Tutorial: Image-Based Color

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ben-o
 
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Tutorial: Image-Based Color

Postby ben-o » 07 Dec 2012, 17:58

Black Ink Tutorial: Image-Based Color


Hi!
In other tutorials we saw how to select a simple color and how to define a gradient. Now it’s time to talk about the third color type available in Black Ink: the Image-Based Color.

The Image-Based Color lets you provide and place a picture and your brush will automatically pick its color from this picture. This is a great tool for starting a drawing from a photograph, applying effects or adding texture and variety to your creations.

First, you need a picture. Here’s one I took in my hometown last time I visited:

Image

Yes, very relaxing place.

When you select the Image-Based color type for the first time the color preview box is empty. Juck click on it and an open file dialog will open. Pick your image.

Image

Once you have loaded a picture, a set of options appears. They are used to place your picture within your canvas so you can choose where in your drawing the pictures details will be.
You can fit your image to the canvas, flip it, rotate it, move or scale it.

Image

Those actions are also available using your mouse in the picture preview area. Select and drag a corner for an uniform scale, on a side to stretch the picture and outside the yellow frame to rotate.

Image

You can also zoom in this preview with your mouse wheel or by click once on it, and using the “q” shortcut.

When you want to load a new image, use the folder icon next to the file name.

Note that the bottom part of this panel can be hidden and displayed by clicking on the file name so if you don’t find your picture’s preview, try that.

Once you are happy with the position of your picture, all you have to do is draw!

Image

As you can see, a faded out version of your picture is displayed over the canvas. You can adjust its opacity with the slider left of the file name:

Image

Remember that this transparent picture is not part of your drawing, it’s just a clue to see what part of it you are catching with your brush. To have a look at the real final result, you can hide the reference picture with the eye button here:

Image

Image

Okay, now let's see what we can do!
Since this is an actual color type, it will work with any brush. Here’s the same picture painted over with different brushes:

Image

The great thing about this feature is that it's much more than a filter. Since you're doing the brush work yourself, you can choose the details, stroke directions and work the most interesting parts.

And of course, the best results will come from your own creativity!
Here’s the same picture again, using every basic brushes, some additive mode to add light and even a completely different picture to replace the water:

Image

This can go from abstract to realistic, you can add together elements and textures from different sources, or just paint over a basic shape and imagine the rest.

Try with your own pictures!

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