How To Draw A Blood Elf

In this tutorial you lot'll learn how to create a blood elf inspired portrait from a photo. We'll cover some photo manipulation tips, vectoring a portrait in Illustrator and even some theory on hair style.

You lot can find the source files in the directory labeled 'source' that came in the files that you downloaded. Yous may wish to expect through them briefly before we begin.

Introduction

The seventh of December 2010 was the release of the third expansion for the largest massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), World of Warcraft: Calamity. To gloat the release, today I'one thousand going to show yous how to create your own blood elf inspired portrait from a reference epitome. Also I'll be giving some hairstyle blueprint theory which you can apply to any time to come projects, ideal if you similar to give your portraits a unique look.

If y'all'd like to see a claret elf in action, this is one of my all time favorite is machinima'due south. The female ninja jumping around is a blood elf and will give yous a fair thought of the character that inspires this tutorial.

I'thou going to use stock by Jessica Truscott, specifically this epitome. The reason being is that her ear is exposed so I can show you how to create an elf similar ear.

Step 1

Open up up the stock image in Photoshop and duplicate the "Background" layer by elevate and dropping information technology on the Create a new layer icon in the layer palette.

Claret elves accept green glowing eyes, however they aren't then big. For my spin on a blood elf I want the optics to exist a bit of a focal indicate, therefore I'g going to enlarge the eyes. Using the Lasso Tool (50) with a 10px plume, draw effectually each of the eyes and then enlarge them by using the Motion Tool (Five).

Step ii

I'grand going to enlarge the iris's using the aforementioned method, of selecting the area and using the Move Tool (Five) to overstate. Utilise the Eraser Tool (E) to clean upward the edges and so go to Layer > Merge Visible.

Step 3

Indistinguishable the groundwork layer once more past drag and dropping the layer on the Create a new layer icon.

Blood elves have unnaturally slim faces, and so I'yard going to use the Lasso Tool (50) to select around the face and shoulders, then use the Move Tool (5) to shrink. I've chosen to not select around part of the face. This is because although I want the face to exist a lot slimmer, I still desire it to retain some of the curves from the cheekbones.

Use the Eraser Tool (Due east) to clean up the edges and and so go to Layer > Merge Visible. Once washed, I'll apply the Ingather Tool (C) to trim the canvas.

Footstep 4

Indistinguishable the "background" layer again by elevate and dropping the layer onto the Create a new layer icon. I'm going to slim down the olfactory organ to make information technology less prominent. Firstly, I'grand going to select and resize the tip of the nose. And so Merge Visible layers and duplicate the "background" layer again.

Then select the rest of the nose and select and resize that portion. Apply the Eraser Tool (E) to clean up the edges so go to Layer > Merge Visible.

Step five

I'm going to requite a crude idea of how to create the elf like ears. I'm going to demand a guide for this. I want to add a curve to the ears but I'1000 unable to do and then successfully with Photoshop, and then I'chiliad going to accept this chemical element over to Illustrator.

And so select effectually the ear and then Copy (Command + C) it. Open up Illustrator and Paste (Command + Five) this element on the canvas.

While the object is selected become to Object > Envelope Misconstrue > Make With Mesh and utilise the settings below.

Using the Direct Choice Tool (A) and the Costless Transform Tool (E), change the ear to make information technology more elf like. I've kept the lower department of the ear intact, focusing on the tip of the ear.

Stride half-dozen

I Re-create (Command + C) the whole mesh and Paste (Command + V) it on the photo manipulation in Photoshop. Placing it as a pixel layer as I want to change this shape direct away. Use the Eraser Tool (E) to make clean up the edges, and so the Smudge Tool to clean the bend of the ear and to fill in the side of the ear.

Now merge the layers and Save for Web & Devices at 800px width set up to be used as a reference in Illustrator.

Step 7

Create a new document for impress. Information technology really doesn't thing if it's landscape or portrait at this point every bit I tin alter that at a later stage. Get to File > Place... and locate the photo manipulation. Use the Free Transform Tool (East) to resize it. Double-click on the "Layer 1" layer folder and rename it "Reference," then click on Ok.

