Customizing your ride can be a lot of fun for those of you who are into that sort of thing. In today’s tutorial we will demonstrate how to create some custom rims for your ride and then show what they would look like if overlaid on top of an image of a car. Let’s get started!

This tutorial was prepared in collaboration with Radu Matei.

Step 1 – Introduction

The main tool that we will use is Pen tool (P) to create selections, as it is a much more versatile tool than the lasso tool. It can be tricky to use the first couple of times, but with practice it turns into a very handy tool. I use 0.3 feather when creating selections, and have the anti-aliased button checked, so no jagged edges appear.

Step 2

Start by loading up a sketch, and create a new blank layer (Command/Ctrl + Shift + N). Start tracing it with the Pen tool (P). For this, set the Brush tool (B) to 2px and black color. Select the Pen tool (P) and start tracing the lines. Don’t try doing too complicated shapes, just take your time and do it in small steps. After every line, right-click and select Stroke Path. Select from the cascade window Brush tool (B).

Step 3

You should have something like this in the end (I’ve color-coded different parts of the wheel, so everything looks clearer).

Step 4

Start by selecting the rim. Create a new layer and fill the selection with a dark grey (I’m going to make it dark steel, but if you want a stainless steel color, use a lighter grey). Move the sketch layer on top of this layer, so you can see the lines. Select the Brush tool (B), and set it to about 1000px, white color, with a fuzzy brush preset. Select the rim layer contents (Command/Ctrl + click on it’s thumbnail). Brush alongside the lower edge of the selection, like this. Following the images you should reach the same result.

Step 5

Trace the outer part of the rim with the Pen tool (P). Select the rim layer contents again and then, using the pen tool, right click and select Make Selection. Set the feather to 3 and Subtract selection. Use the same technique as previously to brush alongside the selection, only this time use black in the lower part and white in the upper one. You should get something like this.

Step 6

Trace the inner part of the rim now, select the rim layer again, and Make Selection, using a 2px feather and Intersect with Selection option. Gently brush with white on the top, and black on the bottom, alongside the selection.

Step 7

We’ll start adding some light reflections on the rim. Start by creating a New Layer, then select the Brush tool (B) and set it to white, 7px and select the fuzzy brush. Select the pen tool, and start tracing some curves. Right click, select Stroke Path, set it to Brush tool (B), only this time tick simulate pressure. Now there is a fading line instead of the path. Select the Eraser tool (E), Set it to 100px and about 25% opacity, with a fuzzy preset and start erasing some of the line, so that it fades even more slowly. You should end up with something like this.

Step 8

Start brushing the inner rim. Create a New Layer beneath the other rim layer, and repeat the shadow brushing technique – select the area, fill it up with dark grey, and brush with the big brush with black along the upper part, and with white along the lower one. Add light reflections on the lower part, in the reflections layer. After you’re done, you should have something like this. (editor：admin)