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Course 295 · Create course 24

Paint a Digital Still Life with Layers

Paint a small limited-palette still life in a free raster editor. Learn pixel canvas decisions, separately owned silhouettes, light/edge relationships and a reversible transparency-mask correction; inspect the actual export.

Before you start

Use a free local raster editor such as Krita and save native files locally.

Draw Everyday Objects with Line and Value See everything you’ll need

Free download · Original practice data · No external account required. Download the starter pack

What you’ll leave with

An original limited-palette still life in a free raster editor with named layers, controlled edges, a reversible mask, PNG export and native source.

Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.

Your project

Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.

Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.

  1. Get your materialsDownload practice filesSupplied practice cases, a blank working record, complete lesson instructions, and annotated worked examples.
  2. Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
  3. Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.
Course handbook

Know the route before you begin.

Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.

Who this is for

Learners age 14 and older, including adults; no paid account, current job, customer or outside participant is required.

Prepare before lesson one
  • Use a free local raster editor such as Krita and save native files locally.
  • Use the supplied original study plan/reference; no purchased assets required.
  • Paper planning can prepare the work but actual native operations must be labeled untested until performed.
Your final project

Finish with proof you can use.

An original limited-palette still life in a free raster editor with named layers, controlled edges, a reversible mask, PNG export and native source.

Save a project record in My Proof
See project checklist and review criteria

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

  • Create a limited-palette still life with named object layers.
  • Record canvas pixel dimensions and a stated light source.
  • Demonstrate different hard/soft edge relationships.
  • Hide and restore one region with a transparency mask.
  • Deliver native source, reopened full-canvas PNG and an honest revision/test note.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • Composition/value: large forms follow the named light and palette.
  • Layer ownership: objects remain separately editable.
  • Reversibility: mask hide/restore preserves source pixels.
  • Delivery: actual export matches the intended canvas and source.
Three ideas to help you along the way
Three useful ideas

The rules behind the steps.

01

Preserve edit structure

Keep the layered native source separate from the flattened export.

02

Control relationships

Large values and selected edges matter before texture.

03

Test the actual artifact

Reopen the delivered export and test mask restoration.

What do these words mean?
Key words

Key terms worth knowing.

Raster
An image representation built from pixels.
Compositing
Combining visible layer pixels in an order.
Transparency mask
A reversible visibility control attached to a layer.
Hard edge
An abrupt visual transition.
Native source
An editable document retaining application structure.
Your route

6 lessons.
One useful project.

Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.

  1. 1
    Up next

    Define the canvas and limited palette

    Set a raster study’s pixel dimensions and a palette with distinguishable values.

  2. 2
    35 min

    Block large shapes on separate layers

    Build separately editable object silhouettes with a traceable layer order.

  3. 3
    35 min

    Paint light and shadow relationships

    Add coherent form values on paint layers under one stated light source.

  4. 4
    35 min

    Control hard and soft edges

    Use selective hard/soft edge transitions to distinguish silhouette and form turning.

  5. 5
    35 min

    Revise with a reversible mask

    Hide and restore part of a painted layer using a transparency mask.

  6. 6
    35 min

    Export and inspect the painted study

    Deliver the native layered source and a checked flattened export with accurate test notes.

Use the tools

Tools to help you practice.

See all tools
ZIP · practice files

Paint a Digital Still Life with Layers practice files

Supplied practice cases, a blank working record, complete lesson instructions, and annotated worked examples.

Text worksheet

Your course project worksheet

A downloadable text worksheet with each lesson’s working output, space for your answers, and the shared final-project checklist. Save your own copy.

Source transparency

Sources and further study.

Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.

Krita official manual: Basic Concepts
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Read canvas, paint layer/compositing, color, selection and export boundaries in official 5.3 documentation; no native Krita session performed.

Access: Public page text or PDF was opened and read through the web reader on 2026-10-01; no signup required for reading.

Reuse: Linked for further study. All LifeStarter scenarios, samples, assets and assessments are original; no source exercises or artwork are copied.

Krita official manual: Transparency Masks
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Read actual mask creation and black-hide/white-reveal semantics; unavailable native editor check remains separate from local asset tests.

Access: Public page text or PDF was opened and read through the web reader on 2026-10-01; no signup required for reading.

Reuse: Linked for further study. All LifeStarter scenarios, samples, assets and assessments are original; no source exercises or artwork are copied.

Krita official manual: Common Workflows
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Read block-in/form/value workflow and layer guidance; no tutorial image copied or native application claimed tested.

Access: Public page text or PDF was opened and read through the web reader on 2026-10-01; no signup required for reading.

Reuse: Linked for further study. All LifeStarter scenarios, samples, assets and assessments are original; no source exercises or artwork are copied.

Ready when you are

Start with the first useful move.

You’ll always know what to do, what to make, and where to go next.

Start lesson one