Practice: HTB Worm
Practice: HTB Worm
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17:31

The Shading Course

Module 8 - How to Invent Shading

Practice: HTB Worm

197

Practice: HTB Worm

197

Overview

In this project, we'll practice "Halfway to Black" (HTB) shading by drawing a striped worm. 

Steps

  1. Draw the outline of your worm.
  2. Draw the floor.
  3. Divide the worm into 5 sections/bands as in the example above. (If you add more sections, you'll create a lot more work for yourself.)
  4. Make the light direction in this scene come straight from the top. Draw your estimation of the terminator on the worm and a cast shadow on the floor.
  5. Draw 3 light probes, representing 3 different local colors for: 
    1. The floor
    2. The lighter "skin" of the worm
    3. The darker "skin" of the worm
  6. Find the shadow value on each light probe by using the "Halfway-to-Black" method and shade in your picture.
  7. Upload your image.

Examples

Meet these Challenges

  • Draw smooth, clean tones. (See this how-to article.)
  • Maintain a clear difference between the light value and shadow value. Especially on dark materials.
  • Take into account the environment. Bright environment = a lot of ambient light -> adjust halfway-to-black shadows a little brighter. Dark environment = less ambient light → adjust halfway-to-black shadows a little darker. 

Duration

This project should take 30–60 minutes to complete.

Optional: Refined HTB Worm

If you like, you can add occlusion shadows, reflected light, and shading in the halftones to create "refined Halfway-to-Black shading".

Tips

Resources

You are welcome to use this shorthand "HTB-Scale" to find the pairs of light value + shadow value.

Newest
@tonyhcf
4d
carla toms
4mo
@kotka
5mo
Very meditative and fun. I love all the finishing touches, working on ambient occlusion, penumbra... the hardest part is knowing how to to the cast shadow shape properly in relation to the perspective.
Vin
9mo
Here is my HTB worm. I tried to make it more smooth, but not works...hmm. I appreciate any feedback.
Samuel Sanjaya
My HTB worm. this method makes shading easier. Been applying this to my own project too. Any feedback or critiques are welcome
@rfrimpong3
I tried to make the dark band look like it’s a part of the worm’s skin but I was unsuccessful 😂. I have really come a long wayyy I wasn’t able to any of these things before this course.
Romain Decotte
Hello! Here's my HTB Worm assignment. It took longer than the recommended time, but I enjoyed the whole process so I took my time. Hopefully the values are where and how they should be. Thank you @Dorian Iten! Romain
Alessio Bortot
Here's my attempt at the HTB worm assignment (I haven't watched the video yet). I first set the prospective, than put in the tone. After finishing the assignment, maybe the angle I decided was not the best for the objective of assignment itself (the form shadow is not too visible, compared to the form light). Also it took me 2-3 hours to complete instead of the 30-60 minutes. requested. Overall a nice assignment, enjoyable to do; I think one of the good assignments of this course than can be translated and used when practicing a new drawing medium
Karlo H.
2yr
@ivat
2yr
@flugmodus1
Was not quite happy with my first try (Second Image) and did it again. Had to resolve that shading knot :-)
Brayden Copley
First worm problems
Dorian Iten
Nice! You're understanding this! 👍 The main area where you could make this image stronger are the two points where the worm is touching the floor. On the left (underneath the head) it's all getting quite soft, and on the right there is a perspective issue where the cast shadow doesn't quite work together with where the body touches the floor.
Félicia Gagnon
They're surprised to see you.
Dorian Iten
Well done! Good work keeping the halftones around the mouth subtle 👌 I had to try this... ;)
Tony Vu
3yr
looking great!
Yvann Innocent
Dorian Iten
Good work, @Yvann Cerisier! On the floor, you're not following halfway-to-black, though. Give your floor some thickness, basically turning the flat floor plane into a box. Then shade the shadow side of that "floor box". The value of that shadow is the same as the cast shadow on the floor that is created by the worm.
@gasyadocro
I usually used multiply layer, so I have forgot about this kind of value choosing. But I remember now! And it’s fun when succeed.
Dorian Iten
Nice! Good work! I agree with Félicia, the face is a nice touch as well :D
Félicia Gagnon
Nice job! Love the flat smiley face on one end. xD
Tony Vu
3yr
My worm is munching on the floor :0
Jean-François (Jeff) Durix
Here is my HTB worm that looks a bit worried. Finding the half way in traditional medium is a pretty arbitrary exercise. I looks easier to achieve in digital but have not tried it yet
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