Typically, it is difficult to create a pencil sketch and then convert it into another medium like an oil painting. With Painter 6's Layers, you can start with a traditional sketch, scan it into Painter (or sketch it right in Painter!), and convert it into a floating transparent reference layer that you can paint under. In this tutorial, Ryan Wood takes us step-by-step through the process he used to create "Canhead".


Step #1 Pencil Sketch

I started off by scanning in this pencil sketch at 300 dpi, then modifying the Effects> Tonal Control> Brightness / Contrast to eliminate the muddy gray areas. Next, I selected the entire image and turned it into a layer (Select> Select All> Float), filling the canvas beneath the sketch with pure white.

I selected the mask for the sketch layer in the Mask palette. Then I went the Mask section's Command menu (accessed via the triangle on the right edge of the Masks section bar) and selected Auto Mask... Using Image Luminance and clicked OK. This made the white areas of the sketch transparent. However, it produced a washed-out version of the original sketch.

To correct this, I selected the sketch layer in the Layer palette then filled (Effects> Fill...) with black. This restored the sketch to its original tonality. At this point I now had a floating version of my pencil sketch that was transparent in its white areas. This allowed me to paint on the canvas below and not disturb the sketch floating above.

Step #2 Rough Background Painting
Before painting the character's head, I put down a rough background on the canvas behind the sketch. I used the Opaque Flat brush (Brushes Palette> Brushes> Opaque Flat) to block in the different areas of color in the painting. I turned the opacity down to about 10% using Brush Controls> General> Opacity, which helps the brush strokes build up a variance of color as they're applied over each other.

As far as color goes, I try to use fairly saturated colors because I can always tone it down later, and it's harder to go the other way. After I blocked in the clouds and mountains I was ready to move onto the next stage.

Step #3 Rough Background with Sketch
Now that the background was roughed in, I could start on blocking in the colors for all of the elements in the foreground. At this point, I selected the sketch layer in the Objects> Layers palette and dialed the Opacity down to about 60%. This helps me see what's going on with the colors underneath.

Once I had all the colors blocked in, I had to select the sketch layer to collapse it with the canvas (Objects> Layers> Drop) so I could start the long process of "noodling out" all of the edges. The end goal is to get rid of most of the sketch lines. The next part took the longest, but I feel it's the most rewarding.

Step #4 Rough Colors on Subject
After the larger areas were blocked in, I used Brushes Palette> Brushes> Digital Airbrush set at a small size in Brush Controls> Size (5 or less) and a high opacity in Brush Controls> General> Opacity (80% or greater) to add highlights and render out the detailed areas.

To work color into dull areas, I used a big (30 or greater) airbrush at a low opacity (10%), and lightly applied a saturated color.

To blend rough edges, I used a variant like Brushes Palette> Brushes>Smeary Round. This brush smears and blends any existing color on the canvas with light pressure and applies the Current Color to the canvas with increased pressure. The individual brush hairs of the Smeary Round brush provide a "painterly" quality.

Step #5 Final Details
Next came the finishing touches. This is the polishing stage where I focus on the highlights of the paintbrush, the guy and his can... I always save the highlights for last. Send comments to: rwood@saffire.com

You can also send a digital version of Ryan Wood's "Canhead" from MetaCreations' online postcard page.