The
following tutorials will cover how
I render realistic fur in Photoshop
6.
Tools
you will use:
Airbrush
Smudge
Tool
Paint
Brush Tool
Settings:
1px brush size
2px
brush size
Disclaimer
While
alot of people like my Digital Realism
technique, it is strongly advised
that if you do not have a graphics
tablet, you should refrain from
doing Digital Realism fur. The repetativeness
of this technique can lead to wrist
strain and eventually, carpal tunnel,
if done with a mouse, and done too
frequently. If you attempt this
technique with a mouse, and do not
take 15-20 miniute breaks every
30 minutes or so that you work to
relax your wirst, I can not be held
responsible for any strain/damage
to your wrist from the use of this
techique. If you do not have the
tools (in this case, a graphics
tablet) it is best that you just
stay away from this technique.
Long
Fur
Step 1
Sketch
out your image, either in Photoshop,
or with a pencil. I will not go
over cleaning up scans, as I assume
you already know how to do that.
If you choose to sketch in Photoshop,
your sketch should be somewhat clean,
like the one above, though it doesn't
need to be perfect.
Step
2
Now,
using the paintbrush tool, with
a brush size of 13px, block in your
fur colors. Now, use the smudge
tool to smooth the area where the
colors meet. This will help when
you build up your fur, since you
will then have an 'under coat' of
sorts, with color variations.
Step
3
Now,
using the airbrush tool, with a
size of 2 px, select a a slightly
darker brown, and begin drawing
the hairs. Do NOT scribble them
in. Draw each individual hair, the
same way you would if you were painting
it.
Step
4
Using
an even darker brown, add in the
darker parts where the fur has 'holes',
or deeper regions.
Step
5
Using
a lighter brown/beige, continue
building up the fur.
Step
6
Now
pick a very light cream color, and
add more hairs, makes sure there
are stray hairs in there, and not
every hair follows the same path.
This will help you fur look shaggy.
Then using a light grey, almost
white, add a few highlights here
and there.
You've now finished your
fur!
Short
Fur
Step 1
Sketch
out your image, either in Photoshop,
or with a pencil. I will not go
over cleaning up scans, as I assume
you already know how to do that.
If you choose to sketch in Photoshop,
your sketch should be somewhat clean,
like the one above, though it doesn't
need to be perfect.
Step
2
Now,
using the paintbrush tool, with
a brush size of 13px, block in your
fur colors. Now, use the smudge
tool to smooth the area where the
colors meet. This will help when
you build up your fur, since you
will then have an 'under coat' of
sorts, with color variations.
Step
3
Now,
using the airbrush tool, with a
size of 2 px, select a a slightly
darker greyish brown, and begin
drawing short hairs. Do NOT scribble
them in. Draw each individual hair,
the same way you would if you were
painting it. Make sure they are
short, and do not draw them in a
line, but rather, scattered. This
will keep your fur from having an
odd, stripy look.
Step
4
Using
an even darker greyish brown, darken
the spots.
Step
5
Using
a light cream color, detail the
lighter regions, and extend it into
the spots.
Step
6
Now
add in other colors for variety.
This is optional, but usually yields
nice results.
