Render a Sphere using the Airbrush tool

Hello!

 

In this short tutorial I am going to explain how to make a sphere only using the "Airbrush" tool (B) in Clip Studio Paint.

1. SET A BACKGROUND COLOR

It is important not to work with a white background in order to better see the effects of light and shadow.

 

To do this, select a background color, depending on the light that will exist in the image (lighter or darker).

 

I'm going to use only black and white for this tutorial in order to make it easier, in my case I have selected: # 8B8B8B, choose the "Fill" tool (G) and click on the canvas.

2. CREATING THE SPHERE

Select the "Selection" tool (M) in Ellipse mode and hold the SHIFT key while clicking and creating a wide enough circle.

 

The SHIFT tool is used to maintain the proportion of the circle so that it is perfect.

 

Next, select the "Fill" tool (G) and click inside the selected area. I have chosen the color # A2A2A2.

3. SHADOW

In this step we are going to add the shadow to our sphere.

 

First we must decide where the light comes from. In my case the light will come from the Top and Right of the image.

 

If you don't have the circle selected, use the "Automatic Selection" tool (W) and select it. Don't lose this selection until step 8.

 

Select the "Airbrush" tool (B) select "Soft" in the Sub Tools panel and choose a color for your shadow. In my case I have chosen # 373737.

When choosing the shade tone you want to use, it is important to know what range of values we are going to use. In this case I am going to use the entire range but you can practice trying to make a sphere using only half down or half up.

 

Once you know the range you are going to use, make a distinction between which part will correspond to LIGHT and which to SHADOW.

With this in mind and taking into account where the light comes from (Top Right in my case) start coloring the shadow with the "Airbrush" (B) in a new Layer.

4. LIGHT

Create a new layer and then choose a color for the light.

 

In this case I have chosen #CCCCCC.

 

Use the "Airbrush" tool (B) again and paint from the top right of the sphere towards the center.

 

It is advisable to use a large Airbrush size in proportion to the sphere.

5. MORE LIGHT

At this point, as I was not entirely happy with the strength of the Light, I decided to create a new Layer and using the "Airbrush" (B) I added more light in the Top-Right part of the sphere with the color #EFEFEF .

6. BOUNCING LIGHT

Next, in a new layer, I have selected a color lighter than the one used for the shadow but not as light as the range of colors that I have used for the light (see first image of section 3) and I have painted over the area from the shadow that receives the light that bounces off the surface and hits the ball. For this I have used the color # 616161.

 

It is very important that you do not use a color that falls within the range of those used for light, if you do it will seem that there are two sources of light instead of one. It must be something subtle.

7. DETAILS

In this step, using the color #FEFEFE I have added the light reflection.

 

The light reflection should not be positioned all the way up to the right despite the light coming from there, but should be positioned at the point where the light bounces off the sphere and is directed into the view of the observer. At the point where the light and the view of the observer converge.

 

I have also decided to add a little more light that bounces off the bottom right of the sphere. All this, using the "Airbrush" tool (B)

8. SHADOW (surface)

Then deselect the sphere and choose the "Selection" tool (M) again in Ellipse mode.

 

Create a new layer below where the sphere's layers meet but above the bottom one and create a circle with the "Selection" tool (M). This time do not use the shift button as we want the circle to be a bit squashed (it will depend on the perspective).

 

Make this circle in the area opposite where your light source is and color it with the "Airbrush" tool (B). I have used the color # 2B2B2B.

 

When you have the shadow made, deselect it and apply in the window "Filter"> "Blur" (B)> "Gaussian Blur". Choose a value that blurs the edges of the shadow without distorting it too much.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL OCCLUSION

In this step we are going to add a more intense shadow in the area where the light can barely penetrate because it is being blocked by the sphere. This shadow is called Ambient Occlusion.

 

To do this, select with the "Automatic Selection" tool (W) the shadow that we have drawn previously and choose a darker color. I have chosen # 121212.

 

Paint the area of the shadow closest to the sphere that is on the opposite side of the light.

 

10. END

And it would be.

 

We have managed to make a sphere using the "Airbrush" tool (B) in Clip Studio Paint.

 

Thank you very much for reading this tutorial, I hope it has helped you.

 

Remember that the principles of light and shadow applied in this sphere can also be applied in your drawings. Good luck!

 

All the best!