shadows_gallery (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shadows_gallery) wrote2012-02-03 10:00 pm
shadows_gallery) wrote2012-02-03 10:00 pm
Greyscale Character Portrait Tutorial
So, I thought I would put together a little tutorial on how I create the character portraits for my weekly Discounted Character Portrait Days. I create these images in Gimp using a Wacom tablet; this tutorial will focus more on technique and less on the technical aspects of the program and tablet.
This is a portrait of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
timelord1's character Jaerus. She gave me a detailed description and a picture reference for his armor, which can be found here under the first character description. She also specified that she pictures Jonathon Rhys-Meyers in the role, so that gave me an idea of what the character will look like.
Click image for full size.
The very first thing I do is scour the web for references. As she has given an actor as a reference, I look for images of him. In other character portraits, I try to think of appropriate actors/actresses and use them as references. I don't always aim for a strict likeness; sometimes the reference is used very loosely just to give a *feel* of the character. But in this instance, I'm trying to give more of an impression that the characterresembles the actor, without really going for a tight likeness.
I downloaded several images, but this is the primary image that I used:
I open a new file in Gimp with the dimensions of 1200x1526 (I always do the portraits in the same size for consistency) and save it as an .xcf, which is Gimp's primary image file setting that supports layers. I then add a transparent layer and begin sketching on that layer using the pencil tool and a medium-small brush. The bottom layer I leave white as the background; this makes it easier to correct any mistakes.
I start by roughly blocking in the shape of the head and shoulders. As you can see, I'm not really trying to copy the photo so much as refer to it. Referring to the photo for the proportions/measurements (still only approximating-- if I were really doing a portrait of Jonathon Rhys-Meyers, I'd be much more meticulous with measurement), I draw guide lines on the face, dividing it down the middle first, then drawing lines for the eyes, nose, and mouth. These lines will help me to place the features and keep them even.
I then start to shape the cheekbones, jaw, and chin. I place the eyes and block in the ear. I also start to loosely define the nose and mouth.
I use the eraser tool on the inside of the eyes, giving them a general outline look.
I open a new layer and, using a large-ish brush, roughly block in the shape of the hair. I always start the hair on a new layer, because it is easier to shape and correct that way.
On the same layer, I start blocking in the armor.
I go back to the face layer (many people name the layers for easy reference, but I always forget to do so until they become far too many to handle!) and start refining the features.
At this point, I pause my work and flip the image around so I can see if there are any errors in the features and proportions. I realize at this point that the head is too far to the right, making it seem disconnected from the neck. I made the hair/armor layer invisible so I could better see what I was doing...
... and used the lasso tool to select the head, then moved it slightly to the left so it sat correctly on the neck.
After flipping the image several times to make sure it was right, I clicked to make the hair/armor layer visible again, and began to refine the armor.
Finally satisfied with my line art, I melded the face and hair layer into one (still leaving the white background layer seperate) and lowered the opacity on it. Then I added another transparent layer on top of that one.
On the new layer, using a larger brush (still with the pencil tool), I start loosely blocking in the shadowed areas. I bear in mind the direction the light is coming from-- in this instance, it is coming from the right. So the light casts the darker shadows to the left of his face and body. I am still referencing the photo as well.
I continue building the shadows on the face, refining them, and start refining the features as well.
I start detailing the armor.
On a new layer, I add shading to the armor, sculpting with light and shadow, still bearing in mind the direction of the light. I also start blocking in the hair, using a fairly large brush at about 50% opacity and sweeping it in the direction the hair lies in.
I switch my pencil color to white and start adding highlights to the hair. I let them start to really define the way the hair lies. I start with a large brush, and gradually make it smaller and smaller, building detail. I also use the white to pick out some of the details and highlights in the armor.
Finally, I zoom in and finish detailing the eyes. I darken the lashes and brows, and draw the cast shadows over the eyes (they're cast by the eyelashes).
Then I switch to white, and build subtle highlights in the iris (the eye color was specified as "dark" so I don't let those get too bright). Finally, I add bright highlights at the edge of the pupils.
And that about does it!
This is a portrait of
timelord1's character Jaerus. She gave me a detailed description and a picture reference for his armor, which can be found here under the first character description. She also specified that she pictures Jonathon Rhys-Meyers in the role, so that gave me an idea of what the character will look like.Click image for full size.
The very first thing I do is scour the web for references. As she has given an actor as a reference, I look for images of him. In other character portraits, I try to think of appropriate actors/actresses and use them as references. I don't always aim for a strict likeness; sometimes the reference is used very loosely just to give a *feel* of the character. But in this instance, I'm trying to give more of an impression that the characterresembles the actor, without really going for a tight likeness.
I downloaded several images, but this is the primary image that I used:
I open a new file in Gimp with the dimensions of 1200x1526 (I always do the portraits in the same size for consistency) and save it as an .xcf, which is Gimp's primary image file setting that supports layers. I then add a transparent layer and begin sketching on that layer using the pencil tool and a medium-small brush. The bottom layer I leave white as the background; this makes it easier to correct any mistakes.
I start by roughly blocking in the shape of the head and shoulders. As you can see, I'm not really trying to copy the photo so much as refer to it. Referring to the photo for the proportions/measurements (still only approximating-- if I were really doing a portrait of Jonathon Rhys-Meyers, I'd be much more meticulous with measurement), I draw guide lines on the face, dividing it down the middle first, then drawing lines for the eyes, nose, and mouth. These lines will help me to place the features and keep them even.
I then start to shape the cheekbones, jaw, and chin. I place the eyes and block in the ear. I also start to loosely define the nose and mouth.
I use the eraser tool on the inside of the eyes, giving them a general outline look.
I open a new layer and, using a large-ish brush, roughly block in the shape of the hair. I always start the hair on a new layer, because it is easier to shape and correct that way.
On the same layer, I start blocking in the armor.
I go back to the face layer (many people name the layers for easy reference, but I always forget to do so until they become far too many to handle!) and start refining the features.
At this point, I pause my work and flip the image around so I can see if there are any errors in the features and proportions. I realize at this point that the head is too far to the right, making it seem disconnected from the neck. I made the hair/armor layer invisible so I could better see what I was doing...
... and used the lasso tool to select the head, then moved it slightly to the left so it sat correctly on the neck.
After flipping the image several times to make sure it was right, I clicked to make the hair/armor layer visible again, and began to refine the armor.
Finally satisfied with my line art, I melded the face and hair layer into one (still leaving the white background layer seperate) and lowered the opacity on it. Then I added another transparent layer on top of that one.
On the new layer, using a larger brush (still with the pencil tool), I start loosely blocking in the shadowed areas. I bear in mind the direction the light is coming from-- in this instance, it is coming from the right. So the light casts the darker shadows to the left of his face and body. I am still referencing the photo as well.
I continue building the shadows on the face, refining them, and start refining the features as well.
I start detailing the armor.
On a new layer, I add shading to the armor, sculpting with light and shadow, still bearing in mind the direction of the light. I also start blocking in the hair, using a fairly large brush at about 50% opacity and sweeping it in the direction the hair lies in.
I switch my pencil color to white and start adding highlights to the hair. I let them start to really define the way the hair lies. I start with a large brush, and gradually make it smaller and smaller, building detail. I also use the white to pick out some of the details and highlights in the armor.
Finally, I zoom in and finish detailing the eyes. I darken the lashes and brows, and draw the cast shadows over the eyes (they're cast by the eyelashes).
Then I switch to white, and build subtle highlights in the iris (the eye color was specified as "dark" so I don't let those get too bright). Finally, I add bright highlights at the edge of the pupils.
And that about does it!