Idea Cosmo
GIMP Tutorial : Creating Illustrations From Scratch

photoshop rival

It is very possible to create complete illustrations from scratch using GIMP.

Gimp is a free and opensource graphic and image editing
tools that is extremely powerful and feature rich.

GIMP's capability as an illustrating tool rivals that of Photoshop and corel photopaint.
The tutorial written below illustrate a very simple process of producing a cartoony illustration using GIMP.
This is just one of countless ways of creating illustration using GIMP, though.  


Step 1

Firstly we need to churn out the outline or base wireframe of the illustration.
The source of this outline artwork can be from the following:
1.a graphic tablet.
2.Scanned
image

If you are really talented you can also draw using a mouse. LOL

Eventually, we should be getting something similar to the picture on the right (>>>>).

3d tutorial


Step 2

Next, using the magic wand , select the enclosed area within the illustration.

There must be no gaps that breaks the outline of the artwork. In another word, the boundaries must be fully closed, or else the magic wand selection will 'leak out'.
Eventually, we should see something similar to the picture on the right (>>>>).




photoshop
Image after wand selection
Step 3

Now, with the fill/bucket tool , fill the selected area within the illustration.
Eventually, we should see something similar to the picture on the right (>>>>).








photoshop
Image after filling with colour.


Step 4

Next, with the airbrush tool , paint white coloured highlights on the illustration.
Eventually, we should see something similar to the picture on the right (>>>>).

cinema 4d
Image after adding white hightlights

 

 

Step 5

Next, with the smudge tool , smudge parts of the illustration to spread the highlights around.
Eventually, we should see something similar to the picture on the right (>>>>).

maya 3d
Image after smudging.


Step 6

Using the brush editor, resize and transform the brush according facilitate ease of smudging.

alias

Where appropriate, smudging can be used to create new details on the illustration. For example, the suction pads of the octopus(on the right) were create simply by smudging.

highend graphics
Image after adding details using smudging.

 

super rendering
The Completed Image
This is the final image which was retouched slightly.

Well that the end of the tutorial. Hope that you have enjoyed it.

Click here to view an illustration drawn that is based on this technique

 

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