Priya Kapoor
Paint Tool SAI is a lightweight Japanese digital painting program that is popular among artists due to its simplicity and range of tools. It is similar to Adobe Photoshop, but with smoother colour blending and more control. This tutorial will teach you how to paint an afternoon sky using Paint Tool SAI. First, fill your canvas with a medium blue that appears on clear days. Next, add a lighter blue where you want the clouds and lighter areas to be, keeping in mind the position of your light source. Then, use the blur tool to blur out your colours, adding depth and space to the picture. After this, trace out the shapes of your clouds using the pencil tool, varying the thickness of your lines to indicate cloud density and future highlights. Finally, switch to the Acryl tool to blend out the highlights, creating a blurry, fluffy look to the clouds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Step | Start with a base blue on a canvas of your preferred size. |
| Light Source | The sky will appear lighter if you are facing the sun and darker if you are facing away. |
| Clouds | Use a lighter blue to indicate where the clouds and lighter areas will be. |
| Brush Settings | Set the brush to 70% spread with no texture to create a blurry, fluffy look to the clouds. |
| Acryl Tool | Use the Paper Acryl Tool to blend out the highlights. |
| Blur Tool | Use the blur tool to add depth and space to the picture. |
| Pencil Tool | Use the pencil tool to trace out the clouds. |
| Cloud Density | Use thicker lines to indicate higher cloud density. |
| Gradation Tool | Use the gradation tool to fill the background, with the lightest colour where the light source is and a darker colour on the outer edges. |
| Cloud Variation | Use the pipette tool to select the background colour next to the respective cloud and paint over some nearby areas to create variation in shapes and density. |
| Shades | Add shades to the clouds, using the same colour as the darkest part of the background. |
| Final Step | Create a new layer with the gradation tool, with a slight shift in hue to darken the clouds and highlight those further away from the light source. |
Explore related products
$21.49 $24.99
$14.99 $22.99
What You'll Learn
Choose a base blue colour for your canvas
To paint an afternoon sky using Paint Tool SAI, start by choosing a base blue colour for your canvas. Paint Tool SAI is a Japanese digital painting program that is popular among artists due to its simplicity and wide range of tools. It is similar to Adobe Photoshop, but with smoother colours and more control.
When choosing your base blue, opt for a medium shade that resembles the colour of a clear day. This initial shade can always be lightened or darkened later in the process using blending techniques.
To begin, use the brush tool on maximum size to completely cover your canvas in the chosen blue. Then, select a lighter shade of blue and consider where you want the clouds and lighter patches to be. Think about your light source and how this will impact the appearance of the sky. If you are facing away from the sun, the sky will appear lighter to you and darker further away.
Once you have your base blue, you can start to add depth and space to the picture by adding a darker blue away from the light source and blurring this out. You can then start to trace out the shapes of the clouds using the pencil tool. Adjust your tablet pen pressure to create thinner lines that appear further away, and thicker lines to indicate areas of higher cloud density and future highlights.
Remember that you can always adjust the settings of your tools in Paint Tool SAI to achieve your desired effect. Play around with the various features to find what works best for you and your artwork.
Stucco and Paint: Prime for Success?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Add a darker blue away from the light source
When painting an afternoon sky using Paint Tool SAI, a Japanese digital painting program, it is important to consider the light source. If you are facing away from the sun, the sky will appear lighter to you and darker further away. To add depth and space to your painting, select a darker blue and apply it to the areas of the canvas that are farthest from the light source.
You can use the Blur tool to feather out the blurring and make it look more natural. Play around with the various settings to see what best suits your desired effect. For example, you can use a paper texture to create a canvas-like appearance. You can also adjust the edge shape of your brush to make your lines soft or hard, which can add an interesting effect to your painting.
Once you have blurred out the darker blue, you can start tracing out where you want your clouds to go. Adjust your tablet pen pressure to control the thickness of the lines. Thinner lines will appear further away, while thicker lines will indicate areas of higher cloud density.
You can also add shades to the clouds, using the same colour as the darkest part of the background. This will create a cohesive and natural-looking sky. Finally, you can create a new layer on top with the gradation tool, using a slight shift in hue to add variation and make the clouds appear more vibrant.
