Tutorials

Tutorials

Delete Transitions with Path Selections

Written by Krisztián Vértes

There are two slightly different methods that can be introduced here: the artist can either delete from or add to the initial curves. They are both very effective and, once mastered, they can be useful complements to hand-drawn brush strokes.

Tutorials

Dashed Brush Line

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Restored decorative elements and architectural features, when part of an inked drawing, are represented by a series of dashed lines, as we’ve discussed in Chapter 2, Section 3. Again, just as with dotted lines, drawing dashed lines digitally can be accomplished in more than one way.

Tutorials

Creating a Pattern for Modeling

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Modeling is indicated by a stippled area in which the variety in dot density adds a certain dimension to the texture. As with dotted paint lines and dashed architectural lines, the artist is free to add all the dots individually, and this is probably the easiest way to do so, especially when the area to be modeled is fairly small.

Tutorials

Adding Transitions by Moving the Path

Written by Krisztián Vértes

There are two slightly different methods that can be introduced here: the artist can either delete from or add to the initial curves. They are both very effective and, once mastered, they can be useful complements to hand-drawn brush strokes.

Tutorials

Detached Pencil Lines on Photo Enlargement

Written by Krisztián Vértes

If further clarification of the pencil lines is needed for some reason, the artist has one more tool in his/her hands, but the process has to be carried out meticulously from the first manipulation of the enlargement.

Tutorials

The Most Common Curves Adjustments

Written by Krisztián Vértes

As an Epigraphic Survey artist who works almost exclusively with black-and-white images, one would think that learning about Photoshop’s color management is rather pointless.

Tutorials

Drawing Curves by Using the Pen Tool

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Using the Pen tool is the most precise and most controllable way of drawing curved paths for brush strokes. Its main advantage over the Freeform Pen tool is that the artist determines the number and position of the Anchor Points he/ she wants to use along the path.

Tutorials

Adding Modifications with the Pen Tool

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Changing the arc of a curved line is just as hard in Photoshop as it is on paper - assuming the artist is drawing freehand. The artist has to pay attention to keeping the smoothness, the thickness, and the sun-shadow transitions of the original line while carefully adding and removing extra brush strokes.

Tutorials

Customizing Astropad

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Astropad, like all Apps that create a bridge between computer and iPad, has a desktop version that provides the necessary connection. Upon initial opening of the Mac App, one has to decide what percentage of the computer screen should be allowed to appear on the iPad.

Tutorials

Modifying Pencil Lines on B/W Photo Enlargements

Written by Krisztián Vértes

The best way to make local enhancements over smaller areas is by using the Burn and Dodge tools. The Burn tool can be used over light areas to make the pencil lines appear darker. When the artist uses the Burn tool, he/she has to be very careful

Tutorials

Assigning Certain Functions to the Pen and Hot Keys

Written by Krisztián Vértes

There should be some customization performed on the tablet’s button interface before putting it to work. When we click on the Functions tool, we see a picture of the left/right string of buttons with some commands already associated with them. These buttons are called Express Keys and can perform tasks associated with certain mouse clicks.

Tutorials

Puppet Warp

Written by Krisztián Vértes

The Puppet Warp is a function that enables the artist to distort selected areas on a drawing via a mesh overlay and the placement of pins. Although we’ve already applied certain transformations on selected areas

Tutorials

Setting up a Digital Scalpel Pattern

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Once again there is the obvious method of applying a “digital scalpel” over painted lines, using the Eraser, except that using the Eraser tool to get this lighter effect takes a very long time.

Tutorials

Using Layer Masks to Emphasize Details on a B/W Photo

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Layer Masks are one of those Photoshop features that beginners might find hard to work with, although the philosophy behind masks is very simple: masks enable the artist to hide or reveal parts of a layer.

Tutorials

Upscaling the psd file

Written by Krisztián Vértes

As a final preparatory step to ready the digitally penciled drawing for studio work, the artist needs to readjust the scale of the drawing to match its original dimensions. Since downscaling was a temporary necessity, required only to match the iPad’s and Procreate’s current limitations, we need to upscale our layered psd file to the same pixel resolution as it first appeared on our Template.

Tutorials

Setting Up the Drawing for Digital Blueprint

Written by Krisztián Vértes

The artist needs to execute a few modifications to be able to work with a color version of his/her drawing. The drawing is created in a grayscale environment, so any color that would be applied on it would show as a shade of gray.

Tutorials

Preparing the source file in Procreate

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Once the artist creates the highest resolution background that is still usable in Procreate, all the layers can be merged and the file can be saved as a regular jpeg, keeping its quality at its maximum.

Tutorials

Using the Magnetic Pen for Snapping Paths

Written by Krisztián Vértes

The Magnetic Pen Tool is an option of the Freeform Pen tool that lets the artist draw a path that snaps to the edges of defined areas on the drawing. We can set up the range and sensitivity of its behavior as well as the complexity of our path

Tutorials

The “Ready for Collation” Layer

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Before the artist starts adding the collation sheets to the digital drawing, he/she needs to set up the current stage as a layer for future reference. Later on, when we need a before and after collation comparison, this layer will be the one to which all subsequent changes can be related.

Tutorials

Creating a Companion Drawing Case

Written by Krisztián Vértes

With Wacom’s Companion, it is possible to use a digital photograph instead of a printed enlargement for the drawing background, “penciling” directly onto the digital image in the presence of the inscribed wall surface.

Tutorials

Creating Digital Paint Sheets

Written by Krisztián Vértes

As part of the collation package, paint sheets are regular (i.e., black-and-white) printed copies of the inked drawing. They can thus be made fairly easily by flattening the digital drawing and hitting print.

Tutorials

Customizing Procreate

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Once the jpeg is imported and placed in the relevant project’s folder, we can move on to Procreate’s interface customization. There is not a lot to do here, but one should be aware of a few tweaks that could potentially help with work in the field.

Tutorials

Setting Up Collation Sheets

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Along with refreshing our scanning skills, we also need to remember how to align layers properly. The Collation Sheet Layer needs to be matched exactly with the drawing, otherwise the changes end up being misaligned.

Tutorials

Procreate’s basic features

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Procreate lets the artist paint in high resolution using customized brushes in a multilayered environment. It has a simple user interface, with most of the settings and options tucked away in hidden menus, keeping the canvas uncluttered. On initial opening of the App, the user is presented with a series of sample artwork made in Procreate

Tutorials

Capturing additional information on the iPad

Written by Krisztián Vértes

Although the digital inking method that was specifically developed for documenting the remains of some late Roman murals will be explained in another chapter, the multiple ways in which data is initially captured at Luxor Temple justify a brief introduction here.