Easy digital watercolor

majid · 24 Jan 2008, 23:33

here u can try the watercolor directly by the su . by the way my last PS action is in progress

majid · 26 Jan 2008, 04:32

here is the last try . a photon map quick render as light/shadow layer overthe su pure image layer ,blended . and then action (last action that is in progress)... and here is the result

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX · 26 Jan 2008, 09:58

These are nice. I have also been working on creating a decent photoshop action that simulates watercolor, which is not an easy task. I'll have to give your style a try in CS3...thanks!

I have a photoshop action that I have used for the last 3 years or so (prior to my use of SketchUp), but it's still a work in progress. It's similar to Dennis' technique that layers b/w, colored, shadowed in seperate layers, only this does it all for you. You put in a colored rendering that you want to watercolor, hit the action and answer a few questions along the way to get the end result just the way you want it. You "paint" away the white exposing the the right amount of coloring you want. It works pretty well, but I'm still not entirely happy with it, however, I just haven't had the time to really finish working out exactly how I want it.

I've attached a close up sample below. This piece was taken from an illustration that had the linework created in cad and then colored in photoshop. No fancy texturing or brushwork was done. Everything you see was done in the script.

When I get some free time, I'll try and finish it and maybe it'll be presentable enough to share.

majid · 26 Jan 2008, 21:01

the hard part of the work is simulating human smartness! human knows were to loose or tight work ( i.e trees r ignored to be detailed by the man ) .... btw if good texturing in SU = good result by PS action ... .very well done! really nice job u did!!

majid · 27 Jan 2008, 13:29

the important point is that keep some part textures ( architectural parts) and ignore and loose work on other areas... what do u suggest about?

majid · 28 Jan 2008, 05:40

is ther any body how has a way <tip , trick... to solve the peoblem??

majid · 11 Feb 2008, 23:48

here is the dennis way , expanded using clay render from kt as a light layer. any suggestion?

PKast · 12 Feb 2008, 06:40

Majid,
I have admired the draftsman-watercolor style that you posted in the styles section of the forum. It is a very pleasant style. I have meant to try your photoshop action, and I just did. I think it gives interesting results. I posted the results for you to see and for others as well. I think many people on this forum would be happy with the action that you have created. I started with a no edges, color sketchup file, then I ran your actions, and then I added a line layer over that. Thanks very much for posting this.

majid · 13 Feb 2008, 00:53

ok , good job . now try this way : pure SU textured (no shadow)layer below , apply clay render of the same view from KT as luminosity layer over it , merge layers , apply ripple filter as : 50% medium over merged layers . add line layer over it as multiply layer , have fun

canoek · 15 Feb 2008, 03:03

can't get your action to work - running ps 4.0. could you post your steps in ps that comprise your action?
this was done with basic ps techniques - took 5 min.

jb

majid · 15 Feb 2008, 14:45

the main idea is: copy tha fist su exported layer( a gussian blur /and then (unsharpen mask) layer) over the first layer as overlay (+ curves midified) then using anothercopied layer and posterized/then gussian blured for more color as mutiply and then overlayed over first layer . and a spatterd layer for watercolor effect over them . then merged together . u may improve the technique

PKast · 18 Feb 2008, 02:28

Canoek,

I will post Majid's actions for PhotoShop. You may need PhotoShop 6 or greater for these actions to work, I'm not sure. He actually has two actions, both are a little more involved than what he describes.
I will post some images of before and after. The second action I will post in a separate reply.

Majid's Photoshop Action 1:
-Copy Background Layer ("Background Copy")
-Gaussian blur 11.5
-Image/Adjustment/Posterize 16
-Glass/Frosted, 14,11,100%
-Set current Layer Style: Overlay, Opacity 100%
-Copy Background Layer ("Background Copy 2")
-Gaussian blur 5.4
-Image/Adjustment/Posterize 12
-Set current Layer Style: Multiply, Opacity 100%
-Image/Adjustment/Brightness +55, Contrast -90
-Make a New adjustment Layer (Levels 1)
-Image/Adjustment/Levels: RGB Input 0,1.83,255; Output 0,255
-Select Layer "Background Copy 2"
-Gaussian Blur 3.2

majid · 18 Feb 2008, 03:38

here is my 2nd generation and 3rd generation of watercolor action ( specially for pure SU output , not renders ). i used it over the image that PKast send . the main idea is combination of filters to make strong edges like watercolor and spreading color to near areas .

PKast · 18 Feb 2008, 04:16

Canoek,

Here is Majid's 2nd action for PhotoShop. This action is longer than the first.

Majid's Photoshop Action 2:
-Copy Background Layer ("Background Copy")
-Gaussian blur 11.5
-Image/Adjustment/Posterize 16
-Glass/Frosted, 14,11,100%
-Set current Layer Style: Overlay, Opacity 100%
-Gaussian blur 5.4
-Image/Adjustment/Posterize 12
-Set current Layer Style: Multiply, Opacity 100%
-Image/Adjustment/Brightness +55, Contrast -90
-Make a New adjustment Layer (Levels 1)
-Image/Adjustment/Levels: RGB Input 0,1.83,255; Output 0,255
-Select Layer "Background Copy 2"
-Gaussian Blur 3.2
-Colored Pencil 24,7,42
-Edit/Fade 50%, Normal
-CutOut 8,5,3
-Edit/Fade 24% Normal
-Texturizer/Canvas 170%, 3
-Spatter 6,5
-Texturizer/Sandstone 170%, 3

Thanks Majid. I think you use some interesting techniques in your style, a little bit different from the others. I learned a lot by studying your actions. I also like the idea of using actions to quickly get through the tedium of repetitive tasks.