Prehistoric Techniques: Blowing Paint for Cave Art
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$21.99 $35
Use the blur tool to add depth and space
The Blur tool in Paint Tool SAI is a great way to add depth and space to your paintings, especially when creating an afternoon sky. This tool is present in Paint Tool SAI Version 1, and in newer versions, you can find it by right-clicking on a blank space in the brushes panel. It should open a small window called "basic tools", where the blur tool is the 11th one.
The Blur tool is incredibly versatile as it can be used for blending, buffing, contouring, and applying blush. It is also excellent for creating blurring effects and adding motion blur to your paintings. When using the Blur tool, you can change its settings and experiment with different textures to achieve your desired outcome. For instance, you can use a paper texture, which feathers out the blurring, giving your painting a canvas-like appearance.
When painting an afternoon sky, the Blur tool can be used to soften the transition between colours and create a sense of depth. Start by selecting the airbrush tool and lightly drawing and blending the lighter areas of the sky. Then, choose a lighter yellow and place it in the areas where the sun hits the clouds the most. Continue filling in and blending with the airbrush tool, and then switch to the Blur tool to soften the colours.
Additionally, you can add a darker blue farther away from the light source and then blur that out as well. This technique will add depth and make the sky appear more spacious. Play around with the settings and textures to find what works best for your painting. Remember, the Blur tool can be a powerful asset in creating stunning afternoon skies, but be cautious not to overuse it, as it may cause colours to appear unclear and pale.
Light Painting with Lumix: Creative Camera Techniques
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Outline clouds with the pencil tool
To paint an afternoon sky using Paint Tool SAI, a lightweight Japanese digital painting program, start by selecting a base blue for your canvas. Next, you'll want to add clouds.
Use the pencil tool to start tracing out where you want the clouds to go. You may need to adjust your tablet pen pressure depending on how hard you have to press or how much the sensor picks up your lines. Drawing lightly on the tablet will create thinner lines that look further away. The thicker lines will be a guideline for how much cloud density there is in that area, as well as future highlights.
You can also use the brush tool to draw the clouds' outline in white. The thicker the lines, the denser the clouds will be.
Crafting a Bird Silhouette: A Simple Painting Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Use the Acryl tool to blend highlights
When painting an afternoon sky using Paint Tool SAI, a lightweight Japanese digital painting program, the Acryl tool can be used to blend highlights. This tool is particularly useful for creating the appearance of clouds in the sky.
To begin, select the Paper Acryl Tool and set it to Spread, which will give your clouds a blurry, fluffy look. You can play around with the other settings to achieve your desired effect. Once you are done blending with the Paper Acryl tool, switch back to the airbrush and add in the highlights. Use small, circular strokes, going over old lines and filling in places with more cloud density and light. Keep in mind that real clouds are not completely white, so be sure to leave some shadows.
After highlighting, switch back to the Acryl tool and start blending out the highlights. You can also use the Blur tool to blend your colours and add depth to your painting. Play around with the various settings to find the ones that suit your style. For example, using a paper texture setting will give your painting a canvas-like appearance.
Additionally, you can adjust the density of your highlights if they appear too strong. Make sure to use the same colour that you are highlighting when doing this. You can also adjust the "Brightness & Contrast" if your painting turns out too dark, but be careful not to overdo it, as this can negatively impact your highlights.
Exploring the Painted Desert: An Adventure from Albuquerque
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Start with a base blue on your canvas. You can pick a medium blue that appears on clear days, and then it's easier to darken or lighten later with blending.
First, select the blur tool and blur all the colours together to create a more natural-looking sky. Then, using the brush tool, draw the clouds' outline in white. Next, colour it in with the brush—overlapping strokes will get darker or whiter. Keep scribbling on the cloud to whiten or highlight it. Finally, blend it all together with the water tool.
Think about the light source. If you are facing away from the sun, the sky will appear lighter to you and darker further away. You can add a darker blue farther away from the light source and then blur that out to add depth and space to the picture. You can also play around with the various settings for each tool to find what works best for you.
![Draw a charming scenery that there is a background illustration technique - the person to draw in the SAI × Photoshop [JAPANESE EDITION]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/912WzOXb2-L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
