Jacquelin Vanderwood

April 2005

Using the airbrush, whether in Photoshop or a real-life one, uses the same basic techniques. Below we are using a brush that is 65 pixels in diameter (but you can use any brush you desire). It is in Normal mode with an Opacity of 10%. The Flow is set to 100%. Looking at the end of the bar you can see that the airbrush is set to the On position ready for use.

By changing only the Opacity from 100% down to 10% (Flow is set to 100%), we can see the variation in transparency from opaque to almost non-existent. This technique is very important when creating artwork with realism. You don't want to use 100% opacity in all areas of a rendering. I've also only held down the mouse key (or if you have a Wacom tablet pen) for only one click.

Here I've noted the variation in Flow percentage changes with Opacity set to 100%.

Here I've set the Flow and Opacity percentages to the same amount for each step. Notice how the paint practically disappears completely from sight.

In this step I have set the Opacity and Flow to 100%. Use numbered clicks, I have started at the left with one click of the airbrush and proceeded up the ladder to 9 clicks.

Here I'd like to have you practice drawing the lines using 100%, 80%, 60, 40%, and 20% Flow Rate. One secret to this is with the mouse or tablet pen, click at one end, now press the Shift key, now click at the complete opposite end to create the line. Practice the lines below.

To practice making circles with the airbrush, use the Ellipse tool with Paths selected. This will make the circle non-filled (if that's a word). 

Then select a new size brush if you want to and set the Opacity and Flow of the airbrush to 50%.

Then click on the Paths palette.

Now right-click on the path layer and select Stroke Path.

You can use any tool but I prefer to use the Brush. I also want to replicate a real airbrush so I checked Simulate Pressure.

To deselect the path, hit Enter and then Control+D. So here we can see a replication of a real airbrush stroke. The circle next to the first one is the same technique except Simulate Pressure was not checked.

Using the same brush as in the last step, I went into Brush Preset and checked Other Dynamics and noticed that Airbrush was already checked. I changed control to Fade with a setting of 25%.

In these three pictures the Fade Control was set to 50%, 75%, and 100%. This is a good way to manipulate an existing brush to make it react as a real airbrush.

Selecting Opacity Jitter, changed the Control to Fade and set it to 25%.

Notice how the tail has become more gradated and transparent as it disappears.

Here is the same stroke with a Fade set to 50% each.

Without changing the Controls, set the Opacity Jitter and the Flow Jitter to 50%.

Notice how the look of the airbrush stroke is changed signicantly.

We can go into Shape Dynamics and further change the effects of the airbrush by manipulating the different options available. In the previous steps I have tried to show you some of the options available when using the airbrush. I hope this has helped you to understand a little clearer the airbrush.

Copyright (c) 2005, Jacquelin Vanderwood, All Rights Reserved