Have you ever had a traditional drawing you thought was really good, and you wished there was a digital art variant of it? Maybe you drew an animal while outdoors and only had a small sketchbook with you at the time. Yet, it turned out to be one of your better drawings, and you want to digitize it so you can add to your website or social media. Well, you can do that, and I can teach you how!
Take a Photo
First you need to take a photo of the artwork and send it to the device you are drawing on. If you draw digitally with a mobile device, you just need to use the device’s camera to take a photo of the traditional drawing. If you draw on a computer, it may be more tricky. You need to take the photo with some sort of camera, then send the photo to the computer, or scan the artwork and send to your computer.
Insert the Photo into Your Digital Drawing Software
Once you have the photo on the device you draw on, pull up your preferred drawing program and make a new file. Then insert the photo into the open file. I suggest putting the photo in the corner or the middle of the canvas if you are going to redraw it digitally. However, it really doesn’t matter where you place it on the canvas.
Create a New Layer
Then you can start drawing. When I digitally redraw something, I usually use the traditional drawing as a reference. Some people re-draw the photo, and change things as they go. Although, there is another method, which is basically tracing the artwork and changing details as you turn the traditional drawing into a digital artwork. You can place the photo in one layer, then draw over it or trace it in a separate layer that sits over or on top of the first layer. There is nothing wrong with tracing your own artwork in order to digitize it. It’s YOUR artwork. Of course, It’s never okay to trace someone else’s artwork.
Getting inspired by other’s artwork is fine. You can also get inspired by your own artwork. Such as if an old drawing gives you a new drawing or new character idea. I’ve gotten inspired by old drawings of mine before.
Make Changes and Add Color
When I redraw my traditional artwork I usually partially trace the old artwork, then redraw and change things as I want to from there. I trace parts I especially like in the original pencil drawing, then redraw digitally the parts I don ’t like. Also, I normally leave my pencil and paper drawings uncolored, but I color them in when I transfer the drawing into digital form.
You can see those things in play in a speedpaint of mine, right here.
I hope this information is helpful to you as you digitize your own artwork. See you soon in our virtual art world.
Peace and Love,
Mikayla
Mikayla
