Tablet Tutorial #1

Photo-Subtractive Painting Created Using the Pen Tool and Photoshop

When you are ready to move beyond regular filters try the technique I call the photo-subtractive process. There are times when the process is also additive but for my purposes, I believe the term photo-subtractive best suits this method. I developed this process by trial and error. I was looking for a way to alter images to look like illustrations. I am inspired by  Maxfield Parrish an artist who created illustrations in an era referred to as the Golden Age of Illustration.  Parrish was famous for the dazzlingly luminous colors he included in most of his paintings.  I am trying to emulate that appealing color with my photo-subtractive paintings. Different color effects can be created by using various background and line color combinations.

How to create a photo-subtractive illustration:

• Materials

• Tablet Computer
• Adobe Photoshop
• Digital Camera or digital image 

• Process

Open Photoshop and open the image you would like to use. Adjust the color or exposure to suit you desired effect. I sometimes like to punch up the color to create the lighting or mood  that I am trying to achieve.When your image is ready
Set the foreground and the background color.

The pen tool transforms Abode Photoshop from a photo editing application to a digital painting medium.
I use a tablet PC, Adobe C4 and my digital images to create paintings that become unique visual statements. This tutorial will explain my methods and process.