Create a New Layer and rename this "BG." Using the Rectangle Tool (M), draw a white fill rectangle to cover the canvas and reduce its Opacity to 30%. Create a New Layer and rename it "Bases." Lock the "BG" and "Reference" layer folders and you lot should accept the image below.

Step viii

Using the Pen Tool (P) I'm going to describe the skin base for the elf, to include the chest/shoulders, ear and confront. I'm using a pare color of C=fifteen, Grand=thirty, Y=30, G=0. If you Toggle Visibility by Command-clicking on the heart icon in the layer palette, it'southward easier to draw around this shape and makes information technology more authentic.

Step 9

Create a New Layer and rename it Pare Shading. Toggle Visibility on the "Bases" layer binder to make it easier to use the reference paradigm for a guide in the shading.

Using the Pen Tool (P) with a darker skin color as the make full (C=25, M=40, Y=45, K=0), begin adding shapes for the shaded areas of the pare. Information technology's worth noting, that for the countenance expanse, don't draw around the full eyebrow, as claret elves have long pointed hairs coming from the start of the brow os.

Step 10

Select All (Command + A) of the shapes and reduce the Opacity to 15% and so Group them (Command + G).

Go into the "Bases" layer folder and Copy (Command + C) and Paste in Front end (Command + V) the skin base shape. Drag and drop this shape higher up the grouping you've created in the "Skin Shading" layer folder. Select the grouping and the skin base shape and create a Clipping Mask (Control + 7).

Step eleven

Lock the clipping mask group. Begin adding darker shadow shapes on the portrait using the Pen Tool (P) with a darker peel colour fill (C=35, M=seventy, Y=75, Chiliad=30).

Now Select All (Control + A) and reduce the Opacity to 5%. Grouping the shapes (Command + Thousand) and elevate and drop them into the clipping mask group. The balance of the skin shading is shown below.

Step 12

I'm going to begin adding highlights to the skin. I'm doing this with a transparent radial gradient with a lighter pare shade (C=5, Thousand=15, Y=15, K=0).

So Select All (Command + A) and reduce the opacity to 15% and change the Blending Mode to Overlay. And then Grouping the shapes (Control + G) and elevate and drib them into the clipping mask group with the other skin shading.

Step thirteen

I'm going to start to add together further tones to the peel. This tin exist done with using the colors you already have in your swatch palette saved and just changing the blending mode.

Firstly, I want to add together further shadow to the pare, to give the neck to confront area more definition. A bang-up way to do this is by using a gradient. So make a transparent radial slope using the darker skin shading colour (C=35, Grand=70, Y=75, Thousand=xxx). Now describe around the area with the Pen Tool (P) and utilise the Gradient Tool (Thou) to position and resize the source. Then gear up the Blending Mode to Multiply and the Opacity to xv%.

Step 14

Claret elves don't take a natural pale color to their skin. They accept a more than orange tone, nearly plastic looking. So I'm going to use the aforementioned radial gradient but inverting it then the center is at 0% opacity.

Copy (Command + C) and Paste in Front (Command + F) the "peel" base from the "Bases" layer binder and employ the inverted gradient to information technology. By setting the Blending Mode to Colour Burn and the Opacity to fifteen%, information technology will requite a subtle orange glow.

Then elevate and drop the shapes into the clipping mask grouping.

Step fifteen

I like to add slight tinges of pink to the cheeks and shoulders. The best manner to do this is to add together Magenta transparent radial gradients to areas of the portrait, set the Blending Fashion to Multiply, and reduce the Opacity appropriately. In this illustration I'm going to reduce it to 10% equally the original blood elf doesn't have these elements, but I still want the illustration to be in my own manner. Telephone call it a vector compromise. Now elevate and drop the shapes into the clipping mask grouping.

