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alaska-is-a-husky β Stop Smudge Tool Abuse
Published: 2009-11-02 00:23:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 8713; Favourites: 218; Downloads: 67
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Please, think of the smudge tool.Related content
Comments: 93
i don't really use the smudge tool that much because i don't really know how to use it ^Ο^`
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Hi I'm new here, and I just got a Wacom. I'm use to using traditional mediums, but digital art is so beautiful. The problem is, I abuse the smudge tool...I know that's the problem because all my pictures have this nasty blurry look. The thing is a crisp line scares me, and I'm not entirely sure how to color and shadow without using the damn thing.
Any one have any tips or tutorials they can recommend? 
TLDR: HELP ME STOP ABUSING MY SMUDGE TOOL!!!!!
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i suggest cel shading
outline the shadows and highlights
they should be 1 layer above the colour
don't use grey or black for shading/highlights!
use a very light pink, purple or blue and set the blending mode to "multiply"
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I'm mostly using it for my digital art class, and am starting to use it to create flames or to help with blending. :3
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i love the smudge tool and use it in all my digital drawings^^
i donΒ΄t know why so many people hate it and
often say "no i donΒ΄t use it! i never smudge!"
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I sometimes overuse the smudge tool, for like, two of my art pieces they look like pieces of shit. But I don't use gimp or photoshop a lot, anyway
so...
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I am the world's only colored-pencil user.
I have no need for the smudge tool.
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I like using colored pencils too, but rarely. I just like using a plain pencil, right now I'm experimenting with pastels for a project.
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i dont have a tablet unfortunately, so i do indeed use the smudger for certain things, usually only for forum signatures if people request that style... cant think of anything i would use it for in an actual painting, especially if i were to pick up a Wacom...
should make the "Anti-stamps Stamp"
got one for everything else, after all
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Oh yes, just what I was looking for xD
I hate smudge tool! Smudgy drawing looks so crappy ;A;
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im getting a tablet XD now i dont have to use it
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Lately I have actually forgotten completely about the smudge tool... I should try incorporating it into my digital work again and see what happens.
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Indeed, poor little thing
I personally almost never use it: if drawing fur, I draw each stroke by hand (which does make me go slightly mad, admittedly 
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Some people over use it. -.-'
I use it reasonably.
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I... concur. The smudge tool IS there for a reason and admittedly I use it often in my digital art, BUT I know HOW to use it. Most people just use it to be using...
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abuse my a** smuge tool or dodge maybe with the effects not those tools
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What about convolve tool abuse!
I'm guilty of that.
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I abuse the tool because I actually don't know how to use photoshop all that well, and have yet to just sit and explore it for while.... *shame*
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I hardly ever use it, but when I do, it's only a little so I guess it wouldn't be counted as abuse XD
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I've definitely seen mega burn and dodge tool rape (and do that when I'm super lazy) but I haven't really seen anything bad with the smudge tool.
I use the smudge tool all the time gosh I really hope I'm not abusing it : O And it's entirely not out of laziness I spend usually 8+ hours on a single picture.
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The only thing keeping me from using it, is that for some reason it hates me (and makes my computer lag like there is no god)
...Im kind of happy i cant use it o_o
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PFff, I can think of a picture that has horrible smudge and dodge/burn rape in it xD
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I use the smudge tool on occasion; a low setting just to make things smoother. But I hate the dodge and burn tools with a burning passion. They're so... gross looking. D8
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All my smudgy fur looks like crap LOL. I over use the smudge tool sometimes.... alot.
Cause I'm lazy and I procrastinate so I never look up tutorials for fur. I did once but never found one that had the results I was looking for.
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I abuse the smudgetool. I don't use it for the purpose of making something look realistic. I DO /NOT/ have a realistic style. I have a detailed cartoony style.
Here's an example (try not to focus on the head... so many mistakes...): [link]
Granted, i'm nowhere near "there" yet. But i think it can be a great technique used properly. I.e. Fur does NOT have just one solid color with a variety of different shades... Red fur is likely to have Black, White, Red, brown, and posibly gold all mixed for the red, all with various different shades of each color.
Is this exactly the kind of crap y'all hate, or are there really good examples of proper use of smudge for fur?
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I'm sorry! D:
I never learned how to shade another way!
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Smudge is good for water and some fur but when you smudge the SHIT out of a picture or do it POORLY with like a size 40 brush, then the picture's just about good enough to flush down the toilet.
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Sadly, I over-use this tool. :<
I dun mean to...I use it to make fur, because I feel it's the best way I can.
I dun mean to rape this tool! D:
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I think a lot of beginners use it as a bit of a shortcut; I know I fooled around with it when I first got Photoshop. The important thing is to learn how to use it in moderation (if at all) and not rely on it as a crutch. There are a couple of good fur tutorials here on DA you should look up- if I have time I'll see if I can find them for you :>
Fur is something that takes a while to get the hang of, but practice makes perfect as they say.
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I'll try to look some of them up.
Fur is jus' so hard to get the right details on it, and I automatically think "SMUDGE. YEAH."
I'm trying not to rely on it and mess around with other tools.
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The Blur tool is NOT an excuse for poor blending. Thankyouverymuch.
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I know a lot of graphic designers who really do abuse the smudge tool.
I had my fair share of smudge abuse to be honest.
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lol. Suddenly, using the smudge tool for fur makes it "realistic". WTF
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This person's gallery is a whole abuse of it all [link]
Or I think XD
God I love this stamp, I'll use it :3
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I used allot of smudge here [link] it doesn't look that bad does it?
hehe yeah ok it looks pretty terrible. but I'm lazy at backgrounds.
I got over the burn tool though years ago
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Compared to a lot of stuff I've seen that's actually not bad at all- you make it look less obvious and more painterly than somebody who uses the tool only on default or high settings. It's a little soft compared to some of the other elements in the picture, but for the subject matter I think it works.
I'm horribly lazy when it comes to backgrounds too :<
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Should make a 'I'm lazy with backgrounds' DA stamp ^.^ half of DA would be using it.
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Very true ;>
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the other half would be photographers >
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Precisely, that's what opacity adjustments, the option to create your own brushes and careful use of some of the filters are for.
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This is...the most brilliant stamp ever.:A Though sometimes I tend to really ass rape the burn tool but szdgasgdsf
I hate smudge whores.
It makes the image look cheaply done, and that you don't know how to use photoshop right. ><
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Overuse of the smudge tool just makes things... blurry and hard to look at if you ask me :\ Smudged fur in particular can be a major eyesore.
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