Coloring in Photoshop

ShadowFalcon · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 5:31 pm Post subject: Coloring in Photoshop

I'm new to this digital thing and all, finally getting into digital coloring due to luckylace222's Halloweeen contest. After working so ridiculously hard on photoshop, I'm sort of interested into getting more involved in the digital scene by coloring my linearts.

However, after all the work I put in on my contest entry, I was still slightly unsatisfied because of those horrendously obvious tiny white spots that plagued parts of the drawing I really could get to.

So, I was wondering if you guys had any good tips on technique to make coloring an image smoother.
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[img]http://g.bf3stats.com/pc/AmFmiov0/ChibiPotatoes.png[/img]
[img]http://g.bf3stats.com/pc/cod_leoki/ChibiPotatoes.png[/img]

luckylace222 · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:54 pm Post subject:

(I find it ironic that I am going to give CG advice when I myself have trouble with my PS all the time. ;-; )

It is great that the contest has gotten you to overstep some boundaries! You will find that once you master/can efficiently use digital tools, coloring fully and shading quickly can ensue!

Photoshop:
-To get rid of those little white specks, you could pull up the "tolerance" of your paint bucket tool (which is what I assume you used to color). I remember being frustrated with them the first time too.
- When using PS on scanned lineart, if the lineart is a little light, decrease the brightness and increase the contrast a little to bring it out. Or do a "Auto Smart Fix"
- To color shade art, use darker versions of your original color to make the "shadow" feel. Determining a side of the picture as the light source helps you shade greatly. Experiment with the dodge (lighten) and burn (darken) tool too

(Those are the basics I am thinking of. I know there are more. Feel free to ask about certain things. )

Here is a picture with captions of the PS tools just to make sure you know how to use them. There are a lot, not including the tools and menus on top, and LAYERS (shoot me now!), but once you use them enough and explore around, you will inevitably learn your favorite tools of trade.
[img]http://www.mediacollege.com/adobe/photoshop/tool/images/toolbox.gif[/img]

I would also like to lamely advertise a free painting progra called Open Canvas 1.1 that you can download. It is MUCH simpler than PS, and I have made great results with it (if you have a tablet, it is easier to use, but mouse is still good).

http://wistinga.online.fr/opencanvas/
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[size=10]“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” ~Theodore Roosevelt [/size]

ShadowFalcon · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:11 pm Post subject:

Thank you so much! Very Happy

I'll have to definitely utilize your advice the next time I work on coloring a lineart. :3

I'm really thinking about investing into a tablet, but I'm not exactly sure.
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[img]http://g.bf3stats.com/pc/AmFmiov0/ChibiPotatoes.png[/img]
[img]http://g.bf3stats.com/pc/cod_leoki/ChibiPotatoes.png[/img]

luckylace222 · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject:

I bought the generic Wacom Bamboo tablet for about 80 dollars in Circuit City (which became bankrupt, lol).

http://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Small-Pen-Tablet-Only/dp/B000V9T2JA

I got the small one because it is more compact, and the big ones can get tiring for the hands. :I -But if you have space on your table and money, go ahead and buy those! Just have MONEY. MONEY. MONEY. lol

Tell me how that new CG experiment pictures goes! You know what? Hows about you edit your Halloween contest picture? It is beautiful, but now that you are interested in using the deeper tools, hows about you make an edited version and send a link to here so we can give advice/critique? You have 2 days until the contest ends! If you like your digitally edited result, you could replace that with the original and get more points!
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[size=10]“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” ~Theodore Roosevelt [/size]

ShadowFalcon · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject:

Gah! That's so tempting, but I'm mega-busy until Wednesday. Sad

Huge paper due then. But I might play around with it later and due experimenting and such! :3

luckylace222 · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:29 pm Post subject:

A PAPER DUE.

UGH, NOW I HAVE TO DO HOMEWORK. CURSE YOUUUU!
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[size=10]“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” ~Theodore Roosevelt [/size]