Step 16

To finish off the peel shading, I'm going to add further darker shapes to the olfactory organ, ear, eyelid crease, shadows which are cast and the lower lip.

To do this I'm going to use the darker skin color (C=35, M=70, Y=75, K=30) and set it to Blending Mode Multiply and Opacity fifteen%. E'er utilise the darker colors in small sections, otherwise they may expect out of identify. The exception to this rule is for shadows.

Select All of the shapes (Command + A) and then Grouping them (Command + Thousand). Then elevate and drop them into the clipping mask group.

Step 17

Create a New Layer and rename information technology "Lips." I'chiliad going to begin adding color and particular to the lips. Starting time using the Pen Tool (P) with a night pink fill up color (C=x, M=100, Y=fifty, K=0) set to Blending Way Color Fire and Opacity fifty%.

Step 18

Add shape using deep red transparent radial gradients (C=fifteen, M=100, Y=90, Thou=10) set to Blending Manner Multiply and Opacity 50%.

After shaping the lips with gradients, I'thou going to use the same gradient and settings to add together crease lines to the lips. I've used the reference paradigm every bit a guide to do this.

Step xix

With the transparent radial gradient, which was used for the skin highlights (C=v, G=15, Y=xv, K=0) and the Ellipse Tool (L), add circles on the bottom lip and along the top lip to add a sparkle to them. Set these shapes to Blending Mode Overlay and Opacity 50%.

Stride 20

Using the aforementioned gradient, I'grand going to add a highlight to the lesser of several of the areas which may have a slight overhang. This volition be the tip of the nose, pinnacle lip, bottom lip and the chin. This is set to Blending Mode Difficult Light and Opacity 50%.

Step 21

Create a New Layer and rename information technology "Eyes." Whatever I practice to one eye, I'll be doing the exact same to the other eye, so just copy the process over.

Draw two shapes with the Pen Tool (P) for the eyeball. One will be slightly smaller than the other, as this will help define the corner of the eye. Use a light green fill (C=twenty, M=0, Y=100, G=0) and fix it to Blending Manner Color Dodge and Opacity xl%.

Using the Ellipse Tool (50), draw a greenish circle (C=75, 1000=0, Y=100, K=0) so utilise the Pathfinder Minus Front, trim the circle then it's within the eyeball shape. Set up the Blending Mode to Color Burn. Then Re-create (Command + C) and Paste in Forepart (Command + F) and set the Blending Style to Difficult Calorie-free and Opacity to 50%.

Paste in Front (Command + F) once again and then utilise an inverted transparent radial gradient with a night green color (C=90, M=30, Y=95, One thousand=30) with the source towards the bottom of the center. This will give a subtle impression of shadow towards the top of the iris. Gear up the stroke color to the same night green (C=90, M=30, Y=95, K=xxx) and so set the Blending Way to Hard Low-cal and Opacity 50%.

Copy (Control + C) and Paste in Front (Control + F) the slope filled shape and remove the stroke color. And so gear up the Blending Mode to Color Burn down and Opacity to 40%.

Pace 22

Copy (Command + C) and Paste in Front end (Control + F) the largest of the eyeball shapes and use the previously used inverted night greenish gradient. Ready the Blending Mode to Colour Burn down and Opacity to 40%.

Using the Ellipse Tool (Fifty) draw a circle with the dark light-green fill (C=90, Thou=xxx, Y=95, K=xxx) and set the Blending Mode to Multiply and Opacity to 60%. Now using the Pen Tool (P), depict two small shapes either side of the iris with the nighttime green fill and set the Blending Style to Multiply and Opacity to sixty%.

Step 23

Use the darker peel color (C=35, M=lxx, Y=75, K=thirty) to draw around the centre and give it more definition. So using the same colour, use a transparent radial gradient towards the corner of the eye. Set all of these shapes at Blending Mode Multiply and Opacity l%.

Step 24

Using the Width Profile 1 brush from this tutorial, I'm going to create the eyelashes using the Paintbrush Tool (B).

