A simple secret to productivity is eliminating roadblocks. Especially if you don't have much time to dedicate to practice digital painting, it's a good idea to get straight to the painting. This tutorial explains the "document presets" feature, and why it can help streamline your practice ritual. After all, sometimes the hardest part is 'getting started'.
Every artist has a different answer to the question of "how many layers?", but knowing the difference between direct and indirect painting is key to forming your own workflow. This is an old concept, but it makes the leap to photoshop beautifully, allowing the artist to work on layers independently from one another. There was a time when layers meant you had to wait for paint to dry -- luckily, the digital process allows you to skip that part.
If you like the idea of "indirect painting" and want to know more, check out the "Grayscale to Color" series in the store.
This is a companion video to go along with the two previous texture brush downloads. Hopefully this will explain why an artist might prefer working on a textured canvas. I don't always begin with one, but it can lead to very rich results. If you didn't get a chance to see the previous videos, make sure to watch them here: Block-in Brush, and Diffuser Brush
If you've got a traditional pen or pencil drawing that you want to color digitally, scanning the image is only step 1. Before you can start painting you need to make a few adjustments. This video shows some simple tweaks that will make your sketch prepared for painting.
A common question for beginners is "What size should I make my canvas?" Wanting to know exactly how many white pixels to lay out before you start working is a comforting feeling, but there's no 'right' answer to this question. In this video we'll explore the idea of dynamic resolution. Counter to the rules for digital photography, there are benefits to beginning with a small canvas and gradually enlarging it as you work.