layering example

[pkassak]

Hi all,

I am trying to do some profiles from time to time as maybe you noticed...nothing detailed YET! But sometimes I struggle with ideas what to put in one layer and what to differenciate.
Wouls it be possible if someone share part of the PSD, or layers organization screenshot of some of the works? To get an idea from Masters - Gammarys, Otterskins, Spartys, Grafs, Jesters, BHs etc [sorry if I forgot some of those best]???

[gamary]

Sure thing, Peter! I won't go in all of the details, but here is a rough idea of my stuff, from top to bottom:

Shading group
* General Fuselage shade
* Small shades (antennaes, bulges, etc.)
Lighting group
*Same principle as for Shading group. These two groups are what gives the aircraft its shape.
Fixed group
* Glass sections
* "Fixed" parts: exhaust stacks, cockpit instruments and seat, nav lights, guns. Basically, what I put here is anything that does not vary (i.e. would not be painted) from one aircraft to another.
Weathering group
* Exhaust staining
* Gun staining
* Paint chips
* Paint wear...
Colours group
* Markings (serial, code, unit badge, etc...)
* Paint/camouflage
Base group
* Metal
* White background

As I said, this gives the general idea. In practice, I have dozens of layers in these groups. Ideally, you would use one layer for each and every element you draw. However, if you do so the filesize increases rapidly and gets out of hand, so try to keep the layer count to a minimum. That means that you can group elements in a single layer so long as you can modify part of the layer without modifying the rest.
Hope this helps.

[Otterkins2]

Ummmmnnnn, I'm not keen on being skinned. It's quite annoying to say the least. That being said, lets move on to your drawing. Layers are like clear cells with bits of information on them. At first you really don't need an order, but as you add more layers it becomes very important the order they are stacked in. Normally I start with the fuselage outline and then lock it so I don't do something stupid and draw other stuff on it. I create a new layer and begin on all the panel lines. After that, if there is an outboard engine I'll do that....but it's generally broken down into different components (i.e: spinner. prop blades etc). Following that I do the wings and horizontal tail surfaces. The landing gear comes after that (often projects on their own) All of these are on seperate layers and locked so I can only work on one layer at a time. Lastly I do all the rivets because these often require a different treatment than the rest of the A/C. At that time I will restructure the stacking layers so that one isn't conflicting with another. Hope that helps.

[JMSmith]

hi peter,

here is a visual of how i work, please understand there is a couple of layers missing, i did not bother saving them.

i start with the line drawing as the first layer, this is your guide to all other layers.
then put the basic colour on, next the exhaust cooling vents, these are only light and dark shading, then panel lines and screws then last the main light and dark shading,

when finished there is no line drawing at all, so this layer is removed.

hope this is easy enough for you to understand, when i first tried doing it i got in a right mess, untill i started saving each layer as it was finished.