Hello, this is Sam Kang. In this session, I hope we can organize the brushes you are using.
Even if you're using the default brushes in Photoshop, it's not that you can't draw, but choosing the right brush can make your work more efficient and faster, and make the coloring process more enjoyable.
This might be just my personal impression, but when I use brushes like airbrushes or those without distinctive features, I feel they are a bit too digital.
But among the brushes, I'll show you later how to download those with textures. When I use them, I feel like I'm doing manual work, as if I'm using textured paper on this canvas.
Every stroke gives me a good feeling.
This is my case, but I think if you enjoy these aspects and feel satisfied visually, you might spend more time painting.
And if you choose a brush well, you can streamline repetitive tasks.
For example, if you need to apply gradients, a well-chosen blender can easily smudge and eliminate boundaries.
So, in such cases, it's visible here that you can paint smoothly in one go. Constantly searching for new brushes in hopes of improving your painting isn't necessarily good, but don't be stuck using only the basic brushes and not work efficiently.
I'll focus on brushes that can achieve the desired light and dark tones.
If you're using brushes like these, you're probably adjusting the opacity with the number keys.
It would be better to have brushes that adjust strength directly.
Like these, soft or a bit stronger.
And it's good to have tools that create gradients instantly when painting spheres, for example.
But these tools have different characteristics, so it's better to use them accordingly. Anyway, it's good to have such tools in your collection.
And these brushes tend not to finish neatly.
So, you might need to reduce the size or use harder edges.
A personal inconvenience in Photoshop is when you use a brush and change its settings, like I just did.
But when you select it again, it reverts to the original settings. So, if you change a setting, you should register it as a new brush.
In other words, if you're working and think you need a cleaner edge, it's better to select a brush that’s already clean, as per Photoshop's system.
That's just how Photoshop is. Other programs might be more advanced or user-friendly.
But since we're focusing on Photoshop right now, I'll explain its characteristics.
Having a blender is definitely beneficial. I'll help you choose one.
The good thing about Photoshop, though I was talking about its downsides, is its consistency. You might have experienced this.
In my case, I liked the Painter program. But with it, if I'm using version 10, the brush characteristics change in version 12.
This can be a huge loss, especially if you're earning a living with it and need to adapt to new tool changes with every version update.
But Photoshop's brush characteristics don’t change drastically. It may feel conservative, but this consistency can be an advantage.
However, this doesn't mean Photoshop only offers a few simple brushes.
The ability to create textures like these is not bad. It's not completely satisfying, but better than just simple brushes.
When you see brushes evolve from this to that, it feels more natural and less artificial.
But Photoshop seems a bit awkward in conveying watercolor-like feelings, though it's not impossible.
Still, I'd like to say that you can paint anything with it.
You can download brushes.
Photoshop offers a variety of default brushes.
For example, there's the MegaPack.
When you download it, there are many brushes.
So you have a lot to choose from.
You can narrow down the choices and create your own brush set.
You can group them like this.
I'll show you how to organize them.
You can drag and arrange brushes from the bottom to the top.
First, let me show you how to download from the official site.
There are a few methods, like right-clicking to go to "Get More Brushes" or using the Apple Oven option.
I switched to the English version of Photoshop for this lecture, so some brush names are in Korean, which might feel awkward, but I'll try my best.
When you go to "Get More Brushes," a website opens. I'll use the Korean site for better understanding.
You can read the descriptions in Korean and download by clicking "Download."
Download all the brushes.
Let's download everything and discard what's not needed.
These are free, and the ones provided by Photoshop are quite satisfactory.
Even if you download paid brushes, consider the essentials I mention today.
What others like might not suit you. For example, I don't usually use markers in manual work, so even well-made digital marker brushes don't interest me.
Download what you like, such as Blender or MegaPack, and also some dry brushes.
Now, go ahead and download.
So, I've downloaded some brushes like this, and I'll show you how to install them.
Right-click on the brush icon to access the "Get More Brushes" option.
Then you'll find an option to import brushes.
There's an option to load brushes, which I'll try now.
Let's see if I can load all of them at once.
They all appear when loaded.
If your brush window is small, it might be hard to scroll down.
As the list grows, you'll need to scroll a lot, so it's better to use a larger window.
Let's start with the MegaPack.
I'll close the ones I was using and open the MegaPack.
Let's test these brushes. I'll create a new layer for this.
It's important to test the brushes according to your needs.
Some brushes may not be suitable, so I'll keep searching.
