This week, ending 8/29/2015, we have a tutorial review of Dylan Cole’s Introduction to Landscape Matte Painting
Source: Video (The Gnomon Workshop)
Topic: Environment
Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Software Used: Adobe Photoshop
Web Address: http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/55/The-Techniques-of-Dylan-Cole-1#.VdJCSq3t9qF
Paid/Unpaid: Subscription
Tutorial Presentation: (Quality)
This tutorial has clean audio and displays a pretty good image. Steps were very easy to follow as Dylan Cole explained how to create quick environment designs for matte painting. The tutorial goes over topics that include:
- Composition
- Working with a Plate
- Choosing a Plate
- Creating a Visual Path
- Digital Color Sketching
- Set Extension
- Realistic Lighting
- Atmospheric Perspective
- Channels
The tutorial also comes with the project files in JPEG format and PSDs (per section).
Educational Value: (How well the Information is presented, length of material and depth, pacing, etc.)
These easy to follow tutorials run at an average of 20-30 minutes long (per video). Dylan Cole does an excellent job explaining basic matte painting concepts while providing several examples to illustrate these principles. His demos are prerecorded, but his voice over follows along with the video as he adds other tips and tricks for digital painting.
Instructor Insight: (How unique is the advice, process, and techniques offered by the instructor)
Dylan Cole goes over several painting scenarios useful for environment design and illustration. His knowledge of color theory is very important when explaining how atmospheric perspective works and how to balance the composition. He goes over using a plate from the start as well as how to paint from scratch and still achieve the same feel. Matte painting techniques using curves and channels are taught effectively, and the importance of planning before spending a lot of time worrying about the details is emphasized.
The Final Verdict:
We think that Dylan Cole’s Introduction to Matte Painting video from The Gnomon Workshop is a must have in a digital artist’s arsenal of tools. From a beginning digital painter to the seasoned matte painter, this video goes over many important concepts that are essential when designing environments. Knowing that Dylan Cole is one of the best matte painters around, there is really no wrong in owning and learning valuable knowledge from him.
You can purchase The Techniques of Dylan Cole: Introduction to Landscape Matte Painting on The Gnomon Workshop website: http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/55/The-Techniques-of-Dylan-Cole-1#.VdJCSq3t9qF
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