Aquasketch Tutorial-- envision your work better! :)

Steven_Chong · 02-02-2007, 04:05 AM

Hey all. Recently (and in the past) I've been asked quite a bit about my aquasketch work. Since I think it's a useful tool for me, it might help others to envision their tanks sooner. So, I did a tutorial.

For this, you'll need photoshop, but even older/freebie versions of photoshop should work for what I do . . . Well, enjoy. You got to full view it:

For many of my aquasketches, I hand-drew everything instead of using the clone stamp. It'll especially come down to that if you have a lot of large-leaved plants, or large-crowned plants that cannot be easily made into a brush pre-set that works. However, this is the easiest method for a beginner, or someone without a pallet, or someone who just flat-out doesn't like drawing. Even if it doesn't come out perfect, follow these steps and you should get some help in envisioning your final lay out.

Note: This method of mine takes time and effort. Even with these short cuts, it took me 3 hours to finish, and some of my purely handrawn ones took 10+ hours to finish. You just got to sit down in front of that computer screen, and be patient with it . . .

fresh_lynny · 02-02-2007, 01:28 PM

SC nice info...I will give it a try for my new setup coming

saltura · 02-02-2007, 01:54 PM

Thanks for the info... now I know what I'll be doing at work!

el_santo · 02-02-2007, 02:51 PM

neat tutorial! now if i can only overcome my lack of artistic talent..

Jdinh04 · 02-02-2007, 02:59 PM

Photoshop is a great program for designing and imaging. It takes a lot of patience to get what you want. I've been using the program for over 3 years and i've still yet have a lot to learn. Great idea on the Aquasketch Steven, i'll be drawing a couple myself when ever I get to it.

eds · 02-02-2007, 03:37 PM

Really nice!
But in order to get mine realistic looking, where's the algae tool?

Sterving · 02-02-2007, 04:33 PM

Awesome! I'll try that when I get a chance.

It will be a good idea to start collecting images for the clone stamp tool.

Good job!

fish_lover0591 · 02-02-2007, 04:37 PM

I wonder if Gimp Will Work just like this hmm

nellis · 02-02-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish_lover0591

I wonder if Gimp Will Work just like this hmm

hmmm.. gimp is such a good program, its learning curve is just so stupidly large and cumbersome.

Steven_Chong · 02-02-2007, 09:21 PM

You guys are welcome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdinh04

Photoshop is a great program for designing and imaging. It takes a lot of patience to get what you want. I've been using the program for over 3 years and i've still yet have a lot to learn. Great idea on the Aquasketch Steven, i'll be drawing a couple myself when ever I get to it.

I know what you mean. Even today when I use photoshop I feel like I'm using a "new tool," even though when I think about it, I started using it in my sophomore year of high school so it's been 4 years for me too! The time sure goes by fast . . .

jdb416 · 02-04-2007, 05:47 AM

Steven,

what graphic tablet do you use? I am very interested in getting further into photoshop but I have yet to invest in 'sketch to pixel' hardware. Do you have any recommendations?

cheers,

Steven_Chong · 02-04-2007, 05:58 AM

All the Wacom line is great. I use the Intuos 3, 8x6 but you don't need something that expensive to make good artwork.

**epicfish** · 02-04-2007, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eds

Really nice!
But in order to get mine realistic looking, where's the algae tool?

Hahah. Did anyone else find this hilarious? Just use the Fill tool with green for some green water.

Steven_Chong · 02-04-2007, 06:41 AM

I did find that hilarious.

For staghorn you'll have to make your own pre-set, but I think if you made the grass pre-set small enough, you could pull off a pretty realistic looking BBA.

Put on the air brush, decrease the flow, and you can make some green spot pretty easily too.

typically · 02-14-2007, 05:42 PM

wacom tablets are awesome! i'd go with the middle size tablet. i find the small one limits you sketching ability and the larger one is just huge! i'd love to have the larger one but they are a little pricey

02-02-2007, 04:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
Steven_Chong Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hawaii, but Claremont for school Posts: 1,231	Aquasketch Tutorial-- envision your work better! :) Hey all. Recently (and in the past) I've been asked quite a bit about my aquasketch work. Since I think it's a useful tool for me, it might help others to envision their tanks sooner. So, I did a tutorial. For this, you'll need photoshop, but even older/freebie versions of photoshop should work for what I do . . . Well, enjoy. You got to full view it: For many of my aquasketches, I hand-drew everything instead of using the clone stamp. It'll especially come down to that if you have a lot of large-leaved plants, or large-crowned plants that cannot be easily made into a brush pre-set that works. However, this is the easiest method for a beginner, or someone without a pallet, or someone who just flat-out doesn't like drawing. Even if it doesn't come out perfect, follow these steps and you should get some help in envisioning your final lay out. Note: This method of mine takes time and effort. Even with these short cuts, it took me 3 hours to finish, and some of my purely handrawn ones took 10+ hours to finish. You just got to sit down in front of that computer screen, and be patient with it . . . __________________ stevenchong-no-gmf.deviantart.com choutoshio.exblog.jp