Employ a dark brown stroke color (C=50, M=70, Y=eighty, K=lxx) and a stroke weight of 0.75pt to draw the top lashes. These strokes need to be a J shape, as eyelashes slightly overhang on the eyeball. In one case drawn, Group them (Command + G).

Draw the lower lashes in a similar sort of way, but with the stroke weight of 0.5pt and Opacity of fifty%.

Pace 25

Blood elves have a dark-green/xanthous glow to their eyes. Information technology'due south piece of cake to replicate this outcome by using gradients and blending modes.

Using the Ellipse Tool (50) create a squashed circle over the eye and use the Free Transform Tool (E) to bending it. Fill with a light dark-green transparent radial gradient (C=50, M=0, Y=100, Thou=0) and set the Blending Fashion to Hard Light.

Copy (Command + C) and Paste in Front (Control + F) the ellipse and and then utilize the Free Transform Tool (Eastward) to increase the size of it. Now fill with a xanthous transparent radial gradient (C=0, M=0, Y=100, Thou=0) and set the Blending Mode to Color Contrivance and Opacity to lx%.

Step 26

Create a New Layer and rename it "Hair Sketch." I tend to do my hair sketches in Illustrator instead of Photoshop, as information technology's easier to dispense shapes using the Free Transform Tool (East). I'll testify you how I become almost creating a hairstyle.

I use the Paintbrush Tool (B) and the previously used Width Profile 1 brush. Firstly, you'll need to show your reference image. You can apply this to mark out where the residuum of the head is so you'll know where hair must be placed.

I've drawn these lines in a thicker stroke than I would to show you.

Stride 27

I usually consider the overall composition of the portrait, how the model is placed and what sort of focal points I desire to accept. In this case I'd similar the focus to be on her eyes, so the hair would demand to compliment that.

I remember the analogy has a bit too much forehead, and so to annul this element; I'g going to give her bangs/fringe.

When yous beginning drawing hair around the hairline, you need to consider from that, how the pilus on elevation of the caput volition be. How far back do the bangs/fringe go? If the bangs/fringe is only thin, and so it won't have upwardly a lot of infinite on top of the head. I desire the bangs/fringe to exist rather thick, then I'll need to sketch on top of the head to accommodate this.

Pace 28

How you lot describe the hair towards the back will and then make up one's mind the style of pilus on the remainder of the top of the head.

I play a claret elf myself, and so taking inspiration from her hair blueprint; I'one thousand going to give our blood elf pig tails. Warcraft fans will know this style of hairstyle is more famous on the Alliance Gnome. The Wrath of the Lich Rex expansion introduced the barbershop chemical element to the game which gave players the power to change their hairstyles. Thankfully I was able to requite my blood elf pig tails! I'm a blood elf in gnome clothing.

Knowing that the pilus is divided into two squealer tails, this will mean there volition be a parting in the hair. If both of the pig tails are equal, so the parting volition be in the centre. The hair volition and so be coming from the hairline and from the eye parting towards where the showtime of the pig tails will be bunched upwards.

Step 29

Now that the sketch for the hair is complete, Select All (Command + A) of the strokes, Group them (Control + K) and so reduce the Opacity to xx%. This volition make it easier to employ every bit a guide for the base shapes.

Create a New Layer and rename it "Hair Top."

I've decided I want my Blood Elf to have blonde pilus. The key thing to remember when illustrating blonde hair is that it'southward non xanthous. In more cartoon looking illustrations yellow is fine, as information technology's an exaggerated art form of reality, however if you're illustration is leaning more than towards realism; and then an ash brown color is more appropriate.

Using the Pen Tool (P) draw the base layers for the pilus in sections. The superlative of the hair is a low-cal ash color (C=25, 1000=25, Y=40, K=0) and the bangs/fringe are a darker ash color (C=25, Yard=25, Y=40, K=10).

Create New Layer to a higher place the "BG" layer folder and rename information technology "Pilus Back." Using the darker ash color, draw the base of operations layers for the two pig tails. Once finished, hide the "Hair Sketch" layer binder.

