MOTORHEAD427

I always dreamt of building a 427 cu in aluminum block `69 ZL-1 Corvette or Camaro.And I`ve been known as a gearhead/motorhead since I was little.There: MOTORHEAD427... Now I own an LS1 Z-28 but it`s no ZL-1....Still hoping to have one someday.. ERIC

Lucky guy... Mike I hope you have space for one more toy.... It`s on its way!!!!and I want to see pictures... ERIC

I think I will start a thread about how to make our car pictures look better and simple touch-ups. But I`m worried that afterwards every Z car with crappy paint job on eBay will look like showroom floor condition cars. ERIC

It`s not all about the history option but also brush/airbrush options are much easier to control with Photoshop 8 ,9 or CS. As for a tablet I recommend the Wacom Graphire series. Don`t waste your money on those fancy tablets with extra options. The one thing that helped me use photoshop very efficiently was memorizing "hotkeys". Such as "B" for brush, "C" to crop, Ctrl+T to free transform, Ctrl+L for levels hit TAB to make tool boxes disappear etc etc etc. I`ve been using Photoshop since 1990 and memorized quite a few Hotkeys. You should do the same. Memorize hotkeys and get used to using them. Eric

I`ve seen it also. It`s a white S30 against a green MR2 on the strip. But there is more to it. They are both "electric powered". The article is about the NEDRA. National Electric Drag Racing Association. http://www.nedra.com Electric Z!!!!!Sounds weird. Eric

Paul, Max is right. You can undo many times with the history option. Max...Stop using the mouse! Get the tablet and if you wish, a scanner to scan your sketches so you can work on them. Any questions?... Eric

Photoshop 7.0 is also good...As long as it has the "HISTORY" option. Why photoshop? Because, it is one software that allows you to manipulate any photograph in the most professional way but also it is so flexible that you can use it as a sketch book. Eric

I`m using a wacom graphire3 tablet. It`s kinda pricey but I know that I will not have to replace it for a long time. I might start a new thread about how to work on stock photography. Just use photoshop dude. Photoshop 8 or newer. Eric

I`m glad you enjoyed it. I just want to help people understand and use photoshop better.It`s a great program with endless possibilities. Any questions, just ask. I`ll be more than happy to answer. Eric

You`re welcome. I know they are not cheap but you have to get a tablet. It takes about 1 week to get used to it. You need the tablet for airbrushing. Eric

Max and everybody else who is curious about photoshop: This will be a very long post. Beware... I`ll try and show you how I created a rendering on photoshop from scratch. First. Create a new file Create a new layer for your sketch Make sure you adjust the airbrush flow I wanted to make a shock trooper rendering.Make sure you have a good reference photo! Finish your sketch Create a new layer for BLACK and fill in black areas: Next, create a layer for the secondary color.In this case, red: The third color will be white. So, to avoid confusion, change the background color simply by Hue/Saturation under IMAGE--ADJUSTMENTS: NEVER USE PURE WHITE!!!!! Try eggshell or off-white: Next, I`ve added some gray shading over white: Create a new layer for BLACK shading. Adjust the airbrush flow accordingly. Preferably 2-3% Now it`s time for the most fun part!!!! Weathering!!!! Create a new layer below black shading layer. The hardest part is over. Now we need a nice background. In this case I wanted a sunset. I picked one from http://www.mayang.com. After downloading the picture I simply opened it on photoshop.Then I used the move tool(the black arrow thing) to drag the picture over the clone trooper rendering. After adjusting the size of the background picture with free transform option(located under EDIT) I set it up as the bottom layer. Now the problem here is that, hues and lighting of these pictures don`t match each other. So by using levels (Under IMAGE--ADJUSTMENTS) I made the background look a little sharper. Next. It`s time to crop the canvas. Simply hit "C" key for crop tool and get rid of unnecessary part of the canvas. At this point you must have noticed that I already got rid of the "SKETCH" layer.I don`t need separate layers anymore so I merged them all linked. Some fine tuning with levels Get rid of the fuzzy edges with eraser(airbrush mode) ET VOILA! It`s done for now. I can add the Imperial Star Destroyer some other time: And here`s my reference picture: I hope you enjoyed this. I`ll be more than happy to answer your questions. Thanks. Eric

I forgot to mention a very important thing. Before you start a sketch, you need to create a "new" background/canvas(Under file go to NEW). For the size. I usually prefer 8x8 with at least 300dpi. The one you see is 600 dpi. This is very important. No matter what size the canvas is, always choose a resolution greater than 300dpi. ERIC

I actually sketch the same thing twice. First time I lower the airbrush flow to about 3% (upper info bar) once I`m done, I resketch over the first one, but this time slightly darker(about 6-7% airbrush flow).I try not to add too much shading. This helps me correct mistakes I might have made with the first sketch. This is another option most beginners don`t see. It is wrong to use the airbrush in full 100% flow.Even when I "fill" larger areas such as the samurai`s red cape, I didn`t go over 40% airbrush flow. Before tablet, I drew and colored my sketches free hand and scanned them into the computer and added effects. With tablet i don`t think I`ll ever need my scanner again. Eric

