January 5th, 2008
My 8-Step Illustration Process
Published in: Illustration
Since starting my blog I’ve received a number of requests to explain my illustration process. It’s not always easy to explain each step so I’ve attempted to break down my process into 8 steps accompanied by lovely screenshots! All my work is done digitally. I use my 6×11 Wacom Intuos 3 tablet in Adobe Photoshop. Often before starting any illustration on the computer, I’ll do some character development in my sketchbook. It’s very important to me that my characters have the right personality/expressions so I spend a lot of my time in this initial phase.
STEP 1 – SKETCHING
After completing character development in my sketchbook I begin my illustration on the computer. If I’m just illustrating for fun, I usually start with an 8.5×11 workspace so the illustration will be a good size for cards, bookmarks, etc. The character development stage and sketch stage accumulate to approx. 70% of the total time spent on any illustration. This stage is very important. I am meticulous about each detail, smile, body movement, etc. This is the foundation to a good drawing and cannot be rushed! I try to keep my sketches fluid and light. I’ll make a swirl here and there just for fun! I love free flowing images full of life, and by letting my sketches swirl and twirl, I achieve these results.
STEP 2 – PATTERNING
I love intricate patterns! I think I’m obsessed with them, actually. I compulsively add patterning to each of my illustrations because of this obsession :) After completing the base sketch, I have a little fun with patterning. Usually I add them to clothing, objects, or even angels’ wings..anything that can use a little spice!
STEP 3 – BASE COLOURING
Choosing colours can be tricky. Because of my graphic design background, I’ve learned so much about choosing colours that I could probably write a whole other post on it (and maybe I will)! I love bright colours so I always choose bold, fun colours and usually pair them with their complimentary colour. In step 3, I create a new Photoshop layer beneath my sketch. This is where I colour in my entire illustration in the base colours. I often play around/test colours in this step. By saving the shading/detailing for future steps, it’s easy for me to colour in/erase the blocks of colour until it’s just right!
STEP 4 – HIGHLIGHTING
I’m not always sure what’s politically (or should I say artistically?) correct in real painting but in the digital world, anything goes ;) If I were doing a real watercolour painting, I wouldn’t be highlight AFTER I’ve applied the base colours. However, we are in the digital world. And in this world, highlighting comes AFTER! In this step, I create a new layer above the base colours (and below the original sketch) and add white highlights in a 10-20% opacity.
STEP 5 – SHADING
After completing my highlights, I then create a new layer above the highlights layer (and below the original sketch). This is where I do the shading. I shade warm colours (reds, prinks, yellows, etc) with a cool colour (blues, greens, greys) at a 10-20% opacity and shade all the cool colours with a warm colour at a 10-20% opacity. This is my favorite step as I begin to see all the colours working together and bouncing off each other.
STEP 6 – LIGHTING
I now create a new layer above the shading layer (and below the original sketch). On this layer I use a 20% opacity yellow to tinge the highlighted areas with a bit of warmth. Both the lighting and highlighting layers should correspond to your chosen light direction.
STEP 7 – CLEANING UP
My final layer is placed above the lighting layer (and below the original sketch). On this layer I use a 100% white to ‘clean up’/'highlight’ some areas that I find might be a bit muddy or dark. It’s hard to explain where I place these brush strokes of white – I think this stage is a bit more stylistic/artistic.
STEP 8 – COLOUR ADJUSTING
The final stage of my illustration process is adjusting the colours. I usually find my illustrations a bit washed out after the shading/highlighting process and they lose a bit of the vibrancy of the initial base colours. This is where I adjust the ‘brightness/contrast’ as well as the ‘hue/saturation’ in Photoshop. I usually darken the brightness a bit and increase the contrast and saturation.
And VOILA! My illustration is complete. If you have any specific questions about brushes, other techniques, or anything at all, please leave me a comment or email me and I’ll be happy to fill you in :) Thanks for taking the time to read this post! I’d love to know if this was of any interest you and if you’d like me to make more posts like this in the future. Thanks again!
To view the full version of the illustration, please click here.
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Laura Zarrin Says:
January 6th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I love your style. Thanks for posting your process. I love your swirly lines. It really looks like pen. What brush do you use?
HildaRose Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Thanks Rachelle, this was interesting. Similar to my technique except I usually scan the line work.
Rachelle Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Thanks Laura and HildaRose!
Laura – I just use the default round brushes in Photoshop. For the line/pen quality I use a 3px brush and for colouring in, I usually use a 20-30px brush. Of course I vary the opacity to achieve the watercolour look. Thanks for your question!
Hanna Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
thanks for posting this! It’s so fun to see how other artists work :)
Kasie@~The Art of Life~ Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
How neat! Thanks for sharing your process. I found you through IF and I really love your work and your style. :)
donna Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Rachelle,
Thanks so much for sharing your process.
Love your site too…
Rachelle Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Thanks Hanna, Kasie, and Donna! Your comments are very much appreciated :o)
Rachelle Anne Miller Illustration Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
[...] My 8-Step Illustration Process [...]
roz Says:
January 11th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I am so in awe of you and other artists that work digitally. I do a lot of “clean up” in photoshop with my felt work but nothing from start to finish.
This is my first time to your blog and I LOVE your work. Will definitely visit often and see what you are up to.
Great tutorial btw!
Rachelle Says:
January 11th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Thanks Roz! I’ve been following your blog for a while now – love your work too! :o)
Heather Says:
January 12th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Rachelle, thanks for the 8-step process info! I’ve always wondered how other artists take their sketches from paper to the computer!
Nicole Says:
January 13th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I am so glad that I found your blog! I love to work digitally and your works encourrage me to continue. I have a Wacom tablet me too, but I am not very familiarized with.
