If you are designing objects on a computer program, the best way to do it is to first sketch line drawings of your object. These can be done by hand or with a computer drawing program right on top of that rose gif. Some people use a video game console as an example: If you want to make a new design for an Xbox 360 controller, you could draw the “Xbox 360 controller” on paper and then scan it into Photoshop or other drawing program.

There are different types of art that people use when designing objects. The most common types of art are called “vector art” and “raster graphics.

1. Vector art

Vector art is the best type of art to use when designing. “Vector” means “movement” and is what makes vector art good and different from raster graphics. When you start drawing, always start by drawing a shape in simple lines called a “vector”. These vectors can have any shape or size: a circle, triangle, square, rectangle, or even irregular ones. You can even draw them on top of each other. After you create your first vector shape, make copies of that vector over and over again in different colors or techniques to make different colors/shapes. Then, you will put all of those vectors together to make a picture. This is called “creating your vector art.”

To do this for your virtual object, create a simple sketch of the object in pencil or a drawing program on the computer. Then scan it into an image file and rescan it into Photoshop. From there, use one of the tools discussed below to make your own unique vector art.

2. Raster graphics

Unlike vector art, raster graphics are pictures that are made out of pixels (short for ‘picture element’). The most common types of raster graphics are GIF and JPEG files on the computer. When you make a new virtual object, start by drawing a small sketch of it in pencil or a drawing program on the computer. Then scan your image into an image file and rescan it into Photoshop. From there, use one of the tools discussed below to make your own unique raster graphics.

To decide which tool(s) you will use when designing your virtual object, first decide what kind of art you will be making (vector art or raster graphics). Then, use the two quizzes below to decide which tool(s) you will use.

3. Letters/Numbers

For some virtual objects you may want to put text on it. There are many different types of fonts that you can use. Below are the two most common types of fonts that are used in Photoshop and other computer programs:

To do this for your virtual object, use the tool Make Your Own… to create your own unique letters or numbers in a raster graphics program. This will give your object more detail and make it look better.

4. Textures

Textures can be used with vector art or raster graphics to add more details to objects, too. To do this, edit each pixel that makes up the texture picture on a computer program such as Photoshop or Illustrator (or other software). Then, use the tool Make Your Own… to duplicate a texture of your choice onto the object you drew above.

5. Brushes & Shapes

You can also make objects look more realistic by making them look like they have a skin and cloth on them. There are many different types of brushes and shapes in Photoshop that can be used for this. You can create your own unique brushes and shapes from scratch or from existing brushes or shapes that Photoshop already has. Use Make Your Own… to practice making brushes and shapes for your virtual object.

6. Colors

To make your virtual object look more realistic, you can change the colors of it. There are many different color palettes that you can choose from in Photoshop or Illustrator. Some of these contain a lot of colors and some just have a few. Make Your Own… can teach you how to use these different color palettes to make your virtual object look better.

7. 3D-Effect

You can add more realism to your virtual object by adding a 3D-effect to it. There are many different types of 3D-effects you can use, such as the stroke effect, the bulge effect, or the bevel effect. To do this for your virtual object, first create a simple shape on a computer program such as Photoshop and then learn how to use Make Your Own… to make an appropriate 3D effect for your object.

8. Light

To make your virtual object look more realistic, you can add light to it. First, edit a picture of light on a computer program such as Photoshop and then learn how to use Make Your Own… to “put” the light onto your virtual object.

9. Shadow

You can also make your virtual object look better by adding a shadow to it. It’s similar to adding the light discussed above, but you don’t need the light source in the picture that you edited – only the shadow of it is needed. Like before, use Make Your Own… to study how to make shadows for your virtual objects.