Christmas Garland

Here's a couple brushes I created for all your Christmas garland needs. There are two brushes (set up as Tools) in this set, a "Pine Garland" and a "Silver Garland." Both create nice bristly ropes of garland that you can loop around anything. I couldn't get the flow up where I wanted so you probably will want to go over the lines a couple times. Also, they look extra good if you add a slight shadow emboss layer style.


Created in Photoshop CS6 so they may not work in earlier versions. See the sidebar on the right for installation instructions.

Enjoy, and have a Merry Christmas.

Download Pine and Silver Garland brushes

Pumpkin Style

Apologies to the person who's pumpkin photo I stole.

I actually had shit to do tonight, but then I was walking the dog and saw my first Jack-O-Lantern of the season, I knew right then and there that I was going to build a Pumpkin Brush instead. Well, it's not a brush, but actually a layer style. I recommend using the Pen Tool to create basic vector shapes of your design and then apply this style to it an watch it light up. It works best on dark imagery. It doesn't have to be pumpkins, you can do it on anything. Mess up a picture of your face. Pumpkin yourself. Happy Halloween!

Download Pumpkin Style!

CS6 upgrade

Hey y'alls, I thought I should let everyone know I have just upgraded to Photoshop CS6. I haven't had time to completely explore it yet, but one thing that jumped out at me are the new airbrush options. Finally, PS has a decent airbrush! It has a nice stippled spray and there are new options for spray direction based on stylus tilt. And, finally, there is a nice wide spatter diameter. They work great. I have been trying to emulate these very effects for so long that I had given up, so they are a very welcome addition.

I'm not inclined to write a full review of CS6, but future brushes posted to this blog will probably require CS6 to work. Sorry to leave the non-adopters behind- I know there are more than a few of you- but I find if there is a reason to upgrade it's best to do it.

Gallery Time 2, Part 2

 Blogger is buggin' today so I've broken this Gallery post into two parts in an attempt to make it happy. The first part is here. So without further ado...

This Stoplight monster by Max Davis is particularly awesome

Milica Andelkovic created this adorable little critter

Pola RG made great use of the watercolor tools

Shameema Dharsey created this classically beautiful drawing

And last but certainly not least is this kickass "Game of Thrones" illustration by Viviane Schwarz

And there you have it! Like I said earlier, I love receiving this stuff, so please keep sending it! And keep your eyes peeled, I have some new brushes and other Photoshop goodies from my collection that I will be posting soon.

-Mike

PS. Quick edit: Carly Monardo just pointed me to the Stumpy Pencil Tumblr search. Y'all have been drawing a lot more illustrations than I knew! Mind=blown. http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/stumpy+pencil