100% Digitally Produced Cartoon Illustration

Hi All,

I hope everyone's having a good summer.  Here in Phoenix, AZ - it's Hot...and I still love it here.  I enjoy the weather wherever I'm at - and I've been a lot of places.

So I wanted to do a little illustration to use in advertising for my upcoming Tobacco Freedom Group hypnotherapy classes.  (I can't wait - it's going to be so good).  So I had an image in my mind of a hand putting out a cigarette on a non-descript flat surface.  I had the idea of doing a cartoon style image because it's light hearted, and I love that kind of work.

As I began, I thought I'd do the whole thing on computer; start to finish.  Typically I start with a sketch and scan it in.  I have a Wacom pad with a stylus, so I can draw on the computer using programs like Photoshop or Painter.  Today I used Photoshop.

Tobacco Freedom Group advertising illustration using
Photoshop and Wacom tablet

The power of the software is drawing in layers.  First layer - black and white sketch (pretty rough).  As I toggled back and forth in black, then white, I worked out the layout.  Being a pretty simple image, it didn't take too long.

Then I just started working the layers.  I started with the outline of the hand on a layer and the cigarette.  I added layers below the outline to do the coloring.  A layer on top to add the smoke on.  I deleted the original sketch layer and then subsequent bottom layer was where I did the background.

So it was that easy.  Yeah, it took a little while (maybe an hour or two).  Of course time was spent smoothing out the lines and tightening up the pic...but that's it.  The easy computer generated computer artwork.  I hope you liked it.

Well, it's Friday.  The weekend is here.  Sue and I are taking a break and going to spend a little time with a friend in Tucson this weekend.  I hope you all have a great weekend and are able to get a little relaxation in, wherever you're at.

Peace,

Tom