Low Poly Digital Portrait | Panda
Hey There,
In this Project, I used this photo of a panda that I found work well in this style.
Six steps took me to complete this project.
1.Photo Selection
2.Enable Grids:
To prevent gaps from forming between polygons, I enabled snapping to the grid.
To enable this:
Go to View -> Show -> Grid (command/control + ') and then View -> Snap. Make sure Grid is checked under Snap To.
Then adjust it to our needs:
Go to Photoshop -> Preferences -> Guides, Grid & Slices. Set it to Gridline Every: 10 pixels, and Subdivisions to 2.
3.Create an Action:
For each triangle I would have to:
1.Select a triangle with the polygonal lasso too.
2.Duplicate that onto a new layer.
3.Select that layer.
4.Average the selection color.
Then setting up an action that does all this with the press of a button.
First open Window -> Actions.
Then create a new action. Name it something like 'Create polygon'. Set a function key to it, and click record.
However, since each polygon is in a different location, I cannot record the selection itself. So stop the recording (click the square), and make a random selection using the Polygonal Lasso Tool. I have selected a layer (it will be highlighted) other than the background layer Surely. I may have to temporarily create a new layer (command/control + Shift + N). Then start the recording again by clicking the circle (it should turn red).
Follow these steps exactly:
1.Select the background layer.
2.Duplicate the layer by going to Layer -> Duplicate Layer (command/control + J).
3.Select the contents of the new layer (command/control + click, on layer thumbnail).
4.Go to Filter -> Blur -> Average.
5.Deselect the layer (command/control + D).
6.Then stop the recording by pressing the square.
Now, these steps will be repeated every time I press whatever function key you assigned it to.
I can now delete all layers except the background.
4. Endless Triangles Creation:
This is the time-consuming part.
This is the part where I create each individual triangle. All six hundred or so. *cries*
Some general things to remember:
Stick to triangles; it looks better.
Match up each side and corners, unless absolutely necessary.
Try and keep each selection to an area of similar colors.
The more triangles, the more detailed it becomes. This is not necessary, as a limited number of triangles can achieve a great minimalistic look, and has the added bonus of letting me retain my sanity. Personally, I like to give facial features such as eyes more polygons, so they are clearer, and
areas that don't have much going on fewer polygons. After all, the point of low poly is that some details can be left out!
Zoom in into a small area. I like to start at the edges and work in, but you can do whatever feels easiest. Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool (make sure Anti-Aliasing is turned off), make a selection. Then, press the function key you assigned the action too in the last step. Done! One whole triangle. Now do this for the rest of the picture. Have fun.
It's also a good idea to group layers (command/control + G)as you go as it is less overwhelming. Group sections: for example, make a group for the head, body etc.
5.Clean Up:
Zoom out of the picture, turn off the grid (command/control + ') and hide the original picture (click the eye next to the layer).
To easily find the layer something is on, use the move tool, check Auto-Select, and simply click on the triangle. This should select the appropriate layer. This does, however, require you to ungroup the layers (command/control + Shift + G).
6.Finishing Up:
Here! I've done it.
Thank You
In this Project, I used this photo of a panda that I found work well in this style.
Six steps took me to complete this project.
1.Photo Selection
2.Enable Grids:
To prevent gaps from forming between polygons, I enabled snapping to the grid.
To enable this:
Go to View -> Show -> Grid (command/control + ') and then View -> Snap. Make sure Grid is checked under Snap To.
Then adjust it to our needs:
Go to Photoshop -> Preferences -> Guides, Grid & Slices. Set it to Gridline Every: 10 pixels, and Subdivisions to 2.
3.Create an Action:
For each triangle I would have to:
1.Select a triangle with the polygonal lasso too.
2.Duplicate that onto a new layer.
3.Select that layer.
4.Average the selection color.
Then setting up an action that does all this with the press of a button.
First open Window -> Actions.
Then create a new action. Name it something like 'Create polygon'. Set a function key to it, and click record.
However, since each polygon is in a different location, I cannot record the selection itself. So stop the recording (click the square), and make a random selection using the Polygonal Lasso Tool. I have selected a layer (it will be highlighted) other than the background layer Surely. I may have to temporarily create a new layer (command/control + Shift + N). Then start the recording again by clicking the circle (it should turn red).
Follow these steps exactly:
1.Select the background layer.
2.Duplicate the layer by going to Layer -> Duplicate Layer (command/control + J).
3.Select the contents of the new layer (command/control + click, on layer thumbnail).
4.Go to Filter -> Blur -> Average.
5.Deselect the layer (command/control + D).
6.Then stop the recording by pressing the square.
Now, these steps will be repeated every time I press whatever function key you assigned it to.
I can now delete all layers except the background.
4. Endless Triangles Creation:
This is the time-consuming part.
This is the part where I create each individual triangle. All six hundred or so. *cries*
Some general things to remember:
Stick to triangles; it looks better.
Match up each side and corners, unless absolutely necessary.
Try and keep each selection to an area of similar colors.
The more triangles, the more detailed it becomes. This is not necessary, as a limited number of triangles can achieve a great minimalistic look, and has the added bonus of letting me retain my sanity. Personally, I like to give facial features such as eyes more polygons, so they are clearer, and
areas that don't have much going on fewer polygons. After all, the point of low poly is that some details can be left out!
Zoom in into a small area. I like to start at the edges and work in, but you can do whatever feels easiest. Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool (make sure Anti-Aliasing is turned off), make a selection. Then, press the function key you assigned the action too in the last step. Done! One whole triangle. Now do this for the rest of the picture. Have fun.
It's also a good idea to group layers (command/control + G)as you go as it is less overwhelming. Group sections: for example, make a group for the head, body etc.
5.Clean Up:
Zoom out of the picture, turn off the grid (command/control + ') and hide the original picture (click the eye next to the layer).
To easily find the layer something is on, use the move tool, check Auto-Select, and simply click on the triangle. This should select the appropriate layer. This does, however, require you to ungroup the layers (command/control + Shift + G).
6.Finishing Up:
Here! I've done it.
Thank You