I like very much your style!
Rachelle Says:
January 13th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Thanks Heather and Nicole!
Dana V. Says:
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
WOW! What a fabulous walk through your process! I’m so inspired right now, I’m gonna go dust off my WACOM tablet and get cracking, just as soon as I add you to my must-read blog list.
Thanks so much!
Rachelle Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Thanks Dana – I’m so happy to hear this tutorial inspired you!
kathy weller Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Bravo!!! Great tutorial!! Thanks so much for sharing your process. I feel like you shared some ’secrets’.
I use yellow quite a lot, to ‘warm’ things up too!! I also like to ‘glaze’ paintings with recurring colors which helps unify and tie together the piece… so I see some similarities! :)
Nice work!!
chickengirl Says:
January 25th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Thats wonderful, thanks for sharing! You make it seem so easy! I will have to try it out, thanks!!
Bente Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 8:42 am
What a wonderful blog! I love your style, thank you so much for sharing your process. Great inspiration! :)
Lilian Says:
February 15th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Wow! I thought your illustrations are done via watercolor. Thank you for sharing your technique. I wish I could or know how to do this too. I do have a question though. Do you draw and color using the wacom tablet or scan the image from your sketchbook? Sorry for the dumb question but I am so curios now. :)
Rachelle Says:
February 15th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Hi Lilian – thanks for your comment! I draw and color right on the computer. I sometimes do some character development in my sketchbook but my final illustration is always drawn right on the computer. Thanks for stopping by!
Deepside Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
REALLY USEFUL
THAT’S HELP ME A LOT IN DESIGN HOMEWORKS
berrijuse Says:
March 27th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Thanks so much for this, your tutorials are very helpful and informative. It’s always interesting to see how other people work, especially because I’m kind of new at illustrating and still have a long way to go in working out a style and process that works for me.
Thanks again :)
Amanda Broad Says:
June 17th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
oh this is just too precious….The fine patterning is what first attracted me to your designs. I use oil pastels and odourless paint thinners when colouring in my stamps…but your effect with photoshop is amazing
Lindsay Says:
July 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
That’s a great tutorial. I have a wacom and have just been learning how to use it. I’m loving it. Thanks for the info. I’m definitely going to try this technique.
Valerie Says:
August 26th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I always find the most interesting web pages and blogs by error!…Love your page, your art, everything…
This tutorial is super great, I also love drawing, painting and Photoshop, so I think I’m going to try it. Nice work!
From Puerto Rico, w love, Valerie…
Suzanne Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Totally awesome! I admire your work!
Lynn Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I know this is an old blog post… I just wondered if I could ask you a question… I know you mentioned a wacom tablet, I just wondered, when you sketch in a sketchbook, do you import your drawings from it, or do you then use the wacom and draw it again from scratch? Did that make any sense?
At any rate, congratulations on the pregnancy! I am pregnant with babies 3&4 at the moment, and it’s just as magical as the first time (albeit more painful when they move this time! ;) )
xxx
Rachelle Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Lynn – Thanks for the congrats! I’m very excited :o)
The only sketching I do in my sketchbook is concept/character development. I just decide how I want a character to look or how I want to arrange a composition and then I put my sketchbook away. I do my full drawing (including the initial sketch) on the computer with my Wacom Tablet. It definitely wasn’t easy at first but I’ve adjusted now and I love it!
Jan Says:
September 9th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Wow awesome! I can’t draw, but sure wish I could. :)
Marlene Says:
September 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Pretty work!, I am new to this, I am taking classes for digital wacom board, I like your technique congratulate you, I hope you can do more later tutorials, a greeting from Lima – Peru.
my mail is geminy4@hotmail.com
if you had a few pages to learn more? or any advice for a beginner will be grateful.
kisses.
Marlene.
Rachelle Says:
September 11th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Marlene – I did a quick tutorial on creating digital watercolour paper right here: http://rachelleannemiller.com/tutorial-digital-watercolour-paper/
I will definitely try to make some more tutorials in the future – thanks for your feedback!
Christy Says:
October 31st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Your work is so lively and colorful! Thanks so much for creating this tutorial. I just bought my first stylus for PS and I am addicted. LOL Your information is very generous and I appreciate the sharing. :)
irene Says:
November 6th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Haiiiii, im from indonesia and your blog inspire me so much!!!! Thank u very much!!! ^.^
linhthoai80 Says:
January 1st, 2009 at 11:27 am
ohh, im so happy that today i found ur blog, so beautiful work, and many thanks for ur process, its very helful for me :)
Evelyn Says:
January 8th, 2009 at 12:12 am
I love your art figurines, they are beautiful!!
Laura Says:
February 16th, 2009 at 7:28 am
your work is really very interesting! like a fairytale….like a dream…
it seems that your inner world is so beautiful as your creative sketches…through your soul, heart and mind you create images that earth can travel in a dreamful journey with you….or your sketches….
please…continue by giving us those feelings!!!!
Heather T. Says:
May 13th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Ooh, the happiness, it shines! Thanks for sharing your process. You have wonderful illustrations!
Silvana Says:
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Rachelle I love your work, it is inspiring me to draw again. Which wacom tablet you use? I was thinking in getting the bamboo craft, because I’m interested in card making, is that one ok? Also do you use the photoshop that comes with the wacom or another? Sorry for so many question.
Again loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee your work.
Rachelle Says:
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Thanks Silvana. I use an Wacom Intuos tablet. I haven’t used the Bamboo but Wacom is a great brand and I’m sure it is also good. I use Adobe Photoshop for all my work.