Photoshop tutorial #01: Missile

26 Dec 2006

You can paint objects like this missile without any 3D software, just with Pencil and Brush tools in a few simple steps.

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1

• Get some reference photos of the object and its technical specifications.
• Design and paint background.
• Create bitmap font and fill in data.
• Paint rectangle using the missile's proportions (scale 1m:90px) and basic olive drab color.

2

• Shape the nose-cone.

3

• Add wings and tail controls.

4

• Convert missile fuselage from box to tube by overlaying cylindrical shading (just a few translucent brush passes and e.g 'Hard Light' blending mode for the layer).

5

• Add transparent dome covering IR seeker.

6

• Add stripes.

7

• Add inscriptions.

8

• Add minor details.

9

• Add cast shadows, specularity areas and finish the drawing.

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This artwork made for the air simulation project F-19 Stealth Fighter. Some other ordnance below:

AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.
INS & active radar guided air-to-air missile with range up to 180 km.

AIM-9 SIDEWINDER missile.
Heat-seeking (IR homing) air-to-air missile with range up to 18 km.

MK-82 SLICK bomb.
General-purpose gravity bomb.

BLU-107 DURANDAL bomb.
Parachute deployed, rocket-boosted bomb. Designed to destroy runways. Drop above 500 ft.

GBU-12 PAVEWAY bomb.
Laser guided bomb for precision strinkes. Drop above 1000 ft.