CASCADING LIGHTS COMPOSITION
( Brush Play - Part 1 )
1. Open a New Canvas: Size=500 X 500; Resolution=72; Background=Transparent.
2.
Flood fill the canvas with color: #202020.
3. Go to EFFECTS
=> Texture Effects => Fine Leather. Select custom#6
under Presets and change the color to #00C000. This is going to
be the initial background texture.
4. Click the RETOUCH Tool
and copy the 2 settings below:
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5. Use the DODGE and LIGHTNESS DOWN settings alternately to define
the dark and bright areas in your image.
Also, use DODGE
to enhance the texture of the background further. Don't worry
about the size of the brush. Overlapping of brush strokes is alright
as long as you don't over do it. If one area becomes too bright,
use LIGHTNESS DOWN brush again or cover it with color (see step
6-7).
Again... don't OVER DO it. See sample on
the right for guide.
6. Still working on the same layer, click on AIRBRUSH Tool and
copy the settings and color below:
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COLOR |
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Airbrush Setting |
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7. LEFT CLICK to use Black; RIGHT CLICK to use Green color over the areas shown on the right. This will add more density to the "mossy" layer on the tree trunk.
Use the DODGE from time to time to enhance the texture further.
Once you're happy with the result, move on to the next step...
8. Now let's add some cracks. Click on RETOUCH Tool again and copy the settings below:
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9. Pick a dark spot on your image, click and hold down your mouse button and drag the brush as when you would draw cracks.
See image on the right for sample.
Draw some more... in different areas.
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If you did it right, you'll end up with something
like the image on the right. This is going to be
the background where the rest of the objects will
be based on and compared against. |
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That's it! Background is done. Now let's go to Part 2.