Ok..
another shadow layer, this one for the
shirt. This was done after most of the
shirt was completed (next layer below).
Same as the jean shadows, but for one
big difference. The shadows for the strings
across her chest. That was freehand airbrush.
You can't just drop-shadow the shirt...
shadows don't move in straight lines when
you're talking cleavage. It took a couple
tries (ctl-z!!!... eraser!), but I got
to the point where I thought it looked
realistic.
Now
the main shirt layer. This is some work.
A couple layers, much experimentation
until it looks right. I try to pay attention
to how clothes form around a person. Look
around, look at yourself.. see how the
fabric stretches.
I never worry too much about getting color
just right. I can always colorize, adjust,
and tweak a few things later to get exactly
what I'm looking for.
Another
shirt layer. I know you don't see much
difference, but this is a duplicate set
to 'multiply' at 16% to darken it a bit.
I know I could have just adjusted the
brightness and contrast of the original
layer, but here's the thing: with this
layer, I can go back and adjust the opacity
of this layer at any time, changing the
darkness of the shirt. Set to 'hard light'
or 'overlay', I could have adjusted the
contrast.
Here's
the layer of 'dirt' for the shirt. Same
as the jeans, but more brown. Again, the
layer was set to 'multiply', this time
at 63%.
Moving
up the layers, we've come to the hair
shadow. I've erased the part I don't need
to see. Again, I have to be careful, because
it can't be just a 'drop-shadow'. The
way the hair throws shadows across the
curves of her face can be much different.
I added a bit more with the airbrush on
her neck, for example.
Here's
the hair layer. If you'd like to know
more about how I do this, you can go to
my
hair tutorial.
So,
finally we've come to the end of part
of the total 'Liberty 2100' picture. This
is a small version of the completed body.
I merged the layers I could. Sometimes
when you merge a 'multiply' and an 'overlay'
you get weird effects. I got it down to
three or four layers and copied them all
back into the larger picture with the
big background. Then I got into painting
the flag... and believe me, that's a whole
'nother story.
