How to Draw a Realistic Modern Chair in Photoshop

Learn how to create this realistic modern chair using the Pen and Smudge tools. This tutorial will show you several useful painting and drawing techniques that can be used in other Photoshop drawings.

Preview of Final Results

How to Paint a Realistic Modern Chair Photoshop Tutorial

Step 1

Start by making a new image (File->New) with 640 px (Width) X 480 px (Height) dimension. You can see the exact settings bellow.

Step 2

Select the Gradient Tool (G) from the tools.

Create a new gradient using white (#FFFFFF) and light grey (#C3C3C3) colors. Use the same setting as it´s shown bellow.

Into the "Background" layer apply the gradient. You should obtain something like in the next picture.

Step 3

Select the Pen Tool (P) and make a path like in the picture below.

Make a new layer (press Ctrl + Shift + N or you can go to Layer > New > Layer). Rename the layer to "Base". You can rename a layer by pressing right click on it , then selecting "Layer properities" option and in the "Name" box you can enter what name you prefer. Fill the path with a dark gray color. I used #383838 grey.

Step 4

Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise... and set the dialogue as you can see below.

Step 5

In the "Base" layer , make a selection like in the following picture using the Lasso Tool (L).

From the Tools menu , select the Dodge Tool (O) with the indicated settings :
• Master Diameter : 108 px
• Range : Highlights
• Exposure : 69%

Use the Dodge Tool (O) and add some highlights in the indicated places. You can see where on the picture below.

Step 6

Grab the Lasso Tool (L) and make another selection with similar shape as it´s shown on the picture below.  Then go to Select > Modify > Feather ... (it may vary in different versions of Photoshop). Set the Feather Radius on 10 pixels.

Add more highlights in the selection using the Dodge Tool (O).

Then go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur... Set the value Diameter on 2.4 pixels and press OK.

Step 7

Select the Blur Tool (R) with the settings as shown below.

Use the Blur Tool (R) in the indicated places.

Step 8

Make another selection using the Lasso Tool (L) and then make the selection smoother with Feather as in the previous step.

Select the Burn Tool (O) with following settings.

Add some shadows using the Burn Tool (O) like in the picture below.

Step 9

Create a new layer. Rename the layer to "Strokes".

From the Tools Menu select the Brush Tool (B) with these settings:
• Master Diameter: 3px
• Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
Use the Pen Tool (P) and create a path like in the picture below. Right click on it and select "Stroke Path" option

Step 10

After you’ve pressed Stroke Path, check the "Simulate pressure" box and press OK.

You should obtain a stroke like in the next picture.

Use the Smudge Tool (R) and smudge the created stroke. Decrease the opacity of the "strokes" layer to 50%.

Duplicate the layer "strokes" (right click on it and select Duplicate Layer) and place it in the indicated places (you can see them in the picture below where the red lines shows). Merge the duplicated layers in one (Ctrl + click on the layers you want to merge and then the right click on these layers and select Merge Layers).

Step 11

Make a new layer and rename it to "Stroke 2". Select the Pen Tool (P) and make a path like in the picture below.

Add a 3 px wide white stroke (with Simulate Pressure ON). You should get something like this.

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur... and set the Radius on 1 px.

Step 12

Add more strokes using the same technique as it the step 11.

Use the Pen Tool (P) and create a path like in the picture below.

Add a 3px wide white stroke (with Simulate Pressure ON). You should have something like on the picture below.

Decrease the opacity of it to 80%.

Step 13

Make a new layer and rename it to "interior". Grab the Gradient Tool (G) and fill it like in the picture below with #5C5960 gray color.

Step 14

From the Tools Menu select the Burn Tool (O). Set the Diameter of the brush on 52 px, Range on Highlights and Exposure on 50%. Add some shadows as it´s circled in the picture below.

Step 15

Pick up the Dodge Tool (O). Set the Diameter of the brush on 30 px, Range on Highlights and Exposure on 70%. Add some highlights similarly as on the picture below.

Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. Set the value Brightness on -11 and Contrast on 61. Press OK.

Step 16

Make a new layer and rename it to "bottom part".  Make a selection using the Lasso Tool (L) as on the image below.

Fill the selection with #737E84 gray color.  Go to Blending Options > Gradient Overlay. (The button Blending Options is on the bottom part of the Layers palette.)

Make following settings.

Click on the preview of Gradient and set it as you can see bellow.

After you applied the gradient you should have something like in the following picture.

