Open a new canvas, 72dpi, white background, 400 x 600
pixels. Create a new layer fill with black. Create another new
layer (call it outline) and draw in your basic shape. It does not
have to be 'perfect' as there is room for correction later. You can
see from the example here, my shape is far from being a good sketch.
Step 2
Using your magic wand click on the top section of the
wing. Go to Select/Modify/Expand by 5 pixels.
Step 3
We now want to fill this section with a gradient.
In this example set foreground color to 73D198 and background color to
4A6D4E (you can experiment with different colors).
Step 4
Go to Filter/Texture/Craquelure and enter the following
settings.Crack Spacing 6, Depth 3, Brightness 6.
Step 5
Go to Select/Modify/Contract and enter a value between
15 and 20. Create a new layer and fill the inner area of the wing
with black.
Step 6
Go to Filter/Blur/Gaussian Blur and enter a value
between 35 and 40. Ctrl+Click on the original wing pattern layer. Go
to Select/Inverse and hit delete key to remove any excess shadowing.
Step 7
Turn of the eye for all layers except the pattern
section and shadow layer for the wing. Merge visible and turn eyes
back on. Create a new layer above the 'outline' layer and repeat the
steps above for each section of the wing.
This takes time as it involves switching between
gradient color and shadow color. You need to use the magic wand on
the outline layer, but to fill with gradient make sure you have created a
new layer. Similarly when doing the shadow for each section - create
a new layer.
Once all sections of the wing are done, turn off the eye
on your outline layer. You should have something like this.
Step 8
You can see that we have some gaps. Try to arrange
the segments to eliminate this. Don't worry if you still have some
gaps, we will fix this shortly.
Once satisfied with you arrangement, turn off the
background and black fill layers and merge visible so that your wing
segments can be manipulated as a whole. You may want to rotate the
wing for a better position.
If you still have some gaps
you are not happy with, create a layer below your wing layer, and paint
these out using the darker green color. Once satisfied, merge the
wing with this painted layer.
Step 9
Create a new layer. Using the lighter shade of
green (73D198) we will now begin to draw the spines on the wings.
Follow the line of where the segments meet. Use your eraser to thin
out the end of the spines.
Step 10
Go to Filer/Noise/Add Noise and set value at 25,
Gaussian, monochromatic checked.
Step 11
Double click on the spine layer to bring up layer
styles. Check Bevel & Emboss (default) and check drop shadow at 75%.
Change spine layer to hard light mode.
If you are unhappy with any area of the wing,
in terms of shape, use your eraser to define shape in line with spines.
(Remember, it does not have to be perfect, dragons usually have wings that
have taken a beating from time to time, lol)
You should have an image similar to this.
You can merge the wing and spines, and copy and flip
horizontally to get a pair of wings. Once you have a dragon, arrange
and angle as appropriate. There is an example below.
These wings were made reversing the gradient colors
(i.e. dark color as foreground, light as background)
Have fun experimenting with this one. Luv & Light Dreamcatcher.
