1. Introduction

Hello I’m Antimateria,𓆩🖤𓆪

I’m a tattoo apprentice and today I want to show you an easy way to create a foodie tattoo in CSP’s Simple Mode. 

🍣🥢

 

Since I started using CSP I fell in love with Simple Mode - it gave me the opportunity to start drawing without being intimidated by the many functionalities of Studio Mode.

 

Furthermore Simple Mode acted as a bridge for me - to feel more comfortable with the full program in the process of drawing.

So today I’m gonna show you everything you need to know for you to transform your idea into finished design. ✨ Lets’s go! ✨

2.Canvas and Tool Preparation

2.1 Canvas

First let’s start by creating a new canvas.

Having in mind that we’re going to make a tattoo design, I prefer to use the standart A4 canvas size in 330 dpi - as it would be easier to size and print it later.

 

The canvas size is Width: 2894 px / Height: 4093px

Next I like to change the paper colour to something more yellowish, so it feels comfy for my eyes.

2.2. Tools to Use

The tools I use are 3 main :

 

* Pencil - for initial sketch (please note I use custom pencil, but any pencil that feels natural to you is okay)

* Textured Pen - for lifework ( preferred for the pressure sensitivity)

* Stipple brush - for shading (Lazy stipple available in CSP Assets)

Here you can find the stipple set ⬇️

3. Ideas and Mood board

Creating a tattoo design , often the client gives you a general idea and a reference or two, of other tattoos he\she likes.

 

So we need inspo for our design and our prompt is :

“I’m a foodie and I looove sushi and I want it on my forearm, make it interesting, something more manly” .

Here I’ve looked for some images that can help me create design.

Now we can start with …..

4. The Sketch

This part is pretty intuitive.

Simple Mode gives us the opportunity to just dive into drawing. We want to have a rough Sketch that we’re gonna ink and shade.

 

Tip: Sometimes i like to use blue and red when sketching to consantly have in mind the contrast of the tattoo design, you can try it out.

When sketching in simple mode you may often find yourself using the program just like a sketchbook - trhowing on ideas, going with the flow. The joy of the simple things. <3

5. Inking

The inking process is important for creating this sushi design, especially when having in mind it will probably be tattooed later. The goal is to keep the illustration simple and readable.

I like to ink every part of the design on separate layer, so I can move tweak them later if needed.

 

 

6. Base and Shading

6.1. Base colour

Now that we have the basic outline, it’s time to switch tools.

First is adding base fill colour to every element I like to work in grayscale so the incorporated colour sets from Clip Studio do a perfect job.

This organisation gives (me) the freedom to change and reorder every element without affecting the others. 

My basic rule of order is:

• Linelayer

• Shade

• Basecolour

This order helps me with my non drestructive work flow.

In This case I want to mimic the tattoo process as much as possible so we’re gonna use stipple brushes. Lazy Stipple brushes are my weapon of choice, but any other spray/particle/ stipple brush can be used to achieve the grey scale gradients.

6.2. Where are my brushes?

Simple mode has very intuitive design and when I first asked myself… “ but where are my brushes?!” - it was easy to add them

• just click on the plus icon and “add from studio mode” here you can browse all the tools and choose the ones you want to use.

Some brush adjustments

Here quickly I want to add that every brush in Simple mode has additional options - in this case for me it the particle size was something I tweak in order to get the effect that I desire.

 

 

7. Colours and Details

At this stage we have a design that is mostly ready. I wanted to add a splash of colour so I used my Sketch Pencil again with lowered opacity to add colours and more shading to achieve higher contrast.

8. Borders

After reordering the layers and adding some details it’s time for the best trick of CSP - BORDERS <3

 

You can add a border around a whole folder full of layers - this will affect all of the layers in the folder.

Clicking on the folder and scrolling down to “border” open up a menu where you can change the colour and thickness.

 

 

9. Adding paper texture for fun

Quick tip, how to add the paper texture on the background.

 

Easy as expected - just click on “Materials” and browse till u find something you like. I added to Favourites some of the ones i preffer.

✨ Choose -> Transform if needed, and your design is on paper.

1o. What if i wear my favourite meal on me?

Now let’s make a final mock up.

I’ve hidden all the layers and I am adding a mock up picture. Clicking on the “Add from images button”.

Now I can resize and transform the image as I like.

After that I would like the photo to be black and white. So I click on filters and want it to apply only to this layer. Now I chose Monotone at the end of the scroll.

All of the layers of my design are now merged. And a put the sushi on top of my mock up pic.

 

In order to transform the design as I like I use the Move tool.

After scaling I use the Mesh Transformation to give the illusion of the design bending around the arm. 



Finally I Set the layer to Multiply and lowered the opacity a little bit to look more realistic.

11. Results and thoughts.

I had fun creating this design, (yes maybe i was the foodie that love sushi, but you can never know).

 

Hope this inspires you just to grab the tablet and create something, because Simple Mode is really as simple as drawing on a piece of paper, with all the advantages of digital drawing <3

 

✨ Here’s what we made ✨

12. VIDEO of the creative process.