Step 30

I'm going to use a variety of gradients on top of the pilus bases. Re-create (Command + C) and Paste in Front (Command + F) each one of the hair bases.

Create 2 transparent radial gradients using the darker ash color (C=25, One thousand=25, Y=twoscore, 1000=10). Ane will have the source at 100% Opacity, the other with 0% Opacity.

With natural blonde pilus, the tips of the hair are more likely to be a lot lighter. Then apply gradients to the tips and edges of all the bases, apart from the base used for the entire scalp. Set this to Blending Manner Hard Light.

Add gradients to the bases to create darkness towards the roots of the hair. Set this to Blending Mode Multiply.

The scalp area has been duplicated twice as I wanted to put shading towards the edges of the base (using an inverted gradient) and then towards to the roots.

Step 31

Create New Sublayers in the "Hair Height" layer folder and rename them "Bangs" and "Scalp." At present drag and drop the corresponding shapes into the folders. This volition make information technology easier to access and organize the elements as we go along.

Pace 32

Create a New Layer higher up the "Hair Top" layer folder and rename it "Hair Shading." I'm going to use this layer to draw the strands of hair, but then Group them (Command + G) in sections and drag and drop them into their appropriate layer folders.

I would suggest doing this with a graphics tablet; however it is possible to achieve this look with a mouse. Unfortunately if done with a mouse, it takes a bully deal longer and won't be as organic looking.

For the hair strands I'm going to exist using the Paintbrush Tool (B) with the Width Contour 1 brush I previously used for the eyelashes.

I begin adding the base hairs. These typically cover the entire bases to give the overall texture. I draw them pretty quickly and allow them to overlap and create gaps. Using this method, I can see where I can put natural highlights and depression lights in the hair way.

The base hairs in this case are going to be the darker ash blonde colour (C=25, 1000=25, Y=forty, K=ten) set to Blending Fashion Hard Calorie-free and Opacity 50%.

Pace 33

The side by side strands, using the same darker ash blonde color, will be fix to Blending Way Multiply and Opacity 35%.

These will exist focusing on the roots of the hair, the parting and in small sections where there are gaps between the base of operations hairs. They will give the impression of shadow and darker strands.

I've colored these strands in blue to bear witness y'all where I have placed them.

Step 34

The next strands, using the aforementioned darker ash blonde color, will be set to Blending Mode Overlay. These volition focus on the areas where the hair will be lighter or highlighted. This is typically towards the tips of the pilus and on the curves of the hair.

Step 35

These strokes are going to exist a dark brown (C=55, M=60, Y=65, 1000=40) and the stroke weight of 10pt. The Blending Mode will be Color Burn with the Opacity of 10%.

The thicker strokes are almost painted on around the roots and in the darker areas as they are then faint. Build upwards the strands to increase the contrast and to give a variance in tone.

Stride 36

Create a New Layer above the "Hair Top" layer folder and rename it "Eyebrows." Using the Pen Tool (P) draw the bases for the eyebrows using a night ash color (C=25, M=25, Y=twoscore, K=ten) fill.

Step 37

Using the same procedure for the pilus, except using the Color Burn procedure of Step 35, draw the strands of the eyebrows using the Width Profile 1 brush and the Paintbrush Tool (B).

Step 38

The hair and eyebrows would cast a shadow on elements of the face. Then using the shadows already cast on the portrait, imagine where the light source is.

I've added two new layer folders. I above the "Optics" layer binder and renamed it "Hair Shadow i" and one below the "eyebrows" layer folder and renamed it "Hair Shadow ii."

Using the darker peel color (C=35, M=seventy, Y=75, K=30), draw about four shapes using Pen Tool (P) and prepare them to Blending Mode Multiply and Opacity 10%.

Step 39

Blood elves come from the horde urban center Silvermoon. If you lot've been in the city it'south decorated in regal colors of reds and gold. Likewise on the blood elf character selection screen you tin give your female person blood elf earrings.

