FINISHING

To complete the render, a final finishing layer is added that includes details, highlights, additional rendering and shadows. It is the attention to detail in the finishing layers that transforms illustrations into true reflections of a designers vision.

Finishing illustrations has three phases which include:

Adding garment detail's which add depth and mood to drawings. Details include embroidery, lace, beading, feathers, furr and other embellishments/textures. Fine artline pens, metallic gel pens and white gel pens are often used for this phase.
Adding shadows and highlights to details. Beads, lace and other embellishments also cast shadows and have highlights. Due to this, they also need to be rendered. They are rendered using grey copic markers, white gel pens, lead pencils and white guache paint.
Adding a final layer of rendering to smooth out colour transitions, add more depth and boost drawing contrast, if needed. Generally this final layer is rendered using coloured pencils.

Some designers add these finishing details digitally using Photoshop.

Explore the gallery below examining how details are communicated and drawings finished through the layering of different mediums.

(Burke, 2006; Castle & Peters, 2007)

Time for the finishing touches...

Activity 7: Detailing, highlighting and rendering to finish illustration.

Gather the following items together:
- Guache, fine paint brush, lead pencil, gel pens, fine artline pen and coloured pencils.
Choose your favourite completed render from Activity 6.
In artline pen or gel pen, draw in the garment embellishment / details using lines, stippling or hatching like in this video.
Add depth through grey shadows and white highlights. Enhance the details through carefully layering with coloured pencils.
Stand back from your drawing, examining where it needs further detail or depth.
Using coloured pencils and lead pencils, work into drawing to add a final layer of depth and texture.
With an artline pen, thicken some of the outline lines to add movement to the drawing.
Photograph and share your finished drawing here and write an evaluation to support it.

(Glamnicism, 2012)

Digital Rendering...

Activity 8: Adding textures in Photoshop

Scan your favourite render from Activity 6 and import it into Photoshop.
Find a texture or embellishment detail that you wish to add to your drawing.
Using the principles and techniques in the videos beside, experiment with adding texture, colour, shadows and light onto your rendering in Photoshop.
Flatten your image and save as a jpeg.
Share your finished render here are write an evaluation to support it.

Reflection time...

Are you happy with your finished render?
Do you think your render communicates your design idea effectively? Why or why not?
From this process, do you think you are now equippped with the skills, knowledge and understanding to keep drawing and continue to develop your own style? How will you do this?

Respond to one or more of the reflective questions in the box below.