This document provides instructions for creating custom brushes in Photoshop and using speed painting techniques for concept art. It explains how to download or create brushes, add them to the brush panel, and save custom brush sets. Settings like opacity, hardness, rotation and roundness are demonstrated. Speed painting is introduced as a way to quickly generate ideas before developing finished pieces. Thumbnail sketches using basic shapes and adding values through layers are recommended. Tips include setting a timer, switching brushes frequently, using reference images, and focusing on large shapes before details.

1. A. Theinert – Becker College 2013

2. Download custom brush sets or Create your own!

3. You can download brushes from the web that other people
have made. Often they come in sets, giving you a variety
or brushes in the same category. For Example – “Leaves”
Once you have downloaded the set, open the folder &
double click the .abr file. The new brushes will
automatically be added to your current list in Photoshop

4. • Create a Pattern or
Shape
• Open an Image &
OR
apply necessary
adjustments
In the Edit Menu, Select Define Brush
Preset
Name your brush and hit „OK‟

5. The Brush will automatically be
added to your Brush Panel
(Window > Brushes to open the Brush
Panel)
The Number in the icon is the Size
of the brush in Pixels. This will be
the default size in the Brush Panel.
You can change this with the Size
slider.
Or by using the Keyboard Shortcut:

6. To Save your Custom Brushes:
• In the top right corner
of the brush panel
click “Brush Presets”.
• In the Settings menu
of Brush
Presets, Choose
“Preset Manager”.
• Select all of your
custom brushes and
click “Save Set”

7. The Brush Panel
By combining different
settings in the brush panel
the possible brush strokes
that you can create are
nearly endless.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Shape
Size
Angle
Roundness
Hardness
Spacing
Scattering
• Opacity
• Size, Angle, &
Roundness
Jitter
• Opacity & Flow
Jitter
• Texture
• Color Dynamics

8. The Brush Panel: Opacity & Hardness
• Two of the most
important settings.
Capable of
providing a range of
variations.
• Available in the
Option Bar as well
as the Brush Panel

9. The Brush Panel: Rotation & Roundness
You can adjust the Rotation of
the brush by typing in the desired
angle or by rotating the spinner.
You can also
mirror a brush by
flipping it on its X
or Y axis.
You can change the Roundness
by typing the desired % or by
pushing the Handles on the
spinner.

10. The Brush Panel: Spacing & Scattering
Set the
Spacing of the
brush
Scattering Enabled. Adjusting
the Count will increase or
decrease the amount of dots
per stroke.

12. Sometimes starting out on a new project can feel
overwhelming, perhaps you have no idea what you want to
create and find it difficult to come up with an idea; OR maybe
you have too many ideas and can‟t pinpoint a solid starting
point.
Speed Painting is a great technique for trying out ideas
quickly before turning them into fully fleshed out pieces.
It‟s all about placing the idea from your head into a visual
form, even if its just a simple outline or sketch with very
few details.
Lets go over some speed painting

13. With the fast paced workflows of many
development pipelines, often speed paintings
may be the final product depending on what they
are needed for.
If you are tasked with coming up with 10 different
character concepts, then it is not necessary that
each drawing being a polished piece of
artwork, you need only convey the idea for the
designs and showcase what makes each unique.
The word Concept in
the term „Concept Art‟
means that you are still
formulating ideas. Think
Quantity & Quality

14. Thumbnail Sketches:
When drawing concept art, a good place to
start is by drawing a few very quick outlines
using just black or grey.
Try using a unique shaped brush such as a
square or oval, this will help to avoid the
temptation of adding too many details.

15. Once you have a basic
shape you can choose
the direction of your light
source and sketch in
areas of highlight with
light-grey or white. At
the same time you can
begin adding darker
shadows.
You can also add some
quick strokes to the
background to begin
establishing your horizon
line and scale.
After establishing your highlight areas you can begin
adding color on a new layer on top of your sketch. By
setting your pen pressure to Opacity & Flow (transfer
menu) and selecting the Build-Up option, you can get
a variety of values from just one color, (pressing
harder for a dark value and softer for light values)
** Keep in mind that these are Speed
Paintings, each stroke should be
quick, almost sloppy. Keep your hand light
and let it flow across the canvas. **

16. To finish the painting
you only need to build
up more layers of
detailhighlights, shadows, c
olor, etc. Experiment
with using different
shaped brushes.
Try unique scattering
brushes to add quick
texture & detail. Often the
simplest details can make
a big difference.
For Example - Notice the brush
type used to add depth to the
smoke
This finished sketch
may look very detailed
and polished from a
distance, but if we
zoom in on the strokes
we can see that it was
created in a quick &
fluid manner.

17. This same method works on
environments, landscapes, & portraits as
well.

18. Tips:
 Set a timer for yourself for 30 – 60 minutes. Then move
on to a different sketch.
 Switch brushes or adjust your settings frequently. Often
the right brush can do half the work for you.
 If you can‟t find a brush that suits your needs, create
your own.
 Use reference images. If you‟re painting a
mountainous landscape pull up a few photographs of
mountain ranges from different regions of the
world, this will help keep your imagination diverse!
 Don‟t get hung up on small details, focus on large
strokes that outline the shapes first. Then add detail
using highlights and shadow as your guide.
 Switch colors often. Variety in color can substitute for
texture details.