BEGINNERS GUIDE TO DESIGN SKETCHING- Basic industrial design style drawing with a graphics tablet

First edition in a series of drawing tutorials produced by DfS. This tutorial shows how to draw in a product/ industrial design style, focusing on basic geometric shapes.

I used a free program, Krita, to draw with. It offers all of the features that one would require for any level of digital painting to the extent that I can confidently say it is equal to Photoshop (But Krita is FREE!). I found the pen sensitivity and compliancy with graphics tablets excellent.

Drawing tutorial -

Start a new layer with no background fill. This will be our rough sketching layer.

Use a thin, basic pen brush to sketch out the basic shape that you will be drawing- pay attention to perspective. The way to invoke perspective in drawings is to making lines 'run off into the distance'. Everyone knows that the further away an object is, the smaller it looks to the human eye. So if you were to draw two parallel lines that were going off into the distance, they would gradually appear closer together the further away they are (like looking at a road trail off into the distance). Less perspective is required for small objects. Large objects appear with a much more noticeable perspective. 

Now make a new layer; colour background/ fill is optional. Put the sketch layer on top of this layer (so that you can see it) and change the opacity of the sketch layer to a value that makes it just visible. You will now be able to use the sketch as a guide and draw more accurate lines on the other layer.

A rule fundamental to design sketching- All lines on the edges of an object which show only one face are thick lines. All lines that are on the edges of an object showing more than one face are thin lines. This rule helps define the shape of the object. 

Using the sketch layer as a guide, draw new accurate lines (remember to follow the above rule). The line thickness is purely up to your judgement and style. Line thickness will be dependent on the style/ feel of the drawing.

I add a solid colour to all sides facing to the right and a darker tint of the same colour to all sides facing to the left. I use the 'darken' pen mode when colouring as it automatically keeps the colour within the black lines. Alternatively, you can use the 'magic wand' tool to select a face and then fill it with colour.

Use a white pen with only 20% opacity to shade and add texture to the sides facing to the right and a black pen with 20% opacity to the sides facing to the left. Pay attention to where the colour fades and where it is darker or lighter in the above video example.

Now we add the shadows. I use the 'darken' mode (or select with wand tool) with a grey pen. Have a play with shadow darkness. There is no specific set darkness of shadows, base it on the mood you want to convey in the drawing.

The shadows should be facing to the left, like in the video example. If you are stuck on where the shadows should be, look at a similar shape in real life for reference (with the light source in the same direction as it is in the drawing, of course).

This diagram visually explains shadows.

All done? Then click here to see the next drawing tutorial. It shows some easy yet extremely effective techniques to draw complex designs quickly- a must for anyone wanting a professional design drawing ability.

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