Image Transfer Tutorial (Portrait Drawings)by =thewholehorizon

Resources & Stock Images / Tutorials / Traditional Art / Drawing / Human Anatomy

As promised in my journal, here is my first tutorial in what will hopefully be a series regarding my drawing process (download it to see it full size!)

Although technically this is just a precursor to what I'd consider actually "drawing" the portrait, this process is absolutely vital in getting my placement and proportions correct, as it pretty much eliminates the guesswork in transferring the outlines for my images and reduces the amount of modifications and touchups needed later on down the line.

The steps outlined assume that you have at least basic knowledge of how to use Photoshop if you are intending to use it to duplicate this method. If you have any further questions relating directly to this tutorial, please let me know as I may update it to include more detailed information to help others who may have the same questions as well. This is only the second tutorial I've created ever so forgive me if it still needs some work!

If any similar tutorial is already out there, I apologize and did not intend to copy. It was through my own trials that came to use this process; I did not use any other source to develop it.

Note: I know many people will want to argue that this method is "cheating" just as some people insist that using grids is "cheating" and I disagree on both counts. Even if an artist doesn't freehand from the start, it still takes skill and talent and experience to turn basic outlines into a full-fledged drawing. This is my opinion and this is my tutorial, therefore any comments still wanting to make accusations of "cheating" will be removed.

These are other progressions that begin with outlines created using the same process described in this tutorial:

~Adniv Feb 9, 2013

where do I get graphite transfer paper?
Would not use your method of copying lines, but that is mostly because I want to be as independent of technology as possible. My problem is I use a "home made" transfer paper for my sketches, and it tends to get messy