Step 17

Pick up the Dodge Tool (O). Set the Diameter on about 30 px, Range on Highlights and Exposure on 70%. Dodge the "bottom part" of the layer.

Step 18

Make another new layer and add a shape like in the picture below using the color # 9DA2A6.

Go to Blending Options > Gradient Overlay. Click on the preview of Gradient and set is as bellow.

After this step you should have something like in the next picture.

Step 19

Make a new layer above the "Background" layer and using the Pen Tool (P) make a path like in the picture below.

Fill the created path with a gray color (# 6E7D82).

Step 20

Use the Lasso Tool (L) and make a selection like in the picture below.

Grab the Burn Tool (O). Set the Diameter of the brush on 50 px, Range on Highlights and Exposure on 50%. Add some shadows like in the next picture.

Step 21

Make a new layer and name it "bottom stroke". Select the Pen Tool (P) and create a path like in the next picture.

Add a 2 px dark gray color stroke.

Use the Eraser Tool (E) and erase the excess.

Step 22

Make a new layer and name it "white bottom stroke". Use the Pen Tool (P) and create a path like in the next picture.

Add a 2px light grey stroke.

Use the Erase Tool (E) and erase some parts like on the picture bellow.

Step 23

Repeat the steps 21-22 at the left of the bottom part. Then make following selection using the Lasso Tool (L).

Select the Dodge Tool (O). Set the Diameter of the brush on 50 px, Range on Shadows and Exposure on 30%.
Add some highlights in the selection like in the picture below.

Step 24

Add a small shadow using the Burn Tool (O) in the selection.

Repeat the step 23 for the left part too.

Step 25

Make another selection using the Lasso Tool (L).

Add some shadows using the Burn Tool (O) on the sides of the selection.

Step 26

Make a new layer and name the layer "bottom stroke 2 ". Make a path using the Pen Tool (P).

Add a 2px wide white stroke.

Use the Eraser Tool (E) at the top and bottom of the stroke like in the picture below.

Now go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur... and set Radius on 1 px. Press OK.

Step 27

Make a new layer and place it above the "Background" layer. Make a path using the Pen Tool (P) similar as it´s shown in the picture below.

Grab the Gradient Tool (G) and fill the path with a dark gray color.

Go to Blending Options > Bevel and Emboss... and make following settings.

Duplicate the layer created during this step, flip it horizontally and place it like in the picture below.

Step 28

Make another new layer (Ctrl+Shift+N) and create another dark gray shape like in the next picture.

Click on the layer created at the step 27, right click on it and select Copy Layer Style.

Click on the "Layer 7" an paste the layer style.

Duplicate the layer , flip it and place it like in the picture below.

Step 29

Make a new layer and name it "shadow ". With the Pen Tool (P) make a path as seen below.

Add 3 pixels wide dark gray stroke (Right click > Stroke Path).

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur... aand set the Diameter on 3 px. Press OK.

Step 30

Now duplicate all the layers which create the bottom part of the chair and place them into a new group called "Second chair".

In this group select "Layer 5" and make following selection using the Lasso Tool (L).

Use the Smudge Tool (R) and smudge like in the picture below.

Step 31

Smudge the white stroke too.

Add some shadows using the Burn Tool (O) on the sides.

Step 32

Make a new layer (Ctrl+Shift+N) and name it "Top part".

Select the Rounded Rectangle Tool (U) with following settings.

Add a gray shape like in the picture below.

Step 33

From the Tools menu select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M).

With the "top part " layer selected make following selection.

Press Delete key from your keyboard.

Repeat it at the bottom part too.

Step 34

Select the Burn Tool (O) and set the Diameter of the brush on 26 pixels, Range on Highlights and Exposure on 36%. Use the Burn Tool (O) to add some shadows at the bottom.

Step 35

Pick up the Dodge Tool (O). Set the Diameter of the brush on 29 pixels, Range on Midtones and Exposure on 30%. Add some highlights at the top part of "top part" layer.

Step 36

Make a new layer and name it "top part stroke". With the Pen Tool (P) make following path.

Add a 3px wide white stroke (Simulate Pressure ON ) like in the picture below.

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur... and set the Radius on 1pixel. Press OK. Decrease the opacity of the "top part stroke" layer to 70%.

Step 37

Add another stroke on the side of the little chair.

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.... and set the Radius on 1 pixel.

Decrease the opacity of the "top part stroke" layer to 70%.

Duplicate the stroke created at the the beginning of this step. Flip it and place it like in the picture below.

Final Results