1. Let’s
start by opening a void file. As you can see, the diagonal rivets looked
“jaggy”. We’ll learn one step at a time how to make a better, smoother rivets
lines.
2. Convert
the 8 bit bitmap file to 16 bit RGB
by clicking Image/Mode/RGB color as shown:
3. Make a
copy of the original void (background copy), a white layer for preview beneath
it and a new (blank) rivets layer. Look at the picture below for the
details.
4. Then we’re all set. Next, click on the brush tool and set the diameter and also the hardness. In this case we use 1 pixel soft brush. When drawing a larger rivets (or bolts) it sometimes necessary to use a bigger (2 – 3 pixels diameter) brush.
5. Next, adjust the spacing between dots. I usually use from 350% - 450% for small rivets and up to 650% for larger ones or for wider spacing rivets.
6.Reduce the opacity of the background copy layer to 40% - 50%. We’ll use this layer as our riveting guide, so its important to reduce its opacity to make it less contrasty against new rivets layer.
7. Start
drawing on the topmost layer (New Rivets). To make straight rivets line between
two points, click to a starting point, hold shift key and then click again on
the other end point. See the picture for the result.
Vertical:
Horizontal:
And with diagonal rivets
lines:
You see also that I’ve selected an area with tighter spacing between rivets and a wider ones nearby. As mentioned before, we’ll have to readjust the brush spacing. I use 350% for the former and 650% for the later as shown below:
8. Here’s
the result. Don’t worry if the rivets look messy. All we have to do to make them
“cleaner” is to reduce the opacity of the rivets layer to 15% - 20%.
9. Two
examples below show the effects of reducing the New Rivets layer’s opacity. But
please note that I had to crop selected area of the New Rivets layer and the
background copy for comparation purpose.
Before:
After:
That’s all for now and happy
riveting