The BRAWL² Tournament Challenge has been announced!
It starts May 12, and ends Oct 17. Let's see what you got!
https://polycount.com/discussion/237047/the-brawl²-tournament
It starts May 12, and ends Oct 17. Let's see what you got!
https://polycount.com/discussion/237047/the-brawl²-tournament
Are there any good recommended tutorials that teach you how to draw and paint concepts in Photoshop?
Hello! I'm eager to learn how to paint and draw in Photoshop so I can
develop my own concepts for enviroments. Does anyone have recommendations for good
tutorials that offer a crash course for beginners or intermediates?
Replies
I think the base of many environment concepts is a 3d blockout. For example concepts could be done on top of renders of a greybox level, or the current level state to explore options. I think a crucial part when fleshing out an idea, whether 2d or 3d, is getting good references and being able to extract the defining features (layout-rules, repeating details, surfaces, lighting, ...). I think an effective, low-tech way to practice observation is drawing from life. Concepts don't have to look beautiful, but help to solve problems beforehand and to communicate an idea in a way it can be acted on.
As with most topics, just absorbing theoretical knowledge will only do so much, perhaps decide on a loose idea that you want to flesh out, then try/ learn based on that project.
I just went through all the links to make sure they work, and added a new one from Ron Lemen.
There's no crash course.
You need to be able to invent
And you need to be able to make what's in your head.
It takes time and work to be good - even if you're born with exceptional talent
IMHO mixing up the subject (concept art for environments) and the tool (Photoshop) is a dangerous misconception, and it could hurt your range significantly in the long run.
Now there are indeed a few clever tricks that Photoshop allows, for instance performing very fast lasso and polygonal selections, or easily manipulating elements with Free Transform and Liquify ; but these will not teach you anything about designing environments. At best this toolset will nudge you towards a certain niche look defined by effects rather than design.
It would be a bit like attempting to learn figurative painting by following Bob Ross videos, or by replicating the tricks of street vendors doing space art and fantasy landscapes with quick spray paint and stencil tricks.
I think you'd be much better off dedicating 6 months to a year to traditional drawing only (for instance by looking up Feng Zhu instructional videos as already mentioned, and by doing some plein air sketching and paintings to train your observation skills) ; and only later transition to digital. Photoshop in and of itself is really quite straightforward, you'll be able to pick it up in no time especially if you have a solid traditional background.
All that said, good luck !