Introduction to Layers and Brushes
Set up a digital painting workspace, work with layers and masks, and configure professional brushes.
Step 1: Canvas and Workspace Setup
Choose software — Photoshop, Krita, or Procreate on iPad — and create a document. Use 3000x3000 px at 300 DPI for print-bound work; 1920x1920 px is fine for screen-only illustration.
Arrange the workspace with Layers and Brush panels visible. If using a tablet, install drivers and enable pressure sensitivity so opacity and size respond to pen pressure.
Step 2: Layer Fundamentals
Layers stack from bottom to top — upper layers cover lower ones. Name layers clearly: Sketch, Flat Color, Shadows, Highlights. Use groups for Background, Character, and FX.
Adjust Opacity and Blend Modes for non-destructive effects. Multiply darkens for shadows; Overlay boosts contrast for highlights. Lock transparent pixels on a flat color layer to paint inside lines only.
Step 3: Brushes and Settings
Press B for Brush. Resize with [ and ]. Lower hardness gives soft edges; 100% hardness gives crisp edges. Separate Opacity (whole stroke) from Flow (paint buildup per moment).
Start with a soft round brush with size and opacity controlled by pressure. Enable smoothing or stabilizer between 2–5 for clean lineart. Save a small set of favorite presets instead of importing dozens at once.
Step 4: Layer Masks
Add a layer mask to hide parts of a layer without erasing pixels. Paint black on the mask to hide, white to reveal, gray for partial transparency — fully reversible editing.
Use masks for soft blending between color blocks, adding texture gradually, and fixing edge mistakes on detailed areas without destroying underlying work.
Step 5: Non-Destructive Workflow
Use Adjustment Layers — Curves, Hue/Saturation — above your painting stack to tune value and color globally. Keep the master file layered; flatten only on export copies.
Duplicate layers with Ctrl+J before risky experiments. Version files as project_v01.psd, v02.psd so you can recover from bad merges or overpainting.
Step 6: First Painting Exercise
Sketch on one layer, flat colors on separate layers below lineart, shadows on Multiply layers, highlights on Overlay. Build color with low-opacity glazing strokes instead of one heavy pass.
Export a PNG preview but keep the layered source. You will use these habits in the character illustration tutorial next.
FAQ
How many layers should I use?
As many as keep the file organized — often 10–30 for a character piece. Merge duplicate or empty layers periodically, but do not flatten until you finish major edits.
Which blend mode for shadows?
Multiply is the standard for shadows on light backgrounds. Soft Light and Overlay work for subtle highlights and final polish passes.
Do I need a drawing tablet?
A tablet with pressure sensitivity greatly improves control, but you can learn layer and brush concepts with a mouse. Practice pressure settings when hardware is available.