Character Development - Intro to Photoshop

Instructor: Octavio Perez

The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to Photoshop as an image compositing, preparation and painting tool. We are going to cover, file resolution, file formats, color scanning, Photoshop tools, keyboard shortcuts, layering, making selections, color adjustments, etc.
We're going to make this fun...okay maybe not fun but at least tolerable by developing a character in the process. Before you start groaning about character development, keep in mind that the character can be used in any number of illustration genres. You don't have to focus on the entertainment or digital game industry for this project.

Below are some categories that may help you decide on your character.

• Video games
• Movies
• Children's books
• Toys (stuffed animals, action figures, etc.)
• Ornaments, Greeting cards and figurines (Hallmark and Franklin Mint)
• Editorial Illustration (Magazines, Newspapers)
• Advertising (Characters on cereal boxes, etc. )
• Product development (Children's and adult clothing, etc.)
• Cartoons
• Comic books and Graphic novels.
• Book jackets

Your ultimate goal is to create a finished image that combines elements from your sketches with digital paint. Make sure that you pay attention to line and rendering quality. These drawings are going to be part of your final illustration so make sure they are well done. Make notations that will help you complete your final artwork (species, color, detail, direction of light, atmosphere, environment etc.). Your notations may be included as an integral part of your image if you desire.

Directions
• Create an image or series of images that fully explores the possibilities of a character of your own creation.
• The character can be human, animal, alien, mechanical, realistic, stylized or any combination that you desire. Just make sure that it is appropriate for the category that you choose.
• The character must interact with at least three "accessories" (such as an environment, tools, weapons, furniture, transportation other characters, etc.).
• Make sure that the "accessories" are appropriate for the category and character that you choose. Plush toys for toddlers probably shouldn't be packing a 357. What would the chair for a twelve legged character with no butt look like? Try not to think about that last one too hard.
• The character must be of your own creation.
• As you work on your sketches think of how you will combine parts and pieces of your drawings to make one final illustration.
• Use photo reference if necessary. Sometimes looking at a photo of an existing animal or object can help you make your characters more believable.
• Image dimensions are 11"x17"
• The file that you turn in should be a 300 dpi Jpeg no larger than 3 mb.
• Did I say that the character must be of your own creation?
• Use only Photoshop for the completion of this assignment.