What all transparent objects have in common: they are translucent to a certain extent. Depending on the nature of the material (thickness, density, etc.) more or less transparent. Here some examples:

The objects are all made of different materials (liquid, chewing gum, glass, jelly, fabric, jellyfish), but all are somewhat translucent)

Is there a way to approach transparency issues similarly?

 

Yes there is! :)

Transparencies work better on colored backgrounds. The background is colored gray for a better representation)

 

1a) Draw a shape (in this case a circle with the selection tool) on a new layer

1b) To draw a gradient in without painting over the shape, fix the pixels on the layer)

1c) Draw a gradient with the airbrush

2 a) Duplicate the shape you just drew (either right-click on the layer and select Duplicate in the pop-up menu or drag and drop the layer onto the icon for "new layer" and release)

This level continues to be worked on. The first level should be set invisible (you will find an eye in front of the level. Just click on it and the level is invisible) We need this level for a later selection.

2 b) Now take a soft eraser and erase some of the color in the center of the circle.

3 a) Creates a new layer and changes the layer property to multiply.

• Have you not forgotten the invisible layer? Well! Now CTRL + with a left click on the layer - it doesn't matter that it is not visible -

Now you have selected the original shape and can no longer draw outside the shape

3 b) Use an airbrush to put a shadow in the lower area of the object (where it would rest).

4 a) Now switch back to the soft eraser. First erase at the point where the ball (or object) would lie on the floor.

Reduces the size of the brush a bit and also erases the shadow at the edge.

5 a) Create a new layer and change the layer effect to overlay.

5 b) Draw points of light and strips of light on the sphere where the light would strike (imagine the object as a sphere! Look at references how the light falls there)

6) Creates a new transparent layer! all other layers created up to this point and add a shadow to give the object a bit more perspective. (Make sure the shadow is under the object. Not under the colored background :))

 

Now you have a rough idea of how to implement transparency.

 

If you erase more color in the second step and color the layer a bit, you can easily create soap bubbles. (Remember that the pixels are fixed on the layer when coloring!)

Here is an example of how the water globe can be created in a more typical form.

Why is color erased from the original form? The color of the object (skin, sheet, metal, fabric, etc.) under the water can be changed without you having to recolour the water drops.

A few more tips

 

1. Do not just use a blue for water, but adapt it to your light source and your overall color scheme. (Light hits objects and is reflected differently by them and then falls back on other objects. In water and metal, for example, some color would be reflected from surrounding materials)

 

2. Get LOTS of reference materials and learn from nature and / or photos.

Don't just take an artist and copy the way the person e.g. Water draws, but look at how materials are reduced, how they actually look. Tries to understand why materials are reduced and how.

 

3. Does not use 100% white for light reflections. The light source is the brightest and not the glossy point on the metal or the fabric. You could draw light reflections with white, by changing the level to "soft light", the white is then somewhat weakened and adapts better to the colors underneath.

 

4. Have fun :)

Here is a bonus mini tutorial on how to apply the procedure to fabric.

It should be noted that fabric reflects light differently. The color would take on a lighter tone in the light area.

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Thanks for your time and I hope the tutorial will help you a little bit when it comes to transparencies. Remember to keep practicing (shapes, perspective, volume) and when it's just a few minutes each day. Then you will get better very quickly.

 

If descriptions are unclear, please let me know. This is my very first tutorial, so it may be that some of the steps are not clearly described.

If you have any requests for other tutorials, feel free to post them in the comments section :)

 

You are very welcome to share your results with me by linking me to social media

(twitter: Tiarael, instagram: vanlau_)

 

Thanks and have fun!