1.
HYBRID HAND DRAWING
from SketchUp and Photography
by Jim Leggitt
HOW TO:

2.
This is a streetscape
improvement project
in Glenwood Springs,
Colorado.
This eye level view in front
of a popular coffee house
was a perfect opportunity
to create a hybrid drawing
that blended together a
photograph, a 3D SketchUp
model, hand illustration and
coloring with markers.

3.
Step One: Base Digital Photograph
The two digital photographs above were taken in front of the coffee
shop. I selected the right image for several reasons - I stood in the
street looking back at the storefront to create a better composition,
the view had no foreground “clutter”, and it emphasized more of the
coffee shop entrance and its beautiful curved glass window.

4.
Step Two: SketchUp “Stage Set” Model
Our design team developed a new sidewalk configuration that
included an outdoor dining space against the existing buildings.
Once I built the base model and populated it with people
components, I carefully matched the eye level SketchUp model view
with the perspective in the photograph. I then exported a 5000 pixel
wide high resolution jpeg from the SketchUp model.

5.
I combined the SketchUp view with the sidewalk photograph using Adobe Photoshop. All image
resolutions were at 300dpi. I first deleted the background from the SketchUp scene (upper
image) and then carefully sized it to fit into the street scene of the digital photograph. Notice the
man sitting with his bicycle from the original photograph and how well he integrated into the new
composite scene!
Step Three: Photoshop Composite View

6.
Print the composite image and then go over it with hand drawn linework and colored markers. I first
lightened the image before printing it. I printed the 9”x13” image on 11”x17” matte finish coated bond
paper using an ink jet color printer. Using a fine point water-based roller ball ink pen, I traced over many
of the edges of the SketchUp model and added more casual linework to the people in the foreground. I
added some colored markers to “soften” the image and make it less photographic or computer dominant
in appearance.
Step Four: Hand Drawing on a Print

7.
Completed Hybrid Drawing

8.
Notice how the perspective is a blend of the photographic detail
(reflections in the window). and the rich character of the hand drawn
linework and marker coloring.
I love experimenting with new hybrid visualization methods and if
you have a design project where this composite process would be
beneficial, give it a try!