Craig Mullins (http://www.goodbrush.com) really is very talented. He knows a lot of different techniques. I know that he likes to mix different programs in creating his artworks. Mainly photoshop and painter(I think) But he also uses high-rez texture photos and skillfully blends them in to his renderings. For texture files you might need, go to: http://www.mayang.com I also use texture files for my more professional renderings(stuff that takes usually 6 hours and more) Saves a lot of time. If you want to be in the anime/game design industry you might want to get used to using texture files. Of course this all depends on how well you use photoshop as a "tool". Most people don`t understand photoshop. Photoshop is based on understanding the logics of 2 main things: 1-Layers 2-Selections these are the two main things you need to understand. There is a big mistake most beginners make. They want to learn "everything" about photoshop. This is one of the renderings I work on, on my spare time. The "boxes" you see on the screen are the only ones you will need. Layers Paths(To create precise selections) Channels(to save your selections for future use) History(if you mess up and go back) Tool box(all the tools, brush, eraser, move tool etc-it helps to learn hotkeys) Colors, Swatches, Styles(if you feel you need them) Upper info bar. File, Edit, Image(the one I use the most),Layer, Select(selection options),Filter(Blur is very useful!!!)View(viewing options),Window and Help(Really helpful for beginners) If you noticed, I`ve created many layers.One for red color, one for the initial sketch. One for black shading, one for white, one for the armor and a separate one for the sword/katana. I will merge some of these layers later on. and I`ll get rid of the unnecessary ones. That`s it. The rest is up to you and your imagination. About this rendering. I will probably go to http://www.mayang.com and get an appropriate background for it and then slightly modify it. Maybe a nice sunset. Don`t worry about anything other than what I mentioned here. One of the keys to use photoshop in a proficient way is staying away from unnecessary options that it is offering. This is all you ever need. I will gladly assist anyone who wants to learn more about photoshop. Thanks. Eric

According to my mechanic:-D the L series engines are copied from Mercedes inline 6 engines. Mercedes engines are very dependable as far as I know. That might explain why the L series are so durable. ERIC

That`s funny...I did exactly the same thing. I started out drawing stick figures when I was 4.I used to try and copy comic book characters from comic books. The good thing about an art school is, you meet a lot of people just like you and swap ideas/techniques. Other than that I haven`t learned anything at the Art Center College in Pasadena and dropped out.It was too expensive also. BTW. There is an upside to being an artist. You`ll never need a diploma. All people want to see is your portfolio not your diploma. Here`s a link you might like. Check out this guy`s portfolio: http://www.goodbrush.com Good luck to you Max! Eric

It`s good to know there still are some nice people out there. This guy donated a Z to a church. Check it out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/240Z-Beautifully-restored-speedster_W0QQitemZ290073346267QQihZ019QQcategoryZ6187QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Eric

Max. I think you have potential. When it comes to vehicle design it is OK to use rulers, shape guides and especially ellipse guides. As for coloring: Light is the most important element of a nice illustration/color sketch. I recommend either observe car magazines (popular hot rodding has the best pictures) or get a couple of dark color 1/18 scale diecast cars and try different light angles on them.Take pictures and use as reference.That will improve your "visual communication". Let me know if you have any questions.I`ll try and help. Eric

I agree with Boodlefoot. I recommend a LS1 Z-28 or SS Camaro. I`ve had my Z-28 since `98 as a daily driver.Never had any kind of trouble whatsoever except for speeding tickets. Reliable, fuel efficient, it has great handling, very quick and responds well to improvements. Also you can buy a very decent one for about $12K and spend the rest of your money on improvements -if you feel you need to improve it-. C5 is also a great choice but I wouldn`t buy a C5 for under $20K...There might be something wrong with it. Decent C5`s starts from about $25K. Camaro`s advantage compared to C5 is, it costs less so you can use the money you save on improvements to get the Corvette performance and also since it has a back seat, you`ll save on insurance. 4 seaters cost less than 2 seaters. Eric

Stewie Gilligan Griffin of "Family Guy" Brock Samson of "Venture Bros" Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law are my new favourites. Popeye the Sailor Bugs Bunny are my all time favourites. ERIC

Terry. I really like your son`s artwork.But it seems he doesn`t want to go to school for it. I wish the best to him. Eric

Max. I use photoshop to color because I`m sick and tired of dealing with markers, pastels, acrylic and all that. And it costs too much money. About the tablet: There is no difference between freehand and tablet when it comes to sketching or airbrushing. You get used to it very easily. Today, I still paint, airbrush and draw/sketch freehand. But for quick color sketches like this one, I prefer photoshop and so should any artist who knows how to use photoshop or similar programs. Let me know if you have any questions.I`ll try and help... Eric

Your son has a lot of talent. Make sure he receives the necessary education. How old is he? ERIC

Here`s the beginning of the original sketch... Used photoshop to color it...Easier and cheaper than using marker pens. And it doesn`t smell as bad... Eric

Non Commercial use is OK. I keep the original PSD files and the sketch...Just so you know... Don`t remove my signature from it and that`s it. This one is the redstreak dude...I`m not changing the color:-D Let`s have a wallpaper section and I`ll provide you with a bunch of unusual artwork. Eric PS: Please don`t mess with the artwork trying to change the color and such.Thanks.