Hey Guys long Time no see, i made a little tutorial a while ago but kind of lost it and found it today again, and i must say i uploaded the pictures with my smartphone and i am sorry if they lost some quality, but i hope it’s helpful ! please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any problems with it. Befor we start i use Photoshop CS6 and a Bamboo Wacom Pen - Tablet but i think you can use also a Mouse and the standard PS Brushes.
Step 1 : Open your Image in Photoshop and duplicate it with Strg + J and select the Polygon Lasso or the Path Tool and start to ‘cut’ your Horse out. After you’re finish you’ll get a automatic selection if you use the lasso if you use the Path tool you need to change in the Path Channel then make a click with your right mouse key on the path layer and select “create selection ” or something i believe it’s the third option.
Step 2 : So now we want to save our Selection, so we can use it anytime again. Go to the Channel Panel, create a new Layer it should be black and you should see the outlines of your selection now use the paintbucket tool to fill you selection white. After this you can make your new layer ‘Alpha 1 ’ invisible and re-activate the other 4 layer again for that just click on the eye-icon.
Step 3 : Now we need our Selection again if it you dont have it anymore than change to the Channel Panel and click with Strg on the Alpha1 Layer or more on the little black/white picture before. Now your selection should active again. Then change back to you Work/lLayer Panel and click on your duplicated Layer (the second layer) and press Strg+J again now you should have a new layer with only your Horse on it.
Step 4 : The next step is so change the image resolution from your Original (1920 x 1080 ) to 5000x 2813,depending on your PC this can take a while.
Step 5 : After we have change the Resolution of our Image we make the most important step and sharpen our picture or mostly just the horse. Okay so now check if your selection still active … if is ? Great than go to Filters -> Sharpen -> Sharpen , now do it again and again after we have sharpen our Image 3 times we go to the next step (don’t worry if your picture looks fuzzy or squishy it becomes better )
Step 6 : The next 'two’ steps are very individual and you must figure the best Brush settings for yourself out. First of you need to duplicate your last layer than select the Burn tool i’ve used a soft round brush (31px) no pressure and with 21 opacity and start to draw the shadow i’ve marked the areas red so you can see where to draw. Try to find a muscle structure and play a little but with the brush settings and don’t be shy to make it again if you are unhappy with the resolute !
Step 7 : now we make the same with the Highlights first duplicate your layer than select the Dodge tool and use a soft round brush try it with the same settings from step 6 if you are not happy than change them. And try some others ! For your Help if have marked the areas blue *Some small advice ,don’t make the dark parts too dark and the lights to light because we change the resolution in the next step ! *
Step 8 : Now change the Image Resolution from 5000x 2813 to 1000 x 563, and now voila ! You have a really sharp Horse coat , i draw in the meanwhile the eye and blurred the background and the next steps including some drawing and the adding of details if you don’t want it, then you are finish now with the Coat editing and can start the Mane and Tail drawing or what ever you want to do !
Step 9 : Now we get to the really tricky part the drawing of Highlights and Details like veins. First create a new Layer than select a round hard brush 1 px with F5 you open the Brush setting menu. To change/activate the pressure if you use a tablet. I’ve changed the opacity of the brush to 32% and choose a really really light yellow tone (never use complete black or white !) Then i started to add Highlights to the Nose /Eye / Ears / and remaining Body with short and light strokes. If you mean the Highlights are to strong play a little bit with the Layer opacity until you are satisfied.
Step 10 : Now add some shadings, I’ve used a hard round brush with 1-2 px and 32% opacity,and i use a dark brow tone now you can work on the veins and little details around eyes and mouth, take your time and don’t hesitant to erase a little if you are not happy with it. And basically this was the last step.
For everyone who want to look in the psd file you can download it here
And this is the finish Version
snowghoul
theartofmadeline
