Unleashing the Power of Radial Rulers in Digital Art
As artists, we often draw inspiration from the work of others, and today, I want to share with you how a classic drawing of the Silver Surfer by Jack Kirby has influenced my own creative process. Specifically, I'm fascinated by the asteroid-like object that the Surfer is flying over, and I want to incorporate a similar design element into my own work.
To achieve this, I'll be using a radial ruler tool in a digital art program. This powerful tool allows me to create precise, radial lines that can help me achieve the blast radius effect I'm looking for.
Accessing the Radial Ruler Tool
To access the radial ruler tool, simply press the "U" key and select the "Ruler" option from the dropdown menu. You'll notice that there are other options available, including straight lines and curve lines, but for this tutorial, we'll be focusing on the radial ruler.
Working with Special Rulers
When you create a special ruler, a dialog box appears with various properties. The dropdown menu offers two cool options: Radial Line and Line. When creating a new ruler from the menu, it generates a new layer, which is convenient because you can turn off the layer when you're finished and move on to a different layer.
It's important to note that the ruler affects any layer above it that you're working on. This means that you can use the ruler to create precise lines and shapes on multiple layers at once.
Understanding the Ruler Tool
One of the key features of the radial ruler is that it always moves towards the center, regardless of the direction you move it. This is a useful feature that allows for easy movement of the ruler once it's been placed.
Activating and Deactivating the Ruler
To move the ruler, you need the operation tool or you can simply press "O" and tap in the center. Be cautious when using the tool on the right, as it will deactivate the ruler if it's green (indicating it's not active). To reactivate the ruler, hit the tool again; it will turn purple, indicating it's activated.
Drawing Lines with the Ruler
When the ruler is activated (purple), all lines drawn with it will go towards the center. This feature allows for precise control over line drawing, making it easy to create complex shapes and designs.
Incorporating Radial Rulers into Your Workflow
I hope this tutorial has given you a better understanding of how to use radial rulers in your digital art workflow. I encourage you to try out this tool and see how you can incorporate it into your own creative process. Open up a new canvas and play with the rulers to see what they can do. Who knows, you may just discover a new favorite tool!
Thanks for watching, and I'll see you in the next video!