Airbrush shading a sphere

Start with a new 640x480 file.

Make a new layer and fill a circular selection with white.

Tip – when making the selection hold down the shift key.

Then hold down the Alt key to center out.

Press the lock transparent pixels icon.

Deselect (Ctrl D)

Hit D for the default colors

(Black in the foreground.)

Make a new brush;

Base it on Soft round 100 pixels.

Set Other dynamics/Opacity Jitter to Fade

Turn on Airbrush

You can hit the new brush icon and name your brush:

Set the brush to a very low opacity:

Slowly build up with black to get something like this below,

If it starts getting “blobby” do a Surface Blur.

Tip – hit Ctrl F whenever you need to apply the blur again.

Use White if you need to re-cover any area.

Tip – Hit X for white to come into the foreground.