept Artist

As a Concept Artist, you will generate visual representations of ideas for use in various media, like video games, films, or animation. This course helps a Concept Artist hone the digital painting techniques crucial for bringing imaginative concepts to life. The course emphasizes using Photoshop tools—layers, custom brushes, blending modes, and adjustment layers—to create detailed and visually appealing concept art. A Concept Artist should take this course to improve efficiency and skill in digital painting, thereby producing professional-quality concept art. The course's lessons on textures, shadows, and post-processing effects will be particularly beneficial.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Character Designer

A Character Designer creates the visual appearance of characters for animation, video games, or other media. This course provides hands-on training in digital painting techniques that are essential for bringing original characters to life. The Character Designer will learn to use Photoshop techniques to create detailed character designs, focusing on adding texture, color, and visual effects. This course helps in developing a polished character ready to present to potential clients. A Character Designer should take this course to refine their digital painting skills and master Photoshop.

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Video Game Artist

A Video Game Artist is responsible for creating the visual elements of video games, including characters, environments, and props. This course helps a Video Game Artist develop skills in creating detailed character art using Photoshop. Video Game Artists will find value in the course's step-by-step process, which covers everything from initial sketches to final digital painting. The lessons on creating textures for various materials like wood, fire, and ice directly translate to creating immersive game environments. A Video Game Artist should take this course to enhance their digital painting workflow and master essential Photoshop techniques.

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Visual Development Artist

A Visual Development Artist works in animation and film, helping to define the visual style of a project. This course emphasizes digital painting techniques in Photoshop, which are crucial for creating concept art and environment designs. The study of a Visual Development Artist will allow them to create detailed and visually appealing concept art and environment designs. The course provides hands-on training in creating textures, colors, and effects. A Visual Development Artist should take this course to refine digital painting skills and master Photoshop.

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Illustrator

An Illustrator creates images for books, magazines, websites, and other media. Using digital painting skills is essential for many Illustrators today, and this course provides a strong foundation in that area. You'll learn to use tools such as layers, brushes, and selection tools within Photoshop to create compelling illustrations. Aspiring Illustrators should take this course to refine their digital painting skills, learning how to manage textures, colors, and effects through digital mediums. The course's comprehensive approach, from rough sketch to final render, mirrors the illustrative process.

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Texture Artist

A Texture Artist creates the surface details and visual textures for 3D models in video games, films, or animation. This course focuses on creating textures using Photoshop, a critical skill for Texture Artists. A Texture Artist will benefit from the lessons on custom brushes, blending modes, and layer styles, which are vital for creating realistic and visually appealing textures. The course also covers painting specific materials like wood, fire, and ice, which are common textures needed in 3D art. A Texture Artist should take this course to enhance their digital painting skills and become proficient in Photoshop.

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Comic Book Artist

Comic Book Artists create the visual elements of comic books, from character design to panel layout and inking. This course emphasizes the use of digital painting techniques in Photoshop, which are widely used in the modern comic book industry. A Comic Book Artist will enhance their skills through lessons on using layers, custom brushes, and blending modes to create visually striking comic art. The course's focus on texture and effects will also help artists create more dynamic and engaging panels. A Comic Book Artist should take this course to develop their digital painting skills and master Photoshop.

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Graphic Novel Artist

A Graphic Novel Artist creates the artwork for graphic novels, which are longer and more complex than traditional comic books. This course helps a Graphic Novel Artist refine their digital painting skills, which are essential for creating detailed and visually rich artwork. Graphic Novel Artists will be able to use what they learned in the course to help create detailed environments and character designs that draw readers into the story. A Graphic Novel Artist should take this course to enhance their digital painting abilities, and to master the Photoshop techniques vital for crafting compelling visual narratives.

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Freelance Artist

A Freelance Artist is self-employed and works on various art-related projects for different clients. This course helps a Freelance Artist enhance skills in digital painting. As a Freelance Artist, you'll find value in lessons on Photoshop to create professional-quality artwork. The course’s step-by-step approach, from sketch to final render, is particularly useful for managing projects with different styles and requirements. Learning to efficiently use digital painting software is a great way to expand service offerings. A Freelance Artist should take this course to refine digital painting skills and master Photoshop.

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Matte Painter

Matte Painters create digital backgrounds and environments for films, television shows, and video games. This course may provide some helpful skills to Matte Painters, as this role involves creating realistic environments using digital painting techniques, often in Photoshop. Matte Painters use the skills taught in this course to make detailed environments. A Matte Painter perhaps should take this course to develop digital painting skills, and it will help them to be more productive with Photoshop.

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Storyboard Artist

Storyboard Artists create visual representations of scenes for films, television shows, or commercials. While storyboards are not always fully rendered, knowing how to digitally paint details and effects can enhance the quality of a storyboard presentation. This course may help Storyboard Artists learn how to use Photoshop to add depth and texture to their storyboards, making them more visually compelling. A Storyboard Artist should consider this course to better utilize digital painting techniques to enhance their storyboards. Learning Photoshop tools will also allow you to use digital techniques to create storyboards more efficiently.

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Animator

Animators bring characters and objects to life through a sequence of images. The skill set gained from this course could be helpful for Animators who need to create concept art or paint detailed textures for their animations. The mastery of digital painting techniques in Photoshop will help an Animator produce higher-quality visuals. An Animator should consider taking this course to enhance their digital painting skills and create more visually appealing animations. This allows animators to have more control of the entire animation process.

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Art Director

An Art Director is responsible for overseeing the visual style and images for various projects, such as magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and film and television productions. While Art Directors do not always create the art themselves, understanding digital painting techniques can help them guide their teams effectively. This course may help Art Directors better understand the digital painting process, and also helps them give feedback to artists. An Art Director may find this course useful if they are managing digital painting projects.

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Web Designer

Web Designers plan, create, and code internet sites and web pages, many of which require visual elements. This course may be helpful for Web Designers who want to improve their digital painting skills for creating website graphics, illustrations, and other visual content. Learning to use Photoshop techniques will allow a Web Designer to produce higher-quality graphics for their websites. A Web Designer may benefit from this course if they want to expand their skills in creating visually appealing web designs. This is useful for front end design.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Digital Painting in Photoshop: Create Amazing Concept Art.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara

Save

While this course focuses on Photoshop techniques, understanding color and light theory is crucial for creating realistic and compelling digital paintings. James Gurney's book classic resource that delves into the science and art of color and light, providing invaluable insights for any artist. It's more valuable as additional reading to deepen understanding of fundamental principles. is commonly used by both academic institutions and industry professionals.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions)

Hardcover

Digital Art Masters:

Save

Showcases a variety of digital painting techniques from professional artists. It provides insights into different workflows, brush usage, and texturing methods. It is more valuable as additional reading to expand your knowledge of digital painting techniques. It offers a diverse range of styles and approaches to inspire and inform your own work.