Stylization

Paintover

Painting on top of a 3D render or sketch

Also known as: Paint over · 3D paintover · Paintover render · Blockout paintover · Over paint feedback · Overpaint

Definition

A paintover is a painting made on top of an existing image, such as a 3D blockout render, a screenshot from the engine or a student's work, to change or improve the design. Concept artists paint over rough 3D scenes to add detail, lighting and mood quickly while keeping correct perspective. Art directors and mentors paint over screenshots and models to show corrections and ideas directly, which is why paintover feedback is common in art schools and game studios.

In production

When using it for concept, render the blockout with simple lighting, then paint on new layers to change values, colors, shapes and details, and keep the original underneath for reference. When giving feedback, paint on a separate layer and mark what changed and why. In production, a paintover of an engine screenshot is a quick way to show the target look to environment and lighting artists.