Working with objects that have different perspectives or are in motion is quite difficult.
In this tutorial, I will show you a trick that you can use to draw small objects or simple dynamic scenes in Photoshop.
Attention: The tool we are going to use is available in version CS5 and higher.
Part 1. Create the foundation
Step 1
Create a new document. To do this, press the key combination Ctrl + N, and then enter the dimensions for the new canvas 600 x 600 pixels.
Activate on the toolbar Ellipse 
(Ellipse Tool). Then draw a smooth, black circle. In order to get an even figure when drawing, you need to create an outline while holding the key Shift.
Step 2
Duplicate the circle layer (Ctrl + J). Then open the window Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation (Ctrl + U)). Increase parameter value Brightness (Lightnes) to 100.
Step 3
Reduce the size of the upper circle. To do this, you need to go to the transformation function by pressing the combination Ctrl + T. In order not to lose the proportions of the figure and its position on the canvas, when transforming, press and hold the key combination Shift + Alt.
Step 4
On the white dot layer, press the key combination Ctrl + Alt + G – This allows you to quickly apply a layer with a dot as a clipping mask to a layer with a black circle.
Step 5
Switch to the tool Pen 
(Pen Tool (P)). The settings for this tool are shown below:
Step 6
Create a new layer on top of the black circle layer (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N). With active tool Pen (Pen Tool (P)), click on the white dot. Hold key Shift and make another click over the black circle area. This way you can quickly draw a straight line.
Step 7
Repeat the previous step and draw several bright lines, as shown in the example below.
Step 8
Create a new layer above the layer with a black circle (under the layers with colored lines). Activate the tool Rectangle
(Rectangle Tool (U)). In the tool settings, set the drawing mode to “Shape layers”, set the color to gray. Then draw a rectangle on the left side of the canvas, as shown in the screenshot below.
Draw additional gray rectangles of different brightness from the center to the edges (the left half of the circle will be responsible for the light, the right for the shadow) and place them over the entire area of the circle. Focus on the example below:
Step 9
All layers with gray rectangles are merged into a single layer. To do this, select the desired layers and press the key combination Ctrl + E.
Then, blur the merged layer with the gray rectangles: Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur (Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur). Select the value for the blur radius at your own discretion (you should get a smooth transition between colors).
Step 10
Select all layers related to the black circle. Then press the key combination Ctrl + E to merge the layers into one. Your layouts should be similar to the one shown in the image below.
Standing on a layer with a merged circle, press the key combination Ctrl + T, and then zoom out the shape.
Part 2. Downloading the Mix Brush
Step 1
On the toolbar, find Mix Brush 
(Mixer Brush). This icon is hidden in the Brush Tool. Click on the mini triangle on the icon and in the submenu select the desired tool.
Step 2
Go to setting tool options. The necessary parameters you can see below in the image. Set in the tool settings Dry, Heavy Load (Dry, a lot of paint). Pay attention to whether your function is active. “All layers“(Sample All Layers). If this function is checked, uncheck.
Step 3
Tool Mix Brush (Mixer Brush) uses a library of brushes, just like a regular brush. From the brush set, select a regular round brush with a hard edge. Select the diameter of the brush so that it matches the diameter of the previously created circle.
Hold key Alt and click on the circle to define it as a drawing sample.
So we loaded the sample for Mix Brushes (Mixer Brush). Create a new layer and try to draw a curve on it.
Step 4
Now you need to adjust the brush so that the curve looks smoother.
Press the key F5 and go to the settings of the characteristics of the brush. Parameter value Intervals (Spacing) set to minimum.
Now check how the customized Mixer Brush Tool works.
Part 3. Draw shapes that resemble pipes
Although my lesson was concise, I think you have already appreciated the strength of the tool Mix Brushes (Mixer Brush).
Please note that depending on the direction in which you are drawing, the type of the stroke will depend, it gives us the opportunity to draw shapes with a perspective or shapes in motion.
This is how to draw in 3D!
Remember that Photoshop will not create soft corners and transitions for you. So the result of drawing is completely dependent on your hand movements.
Do not forget to experiment with the settings of the brush. This will help you to draw more complex objects, for example, by changing the parameters Form Dynamics (Shape Dynamics) and Minimum Diameter (Minimum Diameter) you can draw the silhouette of a snake.
If you like the brush created in this tutorial, you can easily save it. To do this, go to: Window > Parameter Sets for Tools (Window> Tool Presets) and click on the “Create New Set” icon.
Here is such a magic!
You can use the technique described above so many times that I don’t even want to limit your imagination to your ideas!
I hope, the lesson will be useful for you and you have spent time with advantage!
