HOW TO MAKE AN ENTOURAGE DRAWING

07/02/2010

06/25/2010

5Dthink: Merging 2D+3D Visualization

BlogDSC00904
 
Designers have been trained to think either in two-dimensions (graphics and drawing) or in three-dimensions (physical and computer models) but not necessarily in terms of combining 2D with 3D into a new language of visual communication. Merging of two and three dimensional representation or what I call “5Dthink” - is a strategy of thinking (and designing) in simultaneous layers -  creating design visualization that has never before been so available, rapidly generated, affordable and easy to learn!
I will continue to explore 5Dthink in future blog posts, but wanted to quickly present an example of what I believe is the next generation of visual communication. The test perspective below combines 3-dimensional modeling with 2-dimensional drawing. It seamlessly integrates three separate software programs (Google SketchUp, SU Podium and Adobe Photoshop), digital reprographics and traditional hand drawing. The end product is a hybrid image that represents the merging of high technology and hand drawing.  
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BlogPodium 
House-00
Step 1: Base SketchUp Model. For this test, I downloaded a house model from 3D Warehouse and added some basic landscaping. I did not include people in the scene.  Basic default lighting and shadow adjustment emphasized the deep porch and roof overhangs.
BlogPodium 
House-01
Step 2: SketchUp Model Preparation.  In advance of the rendering process, I adjusted the SketchUp model “shadow settings” to Dark 25 and Light 35.  This significantly darkened the model view but was necessary to pop the shadows in the rendering process.
BlogPodium 
House-02
Step 3: SU Podium Rendering. Rendered in just over 6 minutes, this image was created with the SketchUp plugin SU Podium generated a photo-realistic rendering of the house with accurate light modeling (compare the shadows on the four front porch columns) and reflective glass on the windows. This 3D digital rendering was far superior to the exported SketchUp scene, but was only an interim step in my 5Dthink process. Time to add 2D!
BlogPodium 
House-02filt
Step 4: Image Photoshop Filtering. I filtered the image using the filter>artistic>watercolor tool which popped many of the edges and added contrast to the wall and roof textures. This also masked the photographic dominance of the trees by giving them a more painted appearance.
BlogPodium 
House-02filtlite
Step 5: Image Printing.  Again in Photoshop, I created a duplicate layer of the background image and adjusted the transparency to 75% of the original intensity. This significantly lightened the image - a necessary step in preparation for adding markers, colored pencils and hand delineation. I printed the image on my Epson Workforce 1100 at 7”x15” on Epson photo quality ink jet paper (matte finish smooth coated paper). 
BlogPodium 
House-03Color
Step 6: Hand Drawn Character. Using a few light colored Chartpak AD markers, I added back color to the windows, walls, roof, grass, trees and landscaping. I did not color the sky. I overdrew the building edges with multiple overlapping pencil lines which gave the image such a hand drawn appearance. Several colors of Prismacolor pencils were used on different surfaces. Final white pencil highlights and black pencil stipple transformed the computer image into what now appears as a hand drawn rendering!

08/20/2010

08/17/2010

08/06/2010

08/03/2010

Drawing From Model Photography

I have always integrated photography with my visualization process and created a series of quick drawings for a proposed development in Singapore.  My architect friend David Klages built an incredible massing model out of foam core, cardboard and miscellaneous plastic components.  He then placed the model onto a reflective piece of dark plastic and photographed it with a black background. David emailed me the digital photos and I then turned the images into some of my first “Tradigital Drawings” - merging traditional drawing technique with digital imaging.  Here my the step-by-step process:
SING 4a Model 
Step One: Digital Photograph. David adjusted the overhead lighting, positioned a black background and photographed the study model on a glossy piece of dark colored plastic to simulate the reflections of this waterfront development.
SING 4b Smudged
Step Two: Digital Painting.  Using the smudge tool in Photoshop, I completely altered foreground model trees to give them a leafy appearance.  I also manipulated the water reflection to match the trees. This step began to disguise the model photography and add illustrative character to the view.
SING 4c Water 
Filter
Step Three: Digital Filter.  I added a Photoshop watercolor filter to continue breaking down the photographic dominance of the image and give it a more "painted" look.
SING 4d Sepia Tone
Step Four: Sepia Tone. Changing the black and white image to a softer sepia tone was a strategic step prior to printing and adding final color.
SING 4e Watercolor
Step Five: Printing, Draw and Color.  I plotted the sepia toned image 16"x24" on matte finish coated bond paper. I then added Chartpak AD marker color to the building and landscaping, finally adding people, landscape elements and facade detail with a graphite pencil.  This was one of four quick visual studies for the proposed development.

If you would like to learn more about creating drawings from photographs, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and pick up my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition.