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I like to create image hoses for the natural elements in my illustrations. Rather than using a scanned photo or item to produce an image hose I create the nozzle beginning with simple shapes. In this image hose the shapes created produce grass that works well in a meadow setting.
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To start, go outside and find a nice bunch of grass to study. Wild grass or weeds are better than lawn grass because they grow, produce a tall stem with seeds and finally go to brown at the end of their cycle. Bring them in and set them up by your computer to get a really good look at how grass arranges itself.
Next, create a new image in Painter using the same resolution as the image you are creating that needs grass. I did this grass grouping on an image size 700 wide by 500 high at 72 dpi.
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Simple grass shapes
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Choose a shape design tool, either one will work, I like the pen because it gives me more control. The Quick Curve tool is nice for creating small shapes and squiggly lines. Select colors that represent grass, choosing a different color for each blade in the bunch. If you study the real grass you will notice the colors do not vary too much. As you go you can change any color but if you make each shape a different color to start you will be able to see how they over lap.
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Grass shapes joined into a bunch.
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After you make several shapes, use the Shape selection tool to move the blades around and position them into a bunch. Using the layer menu box rearrange the shapes to suit your needs. Select all the shapes and group them, but don't collapse them yet.
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Another grass bunch is formed.
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Next create several more bunches, each a little different from the first, some older and dried out, others young and fresh. Grass tends to grow this way in nature. Create the shapes as in the first bunch and group them when you are finished with each.
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Simple grass shapes grouped together.
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Now you have at least three bunches of grass of varying heights and colors. At this point save the file calling it "simplegrass.rif"
You may at this point wish to create an image hose using these simple grass bunches. Collapse each group into a layer and then group the layers. Do not collapse this group. It is your nozzle group. Select all layers.
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Make nozzle from group grass.
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Save the nozzle group by going to the Nozzle menu and clicking the right drop down arrow to find: Make Nozzle from Group . The grass group will immediately appear on a black background in a new file. Save this file calling it "simplegrassnoz.rif". Close file. Next in Nozzle menu drop down choose Load Nozzle. The folder where you have saved your nozzle will open. Find your file and click open. Next in the Nozzle menu drop down select Add Nozzle to Library and a small menu will appear with the name of your new nozzle. Click OK. Your nozzle is now in the Nozzle library.
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Simple grass groups as a nozzle.
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Save the file with your original grass bunches as "simplegrassdrop.rif" Now you have two files, one with grass layers and one with grass shapes. You also have a nozzle file with simple solid color grass bunches. Try them out. Open a new file and select the image hose brush. Simple draw across the image to see what your nozzle looks like. Try the different setting for the image hose to find the one that best suits your needs. Try different sizes for the brush. Back ground grass is smaller than close up grass.
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Grass shapes made into layer and effected.
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The image hose nozzle of simple grass may satisfy your needs but if you want the grass to have more depth and light then you must work on them again. Choose the simplegrass.rif. file. The shapes have been grouped but not collapsed. You might choose to open the group and work on each blade as an individual or collapse the group and work on the entire bunch. If you choose to work on each blade you must first group and collapse the blade.
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Detail of leaf with drop shadow and airbrush effects.
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This creates a layer and allows further manipulation. Using the brush tool and selection the airbrush tool or any of the other brushes that put down color you can place varying tone on your leaf or bunch. Use darker tones to create shadows and lighter tones for highlighting the leaf. Keep in mind the fact that all the grass will pour out of the nozzle together and so they all must have the same direction of highlighting and shadow. To stay within the boundries of the leaf tick the preserve transparency box on the layers menu. To erase areas on the leaf remove that feature. Add a texture to the leaf using Apply Surface Texture . Add a drop shadow to give the appearance of standing in the group.
Save your image the same way you did with the simple grass and create a nozzle. Open a new image and try your new nozzle to make sure you are getting the desired effect. Once satisfied you are ready to use your nozzle in your illustration.
I like to work on layers and I create layers for each area I want to use the nozzle hose in a different size. Starting in the background of the image I paint in my nozzle in a very small size to indicate the grass is in the distance. With each new layer I get closer to the front of the canvas. This way I can effect even the layers of grass I have created. Perhaps there is a stream of light going across on area of grass but not the next. It is easy to apply the light to a layer so it does not effect any other part of the illustration. Also other items can be added to the image between the grass layers. It is much easier to work on layers so mistakes can be fixed without damaging the entire image. In this image I inserted goats between the grass layers to create a field of goats with the sun on their backs.
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