Tutorial 1: Wheels

I often get a lot of questions such a : how do you make those bends on the uniforms, could you tell me any link to get it download, what kind of program do you use and which filters and plug-ins! I would like to help answer all those questions! Originally we wanted to make our "secret graphic program" called marfy.exe with my photo :o) and make it available for download but we thought it is a little bit childish and decided to make a few tutorials for you!

The Graphic programs I use:
Adobe photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Very important tool for painting is tablet Wacom (Intuos-2 13"x13")

In this tutorial I'd like to show you a basic sequence of work for creating realistic wheel of vehicles. I chosed a wheel of M113 (resp. M163 Vulcan).

Step 1: The main thing is to get a good photografy that could provide you a placement of required details! Ideal photography is one made under right angle. If you don't have one, then it's necessary to correct the size and reconstruct the wheel completely!
 

Step 2: Open the picture in Photoshop and use ....... Option for your object! Use a copy option in Photoshop to get the object in Illustrator which is opened too!

Step 3: I recommend to make a new layer and lock the layer with original picture! We will begin to construct the wheel into a new layer. Now you have to make a center (use the cross and set the center to zero value). From the center, make as many cicles as necessary for the wheel (we need 5 circles). Now we continue to make a shape of matrix! We begin in center and copy the matrixes by computed angle. (for example we have 8 matrixes , 360 : 8 = 45°, use the rotation tool on center to set 45° angle)

Step 4: We created wheel and now we continue to add a plasticity! Choose only upper layer (not the picture) and copy the construction back to Photoshop (as a path).

Step 5: Use the path to make a few layers. This will help you to orientate easily in subdividing the picture. Individual layers are overlaped now. Then you can lock other layers and work on the part of area you want!

Step 6: Now we have to create an appropriate shadows! It is important to look at the photography before you begin to work! I take a tablet and paint, paint, paint ...... until I'm satisfied with the result! Simply try to imagine a vehicle in the terrain and all the dirt on the wheel. (a little bit of oil woun't harm)

Step 7: I begin with deep shadows and continue with glazes and brightest places! Avoid to use a lot of black shadows! Don't use too detailed textures. It is destructing a basic form. Texture is aplied to other wheels and every too visible detail is making it very unrealistic!

Step 8: If you followed our advices and devoted 90 minutes (like me) of work. You should see a very good result and be proud of it!

Marfy

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