Photoshop SKETCHING WITH THE MIXER BRUSH
ImagineFX|May 2023
Daryl Mandryk shows the flexibility of Photoshop's versatile tool as he generates a character concept
Daryl Mandryk
Photoshop SKETCHING WITH THE MIXER BRUSH

I’m always looking for new ways to create images, and recently I’ve been enamoured with the Mixer Brush in Photoshop. It has a number of advantages, and a few drawbacks, over the normal Photoshop brushes, but it is essentially a cross between the Stamp and Smudge tools.

It works by sampling part of an image and then using that as a brush tip to paint with. By playing with the settings you can achieve a host of different effects, similar to the Opacity and Flow settings used with normal brushes. This can create some interesting brushstrokes and add a bit of life to your work.

This sketch was made almost entirely using the Mixer Brush. I’ll give you a few tips and insights on the tool as I take you through the creation of my sketch.

How I create...

A REFINED ROBOT CHARACTER

1. Simple start I’m looking at a photograph for colour and lighting reference, but just as a starting point to find colours to work with. Once I have a palette I quickly knock in a background and a rough sketch. At this stage everything is very loose, I don’t feel the urge to commit to any particular design; it’s just loose and fun. No details!

2. Develop the character

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