07-19-2016, 09:22 AM
@Mariyan. Thanks, yep that also works. The thing I prefer about painting only with black and erasing is you keep the black silhouettes selectable no matter how detailed it gets with hatching or linework. The multiply method leaves you with one layer with black and white on it. If you want to separate them out you have to do the additional step of selecting and separating. You can of course just paint under that single multiply layer with a regular layer (to add darks and colours to the light areas) and a lighten layer over the multiply layer (to add lights and colours to the black) but that then becomes one additional layer to manage. If you want to change the silhouette you have to go back into the multiply layer, change things, then go back into the other layers and adjust.
I like restricting the number of layers I use and I prefer to have as many "normal" layers as possible. I find having multiple adjustment layer modes becomes an absolute nightmare if you use them for detailed illustrations with lots of layers. So I just prefer to brush and erase to start with. No additional separation step and key shapes are always easily selectable and directly editable all the way through the process. Not sure if that made sense? I don't really understand the scale issue you mentioned with brush / erase. Perhaps PS works differently to Krita?
Found another example of using notan by Rapheal Lacoste. he does the notan, but then simply uses it as a guide on a multiply layer I guess, to inform the underpainting. It works, but I think there is again less control in the painting stage and you essentially have to repaint all the shapes when it comes to the colour pass (there is another video showing this). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI37sEPxT8c
I think it isn't as efficient. Guess it's however you want to adapt the basic thing to your preference.
@Walent. Thanks man. I have no idea what I'm doing with creature design...no idea why they even asked me tbh. I find when it comes to defining form with this method, especially on organic shapes, stroke direction is everything! You can suggest form with more detailed hatching, but yeah, just a few well placed strokes that follow the cross sections of the form is really all you need. I never use soft brushes for notans. Only if I want to show nuanced mood and lighting do I go to a soft brush after the basic shape block in is done.
Another one. Added some colour. And a dong. Only two layers.
I like restricting the number of layers I use and I prefer to have as many "normal" layers as possible. I find having multiple adjustment layer modes becomes an absolute nightmare if you use them for detailed illustrations with lots of layers. So I just prefer to brush and erase to start with. No additional separation step and key shapes are always easily selectable and directly editable all the way through the process. Not sure if that made sense? I don't really understand the scale issue you mentioned with brush / erase. Perhaps PS works differently to Krita?
Found another example of using notan by Rapheal Lacoste. he does the notan, but then simply uses it as a guide on a multiply layer I guess, to inform the underpainting. It works, but I think there is again less control in the painting stage and you essentially have to repaint all the shapes when it comes to the colour pass (there is another video showing this). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI37sEPxT8c
I think it isn't as efficient. Guess it's however you want to adapt the basic thing to your preference.
@Walent. Thanks man. I have no idea what I'm doing with creature design...no idea why they even asked me tbh. I find when it comes to defining form with this method, especially on organic shapes, stroke direction is everything! You can suggest form with more detailed hatching, but yeah, just a few well placed strokes that follow the cross sections of the form is really all you need. I never use soft brushes for notans. Only if I want to show nuanced mood and lighting do I go to a soft brush after the basic shape block in is done.
Another one. Added some colour. And a dong. Only two layers.