02-02-2007, 01:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
fresh_lynny Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (59/100%) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,254	SC nice info...I will give it a try for my new setup coming __________________ Eheim Chickie #203 Filstar Pimpette # 56 not-so-newby anymore? 90 gal acrylic, Coralife Aquapro 150x2 Metal Halides, 55x2 50/50 PC, 3 lunars, Hydor inline, 9w TurboTwist UV, Pressurized CO2, Rhinox 5000 glass co2 diffusor, Rex Grigg CO2 all-in-one, Milwaukee pH controller, 2 Eheim Pro II 2026's, Filstar XP3 backup, lilies, Eco Complete, Greg Watson dry ferts, EI mod http://www.paparazzi-weim.com

02-02-2007, 01:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
saltura Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 324	Thanks for the info... now I know what I'll be doing at work! __________________ "Over the beautifully shining green pasture and in the green forest, joyously sails fish... fish. They support each other while playing leading parts by themselves. The picturesque scenery calms down our hearts. In the water is there a world." -Taskashi Amano

02-02-2007, 02:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
el_santo Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 40	neat tutorial! now if i can only overcome my lack of artistic talent.. __________________ el santo ada 45-p, eheim pimp #375

02-02-2007, 02:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jdinh04 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (71/100%) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Okemos, MI Posts: 2,602	Photoshop is a great program for designing and imaging. It takes a lot of patience to get what you want. I've been using the program for over 3 years and i've still yet have a lot to learn. Great idea on the Aquasketch Steven, i'll be drawing a couple myself when ever I get to it. __________________ Michigan Aquatic Plant Group - www.miapg.com Are you in the Greater Lansing or Metro Detroit area? Please join us and discuss planted aquariums! Planted Aquarium Website - www.aquascapist.com Design & Photography Portfolio - www.johnnydinh.com

02-02-2007, 03:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
eds Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,423	Really nice! But in order to get mine realistic looking, where's the algae tool? __________________ 55gal - Coralife 4x65w cf, xp3, flourite, Hydor ETH300w, pressurized CO2 w/ rex(TM) reactor! 30gal - 55W AH, ecco 2232, flourite/gravel, DIY CO2 w/ Hagen ladder 3gal - endlers/cherry shrimp 4W cf, Red Sea deco nano, flourite

02-02-2007, 04:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sterving Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 188	Awesome! I'll try that when I get a chance. It will be a good idea to start collecting images for the clone stamp tool. Good job! __________________ 29g eco, DIY up to 81W PC (55W used), Rena Filstar XP2 Filter Corkscrew Vals, 2 angels, 4 corydoras aeneus, Ramshorn snails, MTS 5 gal RCS tank with sand bottom, java moss, small internal filter, MTS, Ramshorn snails.

02-02-2007, 04:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
fish_lover0591 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New york Posts: 692	I wonder if Gimp Will Work just like this hmm __________________ - Fishlover . My Tanks :

02-04-2007, 05:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
jdb416 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West CHester, PA Posts: 194	Steven, what graphic tablet do you use? I am very interested in getting further into photoshop but I have yet to invest in 'sketch to pixel' hardware. Do you have any recommendations? cheers, __________________ Eheim Pimpin 225 --J. Buckallew-- --GTO--

02-04-2007, 05:58 AM	#12 (permalink)
Steven_Chong Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hawaii, but Claremont for school Posts: 1,231	All the Wacom line is great. I use the Intuos 3, 8x6 but you don't need something that expensive to make good artwork. __________________ stevenchong-no-gmf.deviantart.com choutoshio.exblog.jp

02-04-2007, 06:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
Steven_Chong Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hawaii, but Claremont for school Posts: 1,231	I did find that hilarious. For staghorn you'll have to make your own pre-set, but I think if you made the grass pre-set small enough, you could pull off a pretty realistic looking BBA. Put on the air brush, decrease the flow, and you can make some green spot pretty easily too. __________________ stevenchong-no-gmf.deviantart.com choutoshio.exblog.jp

02-14-2007, 05:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
typically Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rumson, NJ Posts: 208	wacom tablets are awesome! i'd go with the middle size tablet. i find the small one limits you sketching ability and the larger one is just huge! i'd love to have the larger one but they are a little pricey __________________ Eheim pimp #234

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