86 Technique

Computer Arts February 2009

Photoshop and Illustrator CS or later

Creative collages and mixed-media effects

Eric Carl shows you how to create striking illos from found imagery Everything old is new again, as the saying goes, and this is certainly true in the current climate. The really interesting work arrives when designers can successfully borrow elements from the past and distort and rework them to create their own unique vision. In this tutorial I’ll walk you through how I use found imagery and illustration to create an engaging image – something that hints at a mysterious narrative, leaving enough holes that the viewer is free to complete the story themselves. In this image I play with themes of power and dictatorship in a futuristic age, but understand that the narrative can evolve as you create an image and continue to find new inspiration. Keep in mind that collage is all about creative interpretation – take what you learn from this tutorial and apply it with your own unique voice.

Eric Carl Eric is a LA-based

artist and designer who is currently employed as a designer and instructor at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects in Hollywood. See more of his work at www.sans-concept.com.

On the disc Eric’s base shapes and the tutorial images in TIF format can be found in Disc Contents\Resources\Collage

Time needed 6-8 hours

Skills Vector and

raster tool integration

Masking techniques

Lighting techniques

Compositional skills

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Computer Arts February 2009

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02 I copy these shapes into a Photoshop fi le and lower their opacity for use as a visual guide. I then copy and paste each individual shape in separately, and line them up. This way I can use the shapes as masks later on.

01 I start with a rough sketch for the composition and then create the base shapes for a fl oating fortress in Illustrator (you’ll fi nd these on the Computer Arts disc). Use ellipses to build your required shapes and guides to make sure everything stays centred and lined up.

05 Now I split the sphere into two pieces and use the rim shapes pasted from Illustrator to create the inside. I convert the shape layers to selections and airbrush (hit ‘b’, click the arrow on the top right of the Brush dropdown menu, then select your brush) inside to create shade. Add some subtle noise to get a more airbrushed look.

04 To make the sphere more believable and give it a slight 1970s or 1980s airbrushed fl are I add refl ected light on the bottom right. Do this by creating a crescent shape along this side, blurring it and then adjusting its Opacity.

03 I make a new elliptical selection the same size as the original circle and fi ll it with 50% grey. I draw a black-to-transparent Linear Gradient from bottom right to top left, and a white-to-transparent Radial Gradient from top left to bottom right.

06 I duplicate the bottom half of the sphere and Free Transform (Edit>Free Transform) it to create additional spheres on the sides. Pay attention to how things overlap – avoid tangents and allow the shapes to read clearly.

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Computer Arts February 2009 www.computerarts.co.uk

12 It’s time to introduce the dictator. I paste the character in, and again add a mask to the layer. I paint out the edges with a brush, and fi x the dark elbow on the left with the Dodge tool.

13 The dictator’s size doesn’t have to be literal – I let him be large and in charge. I create a shape in Illustrator that’ll act as a seating area, then paste it into Photoshop and shade it with the Airbrush (see Step 5) so it recesses.

14 Continue adding decoration and ensure that the important elements read clearly. Prioritise certain parts of the image – my dictator is most important so he has the most contrast. Less important elements have less contrast, so they aren’t seen as easily.

10 I continue working with these elements to build this ambiguous column of rock and architecture. Copy, paste and clone the items as desired. Using literal subjects but combining them creatively can produce interesting results.

11 Now, we’ll add some decoration, giving us an opportunity to explore the narrative. I have a character riding an escalator into the structure – perhaps he’s an uninvited guest?

08 Paste in a section of your chosen image and add a Layer Mask to the layer. Paint in the mask around the edges with a brush to create a shape. Use Free Transform, copy and paste to compose the image as desired.

07 I’ve used a vintage water image to fi ll the insides of the spheres. The real fun is in going out and fi nding your own images to use in your work. Check out second-hand bookstores or charity shops for material.

09 I then paste in a section of a found futuristic dwelling image. To outline mechanical shapes such as this, use the Pen tool. Convert the created path to a selection and use that selection as a mask on the layer.

15 The fi nal image has even more decoration and I’ve made various adjustments to the contrast and general composition. Note how I’ve used light and dark areas to create contrast and help the grouped elements sit together.

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