Best PKast

canoek · 18 Feb 2008, 13:52

thanks PKcast for listing the steps in Majid's actions. i tried them both, but i don't think either one is effective in creating a DWC. it has been my experience that if you want to create realistic DWC there isn't a one button filter or action that will do it for you. you must play with ps filters and adjust to taste.

here is my DWC of your skippy utilizing basic ps techniques.

jb

Ross Macintosh · 19 Feb 2008, 01:01

I couldn't resist playing with PKast's original image and trying to turn it into a digital watercolour. I tend to agree with Canoek's comments regarding needing to look at each image and adjust. The tweaking needed suggests creating an 'action' might not be suited. My own technique isn't done in Photoshop. I use Xara Xtreme Pro vector illustration software. In it I do use PhotoShop-compatible filters. For this image I used 'KPT Pyramid Paint', a 'jiggle' filter and a bunch of Xara transparency features. Early I also combined the image with another bitmap to get in the mottled colours and to wash out the foreground.

If I had had a line only export to add to the mix I think I could have had a better result. Overall the technique I use is easy enough I tend not to think in terms of automating it.

Regards, Ross

majid · 19 Feb 2008, 03:07

i 've tried to make an action that works over pure su exports not renders . i've tried to simulate watercolor loose and nonuniform color surfaces ... and put enough adjusting layers over the result to enable you to simulate watercolor . also it simulates semi realastic render . you can see my weblog for more samples . or if it is possible give me one of your su pure outputs to see the result . BTW i agree that having a good DWC needs experience and also working whit your digital software . plz see : http://art-yeganegi.blogspot.com/2008/02/digi-watercolors.html

PKast · 19 Feb 2008, 03:30

I still think Majid came up with some new and interesting uses of PS filters, that are not commonly used in Dennis' or Grant's techniques or in the Sketchup PDF about watercolor effects on Skippy files. I do agree that these actions by themselves would only be a starting point in the DWC process, not as an end result.

Ross, I do think what you were able to do with a jpg is quite remarkable. That looks pretty good to my eye. You may spike a sales upsurge of Xara Xtreme

Here is a result using Majid's actions as a starting point.

By the way the skippy used here was created by VaST Architecture in Colorada and downloaded from the 3d Warehouse only for illustrative purposes here in this post.

Best, PKast

Ross Macintosh · 19 Feb 2008, 10:54

I'm sorry but much of the discussion about actions goes over my head since I'm not a Photoshop user. I do have a basic understanding of them and wonder about an alternate approach to using them. My thought is perhaps seperate actions could be created that would process the various SketchUp exported images that make up a digital watercolour. Typically I find I'll export a colour only (no lines & no shadows); a lines only; and a shadow only (I do that using a style I developed for just that - available at FormFonts - it is Called "Lonely Shadow"). My technique process involves processing each of those images in their own fairly typical method - ones that I'm suggesting could be actions - and then visually merging them using transparency effects. It is that visual merge that I'm suggesting might be better left to a manual approach that brings 'judgement' into the process. I just find the settings I use when trying to visually merge the various layers will vary from one digital watercolour to another. They are affected by the particular colours used and where I want to add visual focus. In other words, the visual combining part is the artistic stage perhaps best not left to an action. I do see that actions could speed up the preliminary portion.

One digital watercolour tip I'd like to share (besides the one about the 'Lonely Shadows' style) is to remember you can use the individual imports more than once. For instance, take the colours-only layer. I typically process copies a few different ways and then bring them together with the visual merging. On one copy I might strongly adjust the levels so all the highlights are powered up, midtones powered down, and shadows ramped up. When overlayed with transparency over other differently-processed versions you'll find it can greatly add to the tonal variations in the resulting image. Similarly I find I will typically process at least two versions of the lines-only layer for merging into the final rendering. Same for that shadows only layer.

Regards, Ross

I attach a digital watercolour made from pure sketchup exports. It features the Vespa modelled by Allister for FormFonts. The rendering was done in a series of experiments where I was trying to develop my techniques. I do think the vespa rendering is overworked but a reasonably successful experiment.

pmiller · 19 Feb 2008, 15:16

Further to Ross --
I've tried several times to use PS actions* but have not had any results that compare favorably to the tried-and-true Dennis, Grant Marshall, or Worncall methods. They all involve multiple exports from SU (line, shadows, color/texture) and layering in Pshop plus the various filters and plug-ins.

Here's a very quick application of Grant Marshall method (without the benefit of multiple exports from SU which would make a much better result). Grant's method is still the best (in my book) for getting a watercolor feel.

*I do use actions, but in multiple sets on various layers as Ross suggested.