PAINTING HAIR

 
Sample or Preset files are available at the main index Mastering Brushes for Photoshop.
Painting Hair is really not too difficult is you know the various Techniques available. In this Chapter of the CD we will explore several methods available to the user. We'll first begin with the simplest of all Techniques... Painting hair directly to our subject.
 
I have provided a File for you to begin with and most of the work has already been completed in the image except the finishing touches to the Hair so Let's begin. Go to the Samples folder for this CD and Open it. Locate the file named Oriental_Girl.psd, then Double-Click on it and it will Open in Photoshop.
 
 
1.) We'll be using only two Colors for this project so let's go ahead and first set up the Color palette. Press D on the keyboard to set the Foreground Color to Black. Next, click on the Background Color swatch to Open the Color-Picker. Enter #666666 at the Bottom input box on the Right, then click OK to apply. (This Color will be a medium gray.)
 
 
2.) Select the Zoom tool and click once on the work area to enlarge image to 100% if you haven't done so already and Move the Tool palette out of the way of our subject by Dragging the blue bar Top of palette. Now, Select the Brush tool and Right-Click on the work area on the Right side of the image to Open the Brush-Picker. Select the Hard Round 3 pixels brush, then carry it over to the Left side of our subject and start painting some strands of hair. Paint with curls and waves as you go.
 
 
 
 
3.) Continue painting strands now on the Right side. Switch brushes between 1 and 3 pixels as you work.
 
 
4.) Continue painting adding detail now to the Upper Forehead areas. Switch to gray to Fill in any areas needed, then paint strands in Black on top.
 
 
5.) Use the Right scroll bar and Drag to Bottom to adjust working area to make the Bottom of the image visible.
 
 
6.) Continue painting with the Techniques mentioned Above using mostly Black to finish the rest of the hair strands.
 
 
7.) Hold the Shift key and tap R until the Smudge tool becomes Selected. Select the Soft Round 13 pixels brush and set Strength in the Options bar to 30%. Smudge along the Bottom portion of the hair. (Drag Black Upward into the hair for best results.)
 
 
8.) With Black Selected, press B to return to the Brush tool. Right-Click on the work area to Open the Brush-Picker. Locate the Soft Round 65 pixels brush, then Double-Click on it to Select it and Close the library. Go to the Options bar and adjust Opacity to 30%. Press the Tab key to hide the palettes and enlarge work area. Now, paint any areas to the Outer edges of the image that still need a bit of fine tune blending.
 
 
9.) When you are finished and ready to admire your work, press V to Deselect the brush, then press F twice to go to Full Screen Mode. How's your Princess measure up? I'm sure you did well.
 
 
Pressing F will return to Normal Screen Mode. Hit the Tab key and the palettes will return. You are now ready to Save your work. Go to File > Save for Web. Save it out as a JPEG and name it as you wish. I made the file large enough that you can use it now for your Desktop if you like. Save the Original now by going to File > Save As. Rename the file and Save it as a .psd file.
 
Copyright © 2006-2007 Glenn Schemenauer - Spacific Designs™ - All rights reserved.