Recently I decided to get back into art. I like to draw on paper and then trace it on the computer using Photoshop CS5 and then start coloring it. The first thing is what settings or tool should I set my paint brush or pencil to make it as smooth as possible? I also wouldn't mind some good Photoshop brushes that I can use for effects like snowflakes, stars, etc. I attached a picture I made with the current method I'm using. I feel it could do better using some new tools and methods.

 

Great work! <3  

Posted by Elusive

Great work! <3

Thanks :o. I want my stuff to look like this:

http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/25300000/Pony-Kart-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-25333956-640-400.png (Unsupported image host)

It's nice and smooth while mine's the opposite. I don't know what kind of techniques people use for digital art, but I would sure like to know some. I've tried YouTube and it's kind of hard to find the one's that I had in mind.  

Posted by Tyler

Thanks :o. I want my stuff to look like this:

http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/25300000/Pony-Kart-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-25333956-640-400.png (Unsupported image host)

It's nice and smooth while mine's the opposite. I don't know what kind of techniques people use for digital art, but I would sure like to know some. I've tried YouTube and it's kind of hard to find the one's that I had in mind.

http://pixelpinch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/intuos4-pen_stand.jpg (Unsupported image host)  

Posted by RaiRai

http://pixelpinch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/intuos4-pen_stand.jpg (Unsupported image host)

My sister is an artist and she has a nice Wacom Bamboo tablet so I guess I'll try it out. I also just realized I could use the pen tool to make nice smooth outlines. I haven't tried it yet though.  

Firstly, there are parts of that image, such as the tail of the pony that are pillow shaded. this would be fine if the light source is directly in front of them but that would mean everything else has to be shaded the same way. secondly, either your outlines are too heavy, or you should just use shades to define the limbs and details of the pony. as you can see in the image you like a lot, there is no heavy outlines at all, thus removing a cartoony aspect. Thirdly, your shades are all too close together, don't be afraid to have large changes in shades, it really compliments the lighter colors and helps define your light source a lot better.  

nice work.  

He's asking for advice not praise...  

Posted by Zerith

Firstly, there are parts of that image, such as the tail of the pony that are pillow shaded. this would be fine if the light source is directly in front of them but that would mean everything else has to be shaded the same way. secondly, either your outlines are too heavy, or you should just use shades to define the limbs and details of the pony. as you can see in the image you like a lot, there is no heavy outlines at all, thus removing a cartoony aspect. Thirdly, your shades are all too close together, don't be afraid to have large changes in shades, it really compliments the lighter colors and helps define your light source a lot better.

Thanks for the tips. I'll try using them in my next drawing.

Posted by Remorse

nice work.

Thanks!  

Why is wheatley flying with a pony with balloons on his butt?

Anyways, nice!  

Posted by Shawn

Why is wheatley flying with a pony with balloons on his butt?

Anyways, nice!

That's the space core and pinky pie lol and thank you.  

Looked like wheatley from portal 2 <3  

Posted by Shawn

Looked like wheatley from portal 2 <3

I thought the same thing.  

A job well done  

I don't know a lot about Photoshop painting, but I do know that a lot of illustrators like to use a cross between Illustrator and Photoshop in their work. Illustrator gives you that smooth, clean edge really easily, and Photoshop is good for the painting aspect. I don't know exactly how these artist interchange between the two or their techniques, but perhaps something to look into.

Edit: LOL WHEATLY. awesome xD