I am new to Photoshop cs. I am working by trial and error as I have no experience other then in PSP. This is my first project in Photoshop and I wanted more detail. I am thinking that I did not make my canvas large enough. Is there a standard size to use to get real detailed like in the eyes. This is not complete yet, and the backgound and grass are just for show and not on my orginal. So looking for some tips on canvas size etc. Thank you for any help you can give me. Lamb

This is also my first time using a wacom.

The question you are asking is a bit strange. The only answer I can think of is that your canvas/image size needs to be as big as you want it for whatever the end result is to be. If it is destined (only) for the web/monitor, then 72 DPI and an appropriate size (for monitors) is what you need to consider. If it is destined for print, that's a whole new "ballgame" that can lead to quite a discussion...but in general, it depends on the target size of the print. Welcome to the "land of Photoshop"!

Ok, lets see if I can clarify a bit. I made it for a computer image. But when I went to work on the eyes, I found that a brush set on one, was really to large for me to make the details in the eyes so they would come alive.The size you see is the size I painted him. I didn't resize him. I guess I need to go much larger, and then downsize when it is complete so I can add the details I want. Sorry, I am new to all this, and know I am not good at expressing myself well. Thank you for your help.

First off, if you painted that lion, then you are quite talented. Now, IF it were me, and I did all that hand painting, I'd make sure I did it with at least the following settings: around 10 - 12 inches in width/height and 300 ppi. As the old saying goes in the image world, you can make something smaller but you lose detail trying to make it bigger.

Thank you for the compliment. I did paint him, using a photo as a model. All the fur was one stroke at a time, then I use the smudge a bit to even things out. I think you have answered my question. I just wish now, after all that work that I started larger, but that is how I will learn. Thank you again for your help. I will be starting larger next time around....lol...

And don't be timid about posting the results here. Always nice to see good painting. Good luck!

Thank you so much. I admit that I have wanted to come and share before so I could get some tips, but have been timid because of all the fine work I see, plus I was using PSP for my digital work and it did not have the same potential. I love the pressure sensitive tablet effects that you can get in Photoshop with the use of the tablet.

Be aware that you can resize your canvas to good effect-- while it doesn't create new detail, increasing the file size gives you more "space" to add detail. In fact, a lot of people rough out their images at low-resolutions, and then resize to to work on the fine detail, like the eyes in your case. As a simple rule of thumb, when you resize, double each dimension; this will produce a file four times as large, and isn't always the right answer, but its a start. Resizing doesn't create new detail, but it doesn't destroy it either. If you're interested in digital painting, you might also explore using Painter, which has the ability to replay scripts of your session in more detailed file-- this does add detail.

Oh, thank you so much for the tips. I am not able to purchase any new programs at this time, but I will keep painter in mind and will go check it out now. Thank you again. Lamb