Future Elements

This is the original untouched sketch. It was sketched with a Hi Tech C .3 pen that was a burgundy color.

The first step of color is just putting down a base for yourself. But first put your sketch on a separate layer and change the layer to multiply this take out all the white. Then start the color layer under sketch. So on a quick sketch rendering I tend to use grey because I don't have to think about color right now. I just want my idea to be expressed quickly. You can always come back and add color to spice it up. I also faded my grey towards the back, this is called vignetting [vignette], It is when the color and detail fade out. It draws the eye from front to back. I will mainly focus my detail on the stuff closest to the eye.

Next I added a quick background color. When you use grey for your design any color background will work for the most part. Then I started adding some high lights,shadows, and some dark color breaks on the body on a quick sketch rendering I usually make my light source coming from directly overhead. Makes it easy to map out shadow and easy for high lights and shadows as well. Keep it to one light source to start with.

Ok now I start adding some core shadows to the body to define the edges. I also created a path for the shadow below the ship and colored it in. I used purple in this area because my back ground is a warm color. I always use this rule- cool shadows for warm light and warm shadows for cool light and that is how natural light acts too. Look for some tutorials on color theory and they will explain this in more depth. So I just keep defining more shapes and surfaces using my overhead light source.

Now I start adding highlights but don't go to white yet just use a light grey and start to define the light source more. I defined the cockpit quickly with a color dodge brush.

I start adding a few graphics on it to give it more of a race look then I added some text for visual detail. I made the graphics on a separate layer then erased it a little with a texture brush to give it a worn look.

Now I go to my texture library and find a really scratchy texture and I got this from www.sxc.hu and it was supplied by www.urbangl.com some great textures.

Then I overlay it on my sketch and change the and change the layer option until I find somthing I like.

I use the erase brush and get rid of all the excess texture. Don't be too concerned about erasing perfect it is a rough sketch render just to show and idea.

I fade the texture back just so you can see some of the detail. It looks like the ship has been raced before and abused a little. Probably flew through some dust storms.

I grab another texture from my files and I got it from www.sxc.hu as well. If you don't know about them they have a lot of royalty free stock that is free. You do need to check permissions though to make sure you can use them but most of the time it is OK.

Place the texture in the background just to give some interest and adjust the layer options again to make it set in there right. Now I placed this directly over my background color so it didn't interfere with my ship.

Now place some logos and some visual interest in the Background and that is it. Pretty simple overall and it is quick to do. The hardest part is coming up with the idea and sketch. So good luck and give it a shot.