A Rat As Chinese New Year Zodiac For 2008
January 8th, 2008 in Designing, Tutorials by kailoonChinese New Year is coming next month. It is Rat year for year 2008 for Chinese zodiac. So, I do a tutorial on how to create a rat. It can be use as a newsletter as well. Let’s start then.
Step 1
First of all, you may need some drawing skill in using Pen Tool. Anyway, it doesn’t matter if you really wish to learn. Since it is a simple artwork, so, I didn’t sketch on paper. Draw out the shape as shown below with the color given. That is actually a color code. You can easily find the correct color by inserting the number given into the color picker window.

Step 2
Then the mouth with the color given. remember to rename the layers you created for a easier modification later on.

Step 3
This is a bit tricky but I think it won’t make you stop here. It is actually not that hard. Just draw out the shape first and then double click on the created layer thumbnail to pick the correct color.

Step 4
Here is the ears. Watch carefully the animation steps shown below. You need to draw out the ear shape first. Then only create the shadow part. To create a clipping mask, select the ear_darker layer and press CTRL + ATL + G or you can hold down the ALT key and click between the layers you wish to be masked.

Step 5
Then the eyes, follow the steps shown below.

Step 6
Tail and nose…

Step 7
Again, for the shadow. You need to use the masking method.

Step 8
hand, here you may need to zoom in by pressing CTRL + + to draw the tiny part.

Step 9
Draw it’s teeth.

Step 10
Well, the basic shape is done so far. Now, we add some shades for it to make it look more real and give it some color tones. Pick the soft 175 pixel brush and set the foreground color to #000000 or black color. Create a new layer above the lowest shape layer you created in the first step. For me, I name it as body. Mask the layers as shown below and change the shade layer blend mode to soft light with 75% opacity. Now, simply click once at the bottom left of the stage to get the result. You can also resize the brush by pressing “[” (reduce) and “]” (enlarge).

Step 11
After you get your desired effect. Now, select the brush tool but this time with a 4 pixel hard brush. Press F5 to bring out the Brush Preset then checked the Shape Dynamics and Scattering. Pick up the Pen Tool and select path. You can refer the setting as below:-

Step 12
Create a new layer above all layers and start draw the outline of the mouse. You can learn the line drawing skill from my previous tutorial about Paint Rukawa. Below is the workflow:-

Ste p 13
Tadaaa! Here is the final art work. Simply add a some text there and here is the Lucky Mouse for Year 2008! For those who don’t know mandarin. The text read as “Gong Xi Fa Cai” which mean “May You HaveA Prosperous New Year”

This tutorials show you:-
- [ to reduce brush size and ] to enlarge brush size.
- CTRL ++/– to zoom in and zoom out
- F5 to bring out the brush preset
- CTRL + ATL + G to make masking
Great tutorial. I like this post thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Mark
Thank you for your explanation it,s very good.
Very indepth tutorial, Thanks
Ahh Really osm tutorial thanks for sharing learned so many new things…:) i made the same RAT in illustrator..yeah this is really very cute Rat as Ratatouille movie….the chef Rat..:) thanks looking for some new tutorials..
Thanks Alot :)
Keep Sharing
how about a mause or adana web tasarim
Sorry I don’t know a lot about Joomla
Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
clipping path
哎呀 è€ä¹¡å•Š
I love the expression on the face of the rat.He looks so cheeky.
The tutorial is very well presented.
Huh? registration off? I still can register. Goto Gravatar and try again :) you will receive an email after registered.
how adding avatar me?
Tried to register, but registration is off
Hi Kailoon!
Oh, no time :(
Animater :
Hello, long time no see :) Thanks!
Thank u very much for this lesson)
thx for this creative posting..
now I have a cute article for my school mags :D
gong xi fat choi ! ^^
Real very good lesson!
Cool ! All the best man :)
So glad to hear you finally getting out of that office and into a new job…
We only hope it is something more creative that you will now be doing…?
We are extremely busy at the moment, working on some really big contracts and proposals with some very interesting work on the horizon that we hope to soon be able to share with everyone in the community…
Take care and keep up the hard work! :-)
NI-LIMITS :
Hi there, long time no see :) thanks man, recently quite busy .. you may noticed not much updates in my blog. New job next month :) How about you guys? everything going smooth? Wish you all the best also :)
levian :
hahah..you really like movie a lot :)
lasilasi :
Hi!! dragon.. hmm…I think i will do that :) maybe this year :)
looking forward to next year for yr dragon kekeke
oh yeah~ she did !! she said “Movie–the one with the chef rat or something” .. haha. guess i’m too much a movie addict to know the details .. *wink* :D
Awesome new design and excellent new style of tutorials (with downloads)…
Huge steps in the right direction and all the very best of luck to you!
How’s work?
Eunice :
Hi Eunice, thanks and hope can share more with you:)
Adam :
Haha…
LeeChien :
Then you can start from here :)
wow.. really nice… i dunoe how to use photoshop… hmmm..
That’s a mighty cute rat! :)
MerDuriaN :
ohh…Practice make perfects :P
levian :
Haha…å®èŒ¹ also said that ..hmm :P
first of all, love the new layout !! the banner rocks !! second of all, the rat reminds me of ratatouille’s remy. haha. you’re good !!
:D
I tried to follow your tutorial.. but then I don’t even know how to use pen tool -.-
jayhan :
Hello, I visited your blog too. Multimedia Designer huh? Must be very versatile skills right? How is the life to work in a Game Production Company :)
Can show me some of your works for your company? What games you have?
hi there, ur illustration is fresh, i like it! Nice theme you have there
hi kailoon, can u help me about the watercolor pro?i state my pro there ady. hope u have free time to check it out.TQ!
Sarah :
??
Linda :
Dragon … this year is rat oh….dragon … wait next yew years lo :P
Miao :
Cat not include in the zodiacs right?
curryegg :
I did that for wordpress so far. Thanks! :)
seraphangel :
-_-
胖胖熊 :
Hi there, long time no see :P Thanks! Sure you can try it out :P
It is so cute!
I want try it
Oh boy…
You’re so good in graphic!
And I like your new template… of course the header too…
Cool!
Do you have a service in creating template for a blogger or bloggers? I think you’re really potential in doing it… Do tell me if you have this service… ;)
=( ……Pig can’t then cat loo…i want cute cute cat~
I love this! :D … Could you make a new year dragon one? :D
:-( that is sad
å®èŒ¹ :
Welcome :) glad that you like this theme. Haha …New Year bang :P ohh ~ ya …I know which movie you mention. Hm…ya hor… really a bit look like :P
Sean :
Welcome!
Steven :
Thanks friend :)
Cheerfulday :
Monkey ….
Cometh :
Halal ….
Miao :
-_-
babyfiona :
Hi, oh my god…now is sheep ….
OMG! So cute! your layout is also very cute ler wei! I want a sheep !! Mmmmeeeeekkk!
ya..pig…i want pig
How about drawing a pig? A cute one? =p
How about drawing monkey ?
Wah…your design getting better and better. keep it out.. i like it..hehe
Finally….You are alive…..after so long of absence……
=P
Good one…..Cool….
Yeah, I like the line part which you post previously~ Great post ya~ thanks to share.
First one to comment!!!
New design!!! I like it! So new and fresh! :)
WOAH!!!
Starting the New Year with a BANG is it? :D
This post reminds me of the Rat Movie–the one with the chef rat or something~~ :P