Now I have to admit, I love adding hooped earrings to my illustrations. One reason is that I find them visually pleasing and some other is that they are piece of cake to add!

Create a New Layer above the "Pare Shading" layer binder and rename it Earring. Create a New Layer above "Hair Summit" and rename it "Earrings Height."

Using the Ellipse Tool (L) draw a slim circle for one earring with a stroke weight of 6pt and a stroke color of a light orangish (C=0, M=35, Y=85, 1000=0). Then Copy (Command + C) and Paste in Front (Control + F) the ellipse into the "Earring Top" binder.

Using the Free Transform Tool (Eastward) slightly alter the shape so it doesn't expect like it's been completely duplicated.

Step 40

Copy (Command + C) and Paste in Front (Command + F) the hoops individually so you have two shapes in each of the earring layer folders. With the acme duplicate, become to Object > Aggrandize.

Using the Pen Tool (P) draw over the section of the hoop which would not be visible. Using Pathfinder, Minus Front. Select both shapes and create a Clipping Mask (Command + 7). The modified shape volition be the clipping path.

Step 41

Inside the clipping mask group for each earring, Copy (Command + C) and Paste in Front (Command + F) the hoop. Modify the Blending Mode to Screen and the Opacity to 50%. Change the stroke weight to 4pt.

Duplicate the hoop again and change the stroke weight to 2pt and the stroke color to white.

Now go dorsum to the original hoop and change the stroke colour to a chocolate-brown shade (C=xxx, Thousand=50, Y=75, K=10). Repeat this for the other clipping mask.

Footstep 42

I desire the hoops to be more than gilded, so become into the clipping mask once more and select the original hoop shape. Copy (Command + C) and Paste in Front (Command + F) and drag it to under the clipping path. Change the Blending Mode to Color Burn down and modify the stroke color to the light skin shade (C=5, M=15, Y=xv, Thousand=10).

Pace 43

The hoops volition have a slight shadow cast by the ear/hair/side of the face. To add this shadow, create a dark dark-brown transparent radial gradient (C=50, One thousand=seventy, Y=80, Thou=70) and position shapes within the clipping masks to represent the shadow. Set these shapes to Blending Manner Multiply and Opacity 50%.

There will likewise be highlights on the earrings. Using the highlighting radial gradient used for the hair shading (C=25, 1000=25, Y=forty, One thousand=ten) add those to the clipping mask. Set up them to Blending Mode Color Dodge and Opacity 50%.

Footstep 44

In each one of my portraits, I similar to add a mole to the peel. I believe there is beauty found in our "flaws." These are easy to illustrate.

Using the transparent radial gradient which I used for the darker pare shading, use the Ellipse Tool (L) to depict a circle. Using the Free Transform Tool (E) to reshape and change the bending of the circumvolve.

Copy (Command + C) and Paste (Command + V) the circumvolve to slightly overlap. Change the Blending Mode of both circles to Multiply and Opacity to 25%.

Step 45

Go into the "BG" layer folder, use the Rounded Rectangle Tool to draw a rectangle in the background. I've decided to add a free gradient to the background to help bring out the blonde tones in her pilus, so I've opted for a light blue (C=ten, M=0, Y=0, K=0) to medium blue (C=lxx, Thou=xv, Y=0, 1000=0).

Stride 46

Finally, use the Artboard Tool (Shift + O) to reshape the artboard so it gives a thick white border around the portrait.

Conclusion

Creating this portrait has been a lot of fun, blending 2 passions into an artform. But call up all the little details and adding your own mode can make a unique looking portrait.

For those that are interested, I play a Shadow Priest Blood Elf on the EU server of Thunderhorn... and my character is called Vectoria. Fifty-fifty when I'm playing games, I've still got vector art with me.

I hope you're enjoying Calamity, come across you lot at level 85!

Source: https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-a-blood-elf-inspired-portrait-in-illustrator--vector-4113

Posted by: deboermosedince42.blogspot.com