designdebris

THOUGHTS
I think a lot, I can't help it. You'll find out soon enough.
(normally when doing something mundane)

Practical Lesson

If you wanna replicate something in Photoshop...do yourself a favour... don't work from memory... if your head is anything like mine, then it sucks at remembering detail.

If it's creating grass, pick it... if you want water, pour it... light a match, find a rusty wheel, pick up a leaf.... and so on. Sure everyone knows what the rings of a tree trunk look like.... but unless you're actually looking into it... you won't spot what makes skin look like skin, or wool look like wool. Your memory will only serve you the basic's.

Those that take the time to look... end up producing stuff that stun the masses. We've all seen it... we'll be showing off our designs and creations, and giving each other a pat on the back.... until someone comes along and blows everyone away with something completed in incredible detail and accuracy. Sure they might have more natural talent than others... but also I guarantee that they have looked, deep into what they created... you guys (and myself) have to learn to do that as well.

Every sense should be used to replicate something fully: from the visual aspect of light and shadows, the textural aspect could tell you whether to use some embossing and the sound a wine glass makes when flicked, can indicate how thin the rim is and how delicate you'll need to be when airbrushing. Pick it up, put it down, place it different surfaces and under different light.... note how surfaces change appearance... look out for optical illusions.. and how shadows form not only on the object, but the surfaces surrounding the object as well. Have you noticed how, in strong light, a cars body colour is reflected on to the road? So the same will apply to everyday objects... if you are highlighting a object.. think of what and where the reflective light will hit as well as where the shadows will fall.

So I'm starting now... practicing at first though... just checking stuff out ... and trying to figure out what makes something look real before I even open Photoshop. I've already noticed myself doing it... but I've only just thought to write it down and share. Those of you with Art backgrounds and other formal training will have heard all this stuff before and could tell me ten times as much as I've placed here...

... i'm just discovering it for myself... it's hard work and it's taking time... but I'm in it for the long run anyway... so what's the rush?