Brushing Up On Photoshop

Becoming newly acquainted with Photoshop can usually be broken down into 3 separate stages of development. The first stage requires effective utilisation of deep breathing techniques, regular comfort breaks, and determining that your general state of anxiety is the result of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

Naturally, all of the above will have occurred before you’ve even determined how to type the word ‘HELP’ on a new Photoshop document, or worked out that the magic wand tool has absolutely no connection to acquiring a new dress, sparkly shoes and securing a stable and secure future with Prince Charming.

During the second stage of this blossoming courtship, you find yourself experimenting with the basic techniques of airbrushing. Having viewed this as a huge leap forward in your development and filled with immense pride, you change your Facebook profile photo, so that the world can share in your joy and sense of achievement.

Then you reach stage 3, where you continue to research the many Photoshop tools at your disposal and soon discover that you’re capable of creating some awesome and inspiring graphics (it’s usually around this stage of development that you also have a drastic rethink of that Facebook photo and promptly delete it).

When you self teach any type of software, you find yourself on a continual journey of discovery. For example:

However:

You should have this image in your head right now.

OK, here’s the technical bit. Brushes in Photoshop, aren’t just for ‘brushing’ on colour, or airbrushing techniques. Brushes can also be used to add various graphic effects and in some instances can replace the need to import a JPEG from a different source, for example, a texture image.

Brushes, like fonts, can be downloaded (for free) from many graphic specific sites and are worth their weight in gold.  The background in the Dymo font image was created with multiple ‘dirt’ brushes. The finger prints, hand print, coffee ring and various smudges in the typewriter font image were also created using brushes. The tear in the above image was, yep you guessed it, created via a brush. You get me?

YES!! This magnificent (piece of Art) was created using Photoshop brushes!

Go forth and experiment with Photoshop brushes!

And don’t forget to report back if you’ve found any good ‘uns!