My two favorite skin smoothing effects in Adobe Photoshop
Digital imaging is a big part of my workflow. I would say 97% of my work is based on digital imaging (photography, graphic/web design, digital painting, photo restoration, photo manipulation, 3D and more). Being self-employed, speed is as important as quality. I was VERY happy and surprised when I discovered the PixelSquid plugin for Photoshop. I am using 3D in Adobe Photoshop CC almost every day. I am using Adobe Fuse for all my character creating needs. Now I can use “ready to use” 3D objects (including all the PSD layers) in my workflow.
Many of you who know me know that a huge part of my digital imaging belongs to digital painting using Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Photoshop Sketch on iPad. I have different techniques in Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Sketch, even a digital painting technique for photographers (and no, you don’t need to be a professional painter to be able to use this technique).
Many times I am asked what I prefer most to draw in: Adobe Photoshop CC or Adobe Photoshop Sketch. Now I will answer that question:
is my digital heart. I am using Photoshop with EVERYTHING (photo retouching after my photography sessions, photo restoration, photo manipulation, graphic/web design, painting, 3D, animation, and much more). For me nothing is impossible in Photoshop.
For digital painting in Photoshop I have three techniques:
Painting for photographers – where the primary tool is the Mixer Brush Tool and you don’t need to have any painting experience.
Painting – where you need to have painting experience or you are willing to learn.
A Combination of Oil Paint filter (yay! we got this filter back!) and the Mixer Brush Tool.
I am using a Wacom tablet for all my digital needs on the desktop and especially with my digital painting workflow
The Adobe Photoshop Sketch experience or “traditional” method of painting/sketching using an iPad is like you are using a “real” canvas of paper to sketch or draw. You don’t need to be in front of your desktop or laptop to start working on your project. You can start and finish your project using your iPad or you can start your project using your iPad and finish your project in your desktop app such as Adobe Photoshop CC or Adobe Illustrator CC.
Now the “vs” part:
Adobe Photoshop CC: I can create any image in Adobe Photoshop starting from an empty document such as photo manipulation or 3D and after that I can start my painting process in Photoshop (we can’t do that in Adobe Photoshop Sketch). Also I can start my painting process using my photo as a based layer or just a clear canvas / from scratch. I can start my painting in Adobe Photoshop and finish in Adobe Photoshop Sketch. I need to have a Wacom tablet or the Astropad app installed on my iPad Pro to be able paint in Adobe Photoshop.
Adobe Photoshop Sketch: I can start my painting project from scratch or use any images as a base layer (to trace it for example). In Adobe Photoshop Sketch we have AMAZING watercolor paintbrushes (we don’t have these brushes/live effects in Adobe Photoshop ). With the combination of Adobe Photoshop Sketch and Apple Pencil you have an absolutely amazing SKETCHING ability (before Apple Pencil and iPad Pro we were able to have this ability ONLY using the “traditional” method of sketching). Using Adobe Photoshop Sketch you can draw/sketch from ANYWHERE using your iPad.
Question: which do I prefer most? BOTH. I am using Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Photoshop Sketch every day. I can’t choose which is most important to me (like choosing which limb is most important to me). Both applications are different and both are very important to me. See my Adobe Photoshop work on Behance.net.
I am planning to record new series of tutorials:
Any specific tutorials you would like to see? If so please, let me know using Post Comment option below or send me a tweet @Victoria_Pavlov
There’s a new update to Photoshop CC and it’s got lots of cool little things and changes. Here are a few of my recent videos that showcase the changes and enhancements.
See my latest videos….
Continue reading My new videos about the latest update of Adobe photoshop CC
Astropad with iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
I have been using the full version of Adobe Photoshop CC on my iPad Pro using Apple Pencil via the Astropad App for the past few days. The application that helps me to operate Adobe Photoshop CC on my iPad Pro is Astropad. Astropad costs $19.99 and for this very LOW price I am able to work on ANY project using my Adobe Photoshop CC full version on my iPad Pro from ANYWHERE at my home or studio.
Today I tried digital painting in Adobe Photoshop CC on my iPad Pro using the Mixer Brush Tool and Apple Pencil (a pressure sensitive stylus). I am extremely pleased with how Astropad performs. No lag! My brush strokes remans same (real-time), I don’t need to change anything in my technique. I want to point out that all the colors displayed on in Adobe Photoshop CC using Astropad are absolutely the same to my eyes.
Another BIG plus with Astropad is that I don’t need to look at my monitor during my painting. So the digital painting experience using iPad Pro and Apple Pencil in combination with the full version of Adobe Photoshop CC is ABSOLUTELY identical to traditional painting using canvas, paper and your favorite brush or pencil (My iPad Pro and Apple Pencil review is posted here) .
Now when I travel I will not take with me my medium Wacom Intuos tablet because I always travel with my iPad Pro. My iPad Pro has all my favorite mobile applications like Adobe Photoshop Sketch, Adobe Photoshop Fix, Adobe Photoshop Mix and many more Adobe mobile apps. So why would I need to carry my Wacom tablet with me anymore? I don’t.
Shooting for Adobe Stock using Westcott LED
I am a professional photographer and digital artist. I am using Adobe Stock images every day with most of my digital imaging workflow, tutorials and etc. I love Adobe Stock because it’s easy to use and I am able to find any high quality image that I need in no time. Also I am very happy about being able to contribute my own photography, digital imaging I create to Adobe Stock. Last week I desided to do a still life photo shoot ( fall inspIred colors) to submit my images for Thanksgiving season. I did set up a small “home studio” setting and used a Westcott Flex Light LED 10″. I used Wesfcott LED continuous lighting before during my portrait session along with the Westcott Eye Lighter and I decided to try it with my still life session. I loved everything about their LED lights: quality of lightning, being able to control the range of lightning. I can mount the Flex Light LED anywhere and on almost anything including a chair, light stand, door, table, just name it and most of all I can take it anywhere with me when I travel. It’s very flexible and I don’t worry about extra space in my backpack (as usual I don’t have any space at all), I can fold it and use at any location at any place with any type of my photo session. My Thanksgiving Stock Images ( for now )
I’ve been asked many time which apps and equipment I use in my studio or when i am travel. So I decided to put together my studio equipment list and on the go kit.
Studio kit:
Adobe Creative Cloud Full plan
iMac
Wacom Intuos
iPad
Adobe ink
Nikon D600
Westcott Rapid Box
Wescott Eyelighter
Tripod
iPhone 6 Plus
Microphone
Easel
Arkon_Mount TWBroadcaster
On to go kit:
Adobe Creative Cloud Full plan
MacBook Pro
Wacom Intuos
iPad
iPhone
Adobe Ink & Slide
Nikon D600
Westcott LED
Tripod
Arkon_Mount RM179