Hfaze / iCE - Watercolor tutorial

You could probably use Painter for this sort of thing and end up with more realistic results, but it's nice to figure out how to do new things in Photoshop. (without filters :)

Download the .PSD file (~1mb)

	Layers: Outline [Normal:100%] Background	Scan your image, clean up the outlines, and put them on a layer.
	Outline Girl Mask [Normal:100%] Background	Make a new layer between the Outline and the Background Layers. This will be the mask used for the clipping group. Just fill in the outline with white.
	Outline Color Layer [Color:100%] Girl Mask Background	Make a new layer above the Mask Layer. This layer will become the Color Layer that tints the painting. You need to create a clipping group at this point. In Windows, hold down the ALT key and click on the border between the Color Layer and the Mask layer. The Color Layer will indent in above the Mask Layer with a dotted line between. All of the following new layers should be grouped with the mask like this. Pick some nice colors and paint in areas. Don't shade! Flat color will work best. Because of the clipping group, you can't paint out side of the mask. Neat. Set the layer apply mode to Color at 100% opacity.
	Outline Color Layer Cloud Texture [Screen:50%] Girl Mask Background	Highlight the Mask Layer and make a new layer (it will be added to the clipping group automatically). With the foreground and background colors as black and white, run the Clouds filter [Filter > Render > Clouds]. If you have PShop 5 (or Adlus Gallery Effects Volume 1), run the Paint Daubs filter [Filter > Artistic > Paint Daubs]. Set the layer apply mode to Screen at 50% opacity.
	Outline Color Layer Cloud Texture Painting [Normal:100%] Girl Mask Background	Make a new layer above the Mask Layer. This will be the Painting Layer. You finally get to paint now. Oh for joy! Use the Paintbrush tool for harder edges or the Airbrush tool for softer. Have wet edges checked in the Options Palette and use low opacities (10% to 50%). A shortcut to adjust opacity while you're painting, use the number keys ... 1=10% and 0=100%. Use black as your foreground color and it will look best if say build up to 50% rather than just painting at 50%. Use white for the highlights. I've found that white looks best at higher opacities.
	Outline Color Layer Shadows [Multiply:100%] Cloud Texture Painting Girl Mask Background	Due to the Cloud Layer above, you can't get nice dark shadows in all areas. You need to make a Shadow Layer. Make a new layer above the Clouds Layer. Set the mode to Multiply at 100%. Paint with black like you did on the Painting Layer.   Finishing Steps: You can use the magic wand tool in the Color Layer to select parts of the image. Make adjustment layers or adjust the color balance and hue/saturation of specific parts to add color variations into the mix (be sure these are above the Color Layer!). Blur the Painting and Shadow Layers to get a wet-on-wet look. Flatten all of the layers in the group to the mask, but NEVER flatten them to the Outline Layer until the piece is finished ... this will keep your colors editable.