RENDERING STEP BY STEP 
 

Location: Index >> Special Features

By: Skan Srisuwan

 
 

Introduction

 

This week, I would like to share with everyone how we approach painting a scene. For this exercise, I'll use a design from one of my previous articles.

 

STEP 01 ORTHOGRAPHIC VIEW

 

Get the design plotted in side view and front view, to get the right proportion and precise plan for calculation.

 

 

STEP 02 PLOTTING

 

After establishing the camera angle and perspective, I proceed to draw the spaceship.

 

 

STEP 03 PLATE AND FRAME

 

Begin by setting the color palette to start the painting. The subject matter is not the focus, I just need to get the right color information. After getting the background plate, I use local color to define the shape to get the right silhouette. It’s more important to follow the drawing lines and remove the unnecessary details: value and harmony are not important at this moment.

 

 

STEP 04 CONTROL OVER

 

After getting the plate done, I will begin using “multiply” and “dodge” layer to control the value. This is to create depth and focus in the scene.

 
 
 

 

Hue / Saturation mask is a very useful layer property for value control: click in layers menu bar and choose “Hue/Saturation” and turn saturation to -100. This will turn the whole image to B&W and you can start painting with Dodge and Multiply underneath; which you can turn on and off to check your value at any time.

 

 
 

STEP 05 ADD ON AND DEFINE

 

After getting the basic color information and value in place (roughly), I start by adding more to define the ship and the background using the palette from the local value. The key to rendering is to understand the properties of light, material and how each object would react to each other in the environment. This is to put all the information in the right place for a close up view. I’m using just a flat brush to paint with no customization or textures.

 

 

 

 
 

 

For the close up of chrome canopy, I plot the estimated

reflection using hard round brush with a simple setting for

brush size flexibility only. By dragging the pen on the canvas

it will generate various values and blend with the opacity

setting of a constant value. This is very useful for

environment painting that requires a lot of precise value

control.

Another important note is to keep the lineart on top until

you have reached the final step to keep the form.

Structures will be lost if you start painting or blending over

the image. For lighting calculation, observe and analyze

from a real object to see how it works in different conditions.

This will help you understand and you will be able to see

how real objects work and

apply the skill to something

that does not exist.
   
 

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