How To make Digital art

Fundamental Tools and Techniques for Digital Art

Digital art has no single "right" or "wrong" way to create, but understanding the core tools is essential for getting started.

1. Essential Digital Tools

• Brushes [00:01:35]: Brushes can mimic traditional tools like pencils and paintbrushes or create unique digital effects [00:01:47]. You can adjust:
  • Size: How large the brushstroke is [00:02:08].
  • Opacity: How much "paint" comes out (transparency) [00:02:09].
  • Pressure Sensitivity: Changes the appearance of the brush (like width or opacity) based on how hard you press with a stylus [00:02:13].
• Layers [00:02:33]: Layers allow you to separate different elements of your artwork, similar to sketching in pencil, inking in pen, and coloring in paint [00:02:57].
  • Non-Destructive Editing: You can turn layers on and off, or adjust the opacity, without erasing or damaging the original work [00:03:03].
  • Experimentation: Layers make it easy to experiment with different colors or duplicate parts of your drawing without losing the original [00:03:17].

2. Basic Digital Painting Project (The Cube)

The following steps demonstrate how to use layers and tools by painting a simple 3D shape (a cube).

• Sketch Layer [00:04:40]: Create a new layer and sketch the cube outline (tracing the reference is acceptable for practice). Move the sketch to the desired position and reduce the layer's opacity to easily draw over it [00:04:49].


• Color the Cube [00:05:05]: Use the Color Picker tool to sample colors directly from the reference image.
  • Create a new layer for the cube (this will be your "Cube" layer).
  • Use a hard-edged brush to outline one side of the cube, then use the Fill tool (paint bucket) to instantly fill the enclosed space with color [00:05:14]. Repeat this for all visible sides.


• Create the Background Layer [00:06:03]: Create a new layer and ensure it is positioned below the "Cube" layer so the cube is visible [00:06:07].


• Add a Gradient [00:06:34]: Digital art allows for soft edges (gradients) and hard edges (the cube). To add a soft gradient:
  • Use the Selection tool to define the area you want to paint [00:06:15].
  • Use a big, soft Airbrush with a low opacity (10% to 50%) and gently scrub back and forth over the area to build up the color gradually [00:07:14].
  • Alternatively, use Alpha Lock (or "Protect Alpha") on the background layer to ensure you only paint where color already exists [00:07:01].


• Paint the Shadow [00:07:37]: Create a new layer for the shadow and ensure it is below the cube layer. Use a large airbrush with low opacity (10% to 20%) to build up the gradual, soft shadow on the ground [00:08:15]. You can use the app's Blur tool to make the shadow look more organic [00:08:30].

Video Credit: Learning to Draw Digitally for Beginners by Brad's Art School, published on September 27, 2022.