New to coloring...

[Hung like a horse]

Here's the original drawing I did:
http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/9/1 ... ae2a19.png[/img]


And here's the first draft of color.
http://img35.picoodle.com/img/img35/9/1 ... 626939.png[/img]

It's far from complete but I would just like to know whether I'm heading in the right direction or not.

 

[$t3v0]

The choice of colour is a nice choice, But what method are you using to shade? It looks like you're using a blue of some kind, Or using the same layer as the colour but using a different colour on a soft brush?

I'm probably wrong, But both methods of what I've said would produce the same results.

The best way to get accurate shading is to use vectors first, then blend them in over time.

Also, to get a perfect shade of the colour you're using, try this method ...

1. Highlight your colour layer and at the top, Select "Lock transparent pixels".

2. Duplicate that layer, Fill it with white and set the blend mode to "Muiltiply".

3. Take the original colour of the piece and on the layer we just made, paint away. You'll notice the colour is a dark shade of what we started with

(I hope you use PS :p)

~$t3v0

 

[Hung like a horse]

Hi again, Stevo.

I have no knowledge about coloring, I'm just following my instinct.

Here's how I do it:

1. I do the drawing itself (the linework)
2. I create a layer and put it under the linework
3. I color everything under the linework.

I don't actually use blue when coloring. I use different hues of the ''main'' color.

You're right, I am using the same layer as the color and a soft brush using different hues for the shading.

I have no idea what ''vector'' means but I'll look into it.

 

[$t3v0]

Did I say vector? Shit ... sorry! I've been doing them for the past week and it's all in my head.

I meant cell shading :p

 

[Sirc]

I'd refine the Linework a little more, it's clumpy and out of place in some parts. Try messing with the pen tool.

 

[Hung like a horse]

I'd refine the Linework a little more, it's clumpy and out of place in some parts. Try messing with the pen tool.

You're completely right.

I've messed around with the pen tool but I just can't get it to work properly.

 

[Sirc]

You're completely right.

I've messed around with the pen tool but I just can't get it to work properly.

I used to absolutely hate the pen tool. You just have to work with it and then once you learn it you get quicker with it, and it's quite simple. Here, quick tutorial of a process I like to use. You can see some results on my thread in this subforum.

All you need to do is create your points, and when you come to curves, you click and hold to bend your line.
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9356/pentool1oj9.jpg[/IMG]


After this Photoshop likes to assume how your line will bend depending on where you put this next point.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/406/pentool2ps7.jpg[/IMG]


This is dependent on one of the two lines that will be shooting out of your previously placed point.
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6159/pentool3pu3.jpg[/IMG]

Hold alt to move them. You want to be moving the one that doesn't alter your curved line (the one I circled in red), but instead just allows you to move that line itself. You'll notice if you hold alt and move the other line (the one not circled) it will move your previous bend. This will help you put it in a right spot so that you can predict the bending of your line by yourself.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5696/pentool4pg2.jpg[/IMG]

Like this. Let's say if I'm making some sort of 'evil' eye.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/2275/pentool5gz8.jpg[/IMG]

See how I altered that line down and to the left. The point you place, the line you create works to move toward that line. So that's how that bend is created by making just one point.

Now once you complete your basic shape for whatever you're doing you right click inside the shape with the pen tool and select Make Selection...
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6641/pentool8jv0.jpg[/IMG]
Click Ok.

Now you go to edit > fill and fill it with any color, you can paint it later. This should also be going on a different layer.

After you fill it, you have a number of choices. You can either set a stroke around that pen line, or make a separate pen selection and fill that section. I like to do it the second way so the lines are not all the same width and vary a little. Here's how.

You make pen points and bends INSIDE. (I didn't fill mine with color)
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3253/pentool6sx4.jpg[/IMG]
Then right click > make selection. Now you fill this with black, as it's your linework, and make sure it's on a different layer than the color.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4882/pentool7fm5.jpg[/IMG]

So now you have a linework on one layer, and a color on the other. Take the color layer, select it and select your magic wand. Click the color, thus selecting it. Now click the button below it that looks like a Japanese flag. The circle in the rectangle. This creates a mask, so when you color and shade it will not leave that selected area.

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/4741/pentool9mr1.jpg[/img]
And that's roughly the process I go through. If you do have any questions about it just ask.


Your rough work there is cartoony and I think this would work well.

 

[djzalzer]

To shade, I'd suggest making a layer above your coloring layer, set the mode to overlay and use a bark blue color for shadows, and a cream yellow for the highlights.

 

[Hung like a horse]

Wow that linework looks fantastic Sirc.

Hmm... ''overlay''... I realize there's loads (loads!) I don't know about photoshop.

 

[djzalzer]

it's the dropdown thing next to the layers palette.

 

[Ratty524]

I'd refine the Linework a little more, it's clumpy and out of place in some parts. Try messing with the pen tool.

... Man I need an updated Photoshop, I could never really fix my line work because the photoshop version I have (5.0 LE) doesn't have a pen tool. >_<

And... Nice tutorial, I could learn some things as well as Hung.

 

[Hung like a horse]

Hi again,

I'm working on a new monster and I once again would appreciate feedback.

I'm having a hard time giving the red star some dimensions, it looks dreadfully flat:

http://img40.picoodle.com/img/img40/6/1 ... 8184e1.png[/img]

Also, is the hair ok, do you like the highlight?

Don't mind the sribbles behind, they're just layers I use before tracing.

I've tried to clean up my linework since last time and I think (hope?) it shows.

 

[hayato]

i believe you are having a hard time giving your star more dimensions is because you're not using shadows, you're just using white glares on where you think the light sources come from. You need to add a bit of triangular shadows in there that flow with the star. then you will have some depth.

I personally think the stroke on the hair is just a tad bit too over the top. Give it a thinner stroke.

The line work looks much cleaner, however can be more crisp. still looks nice.

you could probably shade the green hat and give it more depth, and you're good to go.

decent work.

 

[Hung like a horse]

Thank you very much, Hayato, for taking the time to crit.

I will redo the hair.

The hat was not finished by a long shot, but I should've mentioned that in my first post.

I'll test some more with the stars by adding triangular shadows, as suggested.

To be frank, I feel like using the ''pen'' tool is not really drawing anymore... It wouldn't improve my drawing on paper say.

But you're right, it could be more crisp.