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Posted on 11/07/12 04:15:57 AM |
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Gwhizzer
* Posts: 3 Reply |
Where to start in setting up a scene
This is kind of hard to explain but I'll try. I have started using 100% photoshop and have now started on Chapter 2 "Setting The Scene". Where do you start? I have multiple elements to build and eventually piece together. So do I create a large canvas and start building the elements or do I build small ones for each element and then eventually start putting them onto the one canvas to place where they belong. I hope this makes sense. I have even only used photoshop for editing photos, never for building scenes like this and want to know where you start. I started building the Skirting board in Chapter 2 and then it says to stretch it out - trouble is I have it set to the whole canvas to the size I wanted. So should I have made a bigger canvas or just start on the actual canvas I will be using to build the whole scene. |
Posted on 11/07/12 07:45:10 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7021 Reply  |
Re: Where to start in setting up a scene
I recommend building everything directly on the canvas you're going to use for your final image, so you can get all the relative sizes right. Start with a canvas of around 3000 x 2000 pixels - this gives you space to work in, and is a high enough resolution to allow you to work on small elements at a big enough size. Good luck with it - and show us how you're getting on. Steve |
Posted on 11/07/12 12:46:55 PM |
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Artwel
Satire Supremo Posts: 607 Reply  |
Re: Where to start in setting up a scene
Start at the beginning of course!  I found that sometimes it would take a bit of trial and error to get an object right.
Also if you are new I suggest saving regularly and get into the habit of using a good file organising system , otherwise you will confuse yourself later on! Especially with the desk drawer chapter. I found it easiest to create and save each object seperately, also that way you can always re use them for another project. As Steve said, work at a high resolution and canvas size. I worked at about 3000x4000 with 300dpi resolution but that is probably overkill, my objects became huge and saving took forever on my laptop with file sizes of around 1GB! I am sure as you work through the book you will find a system that suits you.. It is probably the greatest book you will find. Good luck! _________________ “Art Is Never Finished, Only Abandoned.” |
Posted on 11/07/12 3:11:55 PM |
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Sjef
Flying Dutchman Posts: 571 Reply  |
Re: Where to start in setting up a scene
...a good point! And Photoshop has a build-in organizer to help you further on this habit: name all your Layers and keep Steve's tip in mind: if the Move-tool is selected, you can Ctrl-click on an object on your workscreen to select this Layer in the Layers panel. As you'll know, you can make Groups too (and name them) for yet better survey. But pay attention! This tip above doesn't work whitin Groups. So Groups are better to be made after a sertain part is concluded. In CS6 there are search icons and a very smart search-knob on your Layers panel to overcome this disadvantage. Have lots of fun with Steve's 100% Photoshop; it's the best there is  |
Posted on 11/07/12 4:20:48 PM |
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Artwel
Satire Supremo Posts: 607 Reply |
Re: Where to start in setting up a scene
Is this a filing system built into photoshop? I experimented with bridge but found this more time consuming. Perhaps my file system isnt the best. I used to just save everything to the desktop, with terrible names like 'pic 1' or something useless, this was obviously a nightmare. Now I create subfolders and label files 'door A1' , 'door B' etc, since there are more letters in the alphabet than single numbers, and you don't get the problem of 'door 10' appearing before 'door 9'. Though I suppose 'door 09' would work... Ha! Anyway yes filing is important!  _________________ “Art Is Never Finished, Only Abandoned.” |
Posted on 11/07/12 4:58:41 PM |
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Sjef
Flying Dutchman Posts: 571 Reply |
Re: Where to start in setting up a scene
In Windows 7 there's a program to make an image of your start drive (C). And there are a lot more of this kind of image applications. If I'd put my (Photoshop) files in a submap on the C drive and I'd want to set my C-drive back to the time before for instance trying a new program, I'd loose all the files I have put in a submap on the C-partition. So from the beginning of my computer hobby my system has two harddisks. All my application documents go to the second harddisk (and to a backup-drive). Photoshop has no built in filing system (you knew that  ), only the possibility to keep track of all the Layers in a document. About the same goes for (mini)Bridge. But as we say in The Netherlands, one can't compare apples with pears and if I'm not mistaken you work on an Apple. Since '90 I use TotalCommander to keep my system in shape. Now that's a hell of a filemanager without having to use a mouse. Lucky for you there are some Apple developers who looked very closely at TotalCMD and they've made MuCommander (free). If you don't use it, try it I'd say. It's not a Swiss pocket nife as TotalCMD, but it's interesting enough.
And of course always put the 0 before the 1 - 9 (or 001 - 009) 
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Posted on 11/07/12 5:31:22 PM |
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Artwel
Satire Supremo Posts: 607 Reply |
Re: Where to start in setting up a scene
sjef I use windows pc at the moment but I'm sure other apple users will find your advice helpful. I have a useful external hardrive for backing up on. I don't tend to ever delete anything in case I find I make a mistake and need to go back to something!, which explains why my attempt at 100% ps took up about 38GB! 
The only problems I have with filing is when working in after effects, once you use a file and then change it's location you get allsorts of problems, I'm sure there is a solution for this but I tend to always do things the long/wrong way around. _________________ Quote of the day.. "Photoshop isn't really meant to be used for drawing".. |