Digital Tutors - Spaceship Concept Design Pipeline in Photoshop

Learn how to design a unique spaceship from specifications from client, going from initial thumbnails to final render.

In this tutorial we are going to learn how to design an interesting and original spaceship, a solar barque. We're going to start with gathering and analyzing reference material, following our project specs, which typically would be provided by a client or an art director.

Next, we are going to work on the ship itself. We're going to start with thumbnails and then use a number of techniques like detailed sketching, 3D modeling, overpainting and creating interesting textures until we finalize the design. Along the way, we're going to use several applications like Photoshop, modo, Alchemy and fractal generator, Apophysis.

Once the design is complete we are going to use it for a 'beauty shot' - a concept illustration that will serve as our final presentation. By the end of this tutorial, you will become familiar with many techniques and tricks used in the concept design pipeline and will be able to use them in your own projects.

Spaceship Concept Design Pipeline in Photoshop contents:

1. Introduction and project overview

2. Analysis of the brief and references

3. Thumbnail creation using digital and traditional media

4. Thumbnail creation using custom brushes and reference images

5. Creating detailed sketch in perspective

6. Creating detailed sketch in side view

7. Blocking overall shapes in 3D

8. Continuing to model and creating wings

9. Exploring the design by sketching on top of 3D

10. Applying design changes in modo

11. Generating force fields, glows, and laser beams

12. Creating interesting shapes and patterns in Apophysis

13. Creating textures with Apophysis and Photoshop

14. Starting on the final design using side view

15. Continuing to refine and adding textures

16. Finalizing the side view

17. Creating space and background for our beauty shot

18. Coloring and texturing the barque

19. Continuing to refine the ship

20. Adding final touches and effects

21. Reviewing our design and project conclusion