I'm liking where this is going... maybe you could show us some of the outlines on this?

My monitors a little harsh atm, so can't make out if you're using just solid shapes or are you using gradients?

Btw, I highly recommend using Illustrator if you're really getting into this... scary to start with but you'll see the difference when you start using it

Learning Illustrator is one of my new year resolutions, though I do like PS quite a lot. I actually don't know how to show outlines... There's about 115 layers, mixture of solid and gradent, but mostly solid at very low opacities.

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^DCZed ~ The best thing in my life, I love you

I don't know if you can do it in PS actually :s - not used PS that much.

Back when I did vexels, I used to use Paintshop Pro and it took me a while to pluck up the courage to use AI, I found it intimidating if you know what I mean? Like OMG this is the industry standard program and I'm using a nub program... but so glad I made the switch over.

115 layers on just the lips? Geez! That is some work right there. So how far progressed are you on this at the moment?

I despise Paintshop Pro, I could never really understand it as an 'adult' program. Then again, I did only use it as a teenager at school so that image of it probably stuck. I do understand the intimidation of AI, which is why I am still using PS, despite owning AI CS3 for almost a year now. PS works well for me, the pen tool is nice and simple to use. It's comforting to vector with rather than a pain.

Yes, I do use an awful lot of layers, since I work with vecotr shape layers not raster layers; and I prefer to build up with many layers at about 5% opacity rather than use a few at higher opacities. Each to their own, no?

I'll be posting my next WIP of this one very soon, actually. I've been trying out a 'simple' look on the skin rather than a realism approach, but I've still managed to use over 100 layers so far

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^DCZed ~ The best thing in my life, I love you

I _so_ know where you're coming from... when I'm doing "realism" vectors I use a ton of layers at 5%, it's an insane and very time consuming way as you know, but I find it the most fulfilling don't you think?

Definitely.

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^DCZed ~ The best thing in my life, I love you