If a brush doesn't work, I'll move on to the next.
I'm looking for brushes that don't require a lot of pressure at the start.
I prefer brushes that show strong expression with just a light touch.
It's inconvenient to apply a lot of pressure at the beginning of a stroke.
A brush should be strong from the start and get weaker as pressure decreases.
I'll keep looking for such brushes.
I'll avoid brushes that don't blend well. I'm looking for brushes that have texture and provide a certain feel.
Some brushes mimic the effect of smudging with fingers.
I'll skip brushes that are difficult to handle, like smudge tools.
I'm looking for brushes that suit my needs, avoiding shapes I don't like.
Some brushes might create gaps when painting faces, which I don't prefer.
Reducing the size of a brush can also change its effectiveness, so keep that in mind.
I encourage you to try all the brushes. I'll save the good ones and create a set for you. I'm not just focusing on my preferences but on brushes that are universally useful.
I don't like brushes that clump together too much.
Let me show you an example.
I avoid using brushes that tend to clump when coloring.
I know how to adjust these to my preference.
For instance, if you don't adjust the size, the brush won't reduce in size, which is quite obvious.
Look for brushes that suit your needs and preferences.
In the brush settings, consider adjusting the transfer settings to suit your needs, like opacity and flow.
There are brushes worth trying, not necessarily the most complex ones. I'll introduce these during coloring sessions.
Once you've made your brush set, try drawing with them.
Practice painting with these brushes and see if they feel comfortable. Everyone has a different style, so it's hard to say which brush or coloring method is best. But as you paint, you'll find brushes that feel right. Personally, I find round brushes less comfortable and prefer flat brushes.
I'm not sure why, but flat brushes seem to define shapes better.
You might have your own preferences too.
Try painting different shapes, like spheres or squares, with your brushes.
This will help you understand which brushes suit your style.
By practicing, you'll become familiar with the characteristics of different brushes.
You'll learn how to adapt brushes to your needs.
This familiarity helps you work more comfortably with brushes, even if they might seem inconvenient to others.
So, you can either adapt to the brush or find one that's already well-suited for you. I recommend trying brushes that give you a good feeling, even if they're a bit uncomfortable at first.
Basic brushes will also have their uses. It's good to combine different brushes according to your needs.
For finishing touches, basic brushes might be more meaningful. They're good for clean final details.
So, if you're drawn to fancy brushes, remember they might not be the best for clean finishes.
A balanced set of brushes, including basic ones, is ideal.
If you only use complex brushes, you might struggle with achieving a clean look.
Remember to save brushes you like and avoid those that don't work for you. If you've saved a brush in Photoshop, avoid constantly changing its size.
If you're used to changing brush sizes, save each size as a new brush, as Photoshop doesn't remember size changes.
Also, consider the style of painting you're doing. A brush that works for one style might not suit another.
So, you might need different brushes for different types of paintings.
Choose brushes that allow you to paint the way you want.
Think about the style of paintings you want to create and choose brushes accordingly. Not just basic brushes, but those that enhance your efficiency and style.
You can also consider brushes that preserve the texture of your lines.
In some cases, like with triangular shapes, certain brushes may not be ideal.
In such cases, using brushes without triangular shapes or those that don't reduce much in size might be more helpful.
Reducing the brush size can also be an option, and even painting in black requires tonal adjustments.
Coloring involves considering many factors; it's not as simple as it seems.
Using solid black can disrupt the balance. Finally, I want to show you something about line work. Using a basic brush for lines can be inconvenient. Even with careful matching, there's a noticeable difference in the stroke.
However, when drawing cute characters, I prefer brushes with a bit of roughness. There are inky brushes for this purpose.
These brushes have a rough texture, but adjusting the minimum size can make the lines smoother and more continuous.
Choosing the right tool can bring many advantages and different feelings. It's evident how different brushes can change the look and feel of your work.
So, thinking about what you want to draw and the style you aim for is important. This is a good opportunity to explore different styles.
Experiment with various brushes from your download, and I'll also share my organized set for you to try.
See if my preferences suit you, and if not, feel free to adjust them according to your taste.
If you find certain brushes unsuitable, ask questions or search for ways to improve them. In the brush options, you can modify settings to fit your needs.
There are tutorials on creating custom brushes on YouTube. I won't cover that, but I'll mention it if necessary during coloring sessions.
That's it for today. I hope this session was helpful for choosing and using brushes in Photoshop.
Thank you for joining this session with Sam Kang.