Intro

Hi guys! Here I'll teach how to make a metallic&shiny surfaces! The process is both easy and quick! This method can be used not just in jewelries-but also in accessories, pendants, weapons, and more!!!

Step 1: Base

Before we start, we need a base shape of the object. Make a simple figure of it, and make a mark for overlapping areas. I'd recommend using white for the figure and gray for the markings.

Here I'll make 3 figures: a pole, a ring, and a wiggly(?) shape!

Next, we'll add the base color. Base color will decides what color or tone the final product is. The color shouldn't be too dark as the shading(we'll talk about it later!) won't appear clearly.

Also don't color this on the figure! Instead, color it on another layer and clip it to the figure layer.

Step 2: Shading

Here comes the fun part, shading! It gives the figure its volume and how metallic it is. We'll do it twice.

For the first shading, create a new layer, set it as multiply, and clip it to the previous layer. Before shading, you should also lower the base color layer's opacity to reveal the marks we made at the 1st step.

(Please ignore the note layer!)

The 1st shading gives the overall tone and shade. It covers slightly half of the figure's area and doesn't need to show the overlapping parts.

I'll put the light source in the lower right corner.

Using the same color you use for the base, shade all areas that might be shaded. Use the marks as a guide.

 

Extra note: When shading, the shade at the object won't be as dark as the shadow!

After we completed shading this, we'll blend them all. Blend em like there's no tomorrow. You can use any blending tools you wanted to. After blending, the figure(with 100% opacity base color) should look like the picture below.

Now, the 2nd shading! This time we'll focus on giving the figure its shape. The layer setting and the color are the same with the 1st shading. Don't forget to lower the base color's opacity!

The shading of this layer will reveal all the overlapping areas. The shading shouldn't take larger area than the 1st shading.

Then, we'll blend the shading again. Make sure it shows all the overlaps and volumes. You should see the figure clearly with 100% base color opacity.

This step is optional, but you may adjust the 2nd shading's hue to add more color! you can find the hue adjust bar at:

edit(on top left corner of CSP, aside the file) > tonal correction > Hue/saturation/luminousity

For this picture, I adjusted the ring's shading into orange, and the wiggly shape's into blue!

Step 3: Hilight

Finally we've arrived at the final step, the hilights! Hilights makes the figure shiny. The harder the hilights are, the shinier it'll be! Make a new layer, set it to add(glow), and clip it to the base.

The used color should be very bright. I use the base color but with 5% saturation and 100% luminousity.

When adding the hilights, don't color in large area as that makes the figure looks less shiny. Try making small connecting dots and lines instead.

Blendind the hilights is a little bit different from the shading- we spread it in only 1 or 2 directions, depending on the figure. Sometimes all the hilight dots are connected into a single line too(ehe)!

For a shinier feel, you can add a small area with a very hard hilight, and blend the edge to hide its hard edges. Note that this is optional!

AAAAAND BOOM WE'RE DONE!!!

Extra notes and stuff, basically summary:)

The process may look kinda long, but it's short and quick when you actually do it! Sorry if this tutorial is confusing(this is my 1st tutorial ehe), or if you're annoyed by any typos found in this tutorial.

I wish this helps you in making metallic shiny surfaces, thanks for reading til the end, and see you!