Some people asked me how to color drawings using digital programs, so I posted this tutorial to try to help people who have problems using Photoshop7.0. First, I dont´speak english ,sorry if there are SPELLING-GRAMMAR errors,
I will try to do my best to make this easy to understand.XD
Ok here we go:
Usually I work with a large image(around 3000-4000 pixels,500ppp resolution),it could be a problem for some computers, since it spends a lot of memory.You can use other resolution if you want,but it could be a bit harder to fix the mistakes done in the drawing.
Open your pic, then go to the menu Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast and adjust the bar until the lines look smooth and darker than the original. v
It's time to "fix" the lineart, (maybe when you were inking your drawing , you accidentally made a line where it shouldn't be or it's really dirty, for example) ,just use the eraser to get rid of those annoying details.
Your lineart is clean now; there are two things you can do:
(You should know Photoshop is all about layers by now...)
I like the black lineart ,if you think the same , just leave the lineart in the Background Layer, then for the color let's make a new layer in "Multiply Mode" Menu>Layer>New>Layer.You can change the layer mode here: v
Or...
If you'd like add color to the lineart, do this:
Select the Background layer and go to the menu>Layer>New>Layer From Background. This should copy your pic in a new layer (it'll be called Layer0)
Then make a second layer, select it and go to the menu>Layer>New>Background From Layer.This should leave the Background in blank .
Now you have your drawing in a new layer above the Background . See v
Once done, select the "layer0"(where is the lineart),then in the layers window go to "channels", then select RGB and click where says "Load channel as selection" v
This will select all the lineart, and should look like this: v
Now, make sure you are selecting the layer0 and press "Supr" in the keyboard.This will delete all the white parts,leaving just the lineart, (it makes transparent images) .You'll notice the color of the lineart is a bit decreased ,to fix that click in the little square next to "Lock:" and use a brush/pencil to color the lineart (don't be afraid to go all over the pic, "lock trasparent pixels option" makes you modify only the lineart), v
There you have it, your pic without white parts ,now you can add new layers for the color "below" the Lineart layer.
Easy, isn't it?
I suppose most of you have used MSpaint, so paint a drawing with Photoshop is not really a difficult task.
In a new layer we will add the base color of the drawing.
This is the way to do it ;if your drawing is made with simple lines like mine, you can use the "Magic Wand tool" to select the area to paint,then go to the menu Select>Modify>Expand and there change the values to 1-3 pixels(depends of how large is your image), accept and fill the area you want to paint with the "paint bucket tool".
If the lineart is not well defined in your pic to use the "Magic Wand", you can use the "Polygonal Lasso Tool" to select the area, (it takes some time but be patient)then fill it with color. v
Now it's time to add the shading, you need to chose a light resource(from where the light is coming) ,based on this ,you'll be able to say where to shade and where not. (This is a Photoshop tutorial I don´t enter in details in how to shade) .Using the same technique to color the drawing;using the "Polygonal lasso tool", you need to select by yourself the areas that need a dark color to create the shade effect. v
I think that´s all,maybe you would like to add some shines with the highlights tool, or something. The background it´s up to you, just be creative , you can use filters ,custom brushes,etc
This is the result:
Any questions?
I will try to do my best to make this easy to understand.XD
Ok here we go:
Usually I work with a large image(around 3000-4000 pixels,500ppp resolution),it could be a problem for some computers, since it spends a lot of memory.You can use other resolution if you want,but it could be a bit harder to fix the mistakes done in the drawing.
Open your pic, then go to the menu Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast and adjust the bar until the lines look smooth and darker than the original. v
It's time to "fix" the lineart, (maybe when you were inking your drawing , you accidentally made a line where it shouldn't be or it's really dirty, for example) ,just use the eraser to get rid of those annoying details.
Your lineart is clean now; there are two things you can do:
(You should know Photoshop is all about layers by now...)
I like the black lineart ,if you think the same , just leave the lineart in the Background Layer, then for the color let's make a new layer in "Multiply Mode" Menu>Layer>New>Layer.You can change the layer mode here: v
Or...
If you'd like add color to the lineart, do this:
Select the Background layer and go to the menu>Layer>New>Layer From Background. This should copy your pic in a new layer (it'll be called Layer0)
Then make a second layer, select it and go to the menu>Layer>New>Background From Layer.This should leave the Background in blank .
Now you have your drawing in a new layer above the Background . See v
Once done, select the "layer0"(where is the lineart),then in the layers window go to "channels", then select RGB and click where says "Load channel as selection" v
This will select all the lineart, and should look like this: v
Now, make sure you are selecting the layer0 and press "Supr" in the keyboard.This will delete all the white parts,leaving just the lineart, (it makes transparent images) .You'll notice the color of the lineart is a bit decreased ,to fix that click in the little square next to "Lock:" and use a brush/pencil to color the lineart (don't be afraid to go all over the pic, "lock trasparent pixels option" makes you modify only the lineart), v
There you have it, your pic without white parts ,now you can add new layers for the color "below" the Lineart layer.
Easy, isn't it?
I suppose most of you have used MSpaint, so paint a drawing with Photoshop is not really a difficult task.
In a new layer we will add the base color of the drawing.
This is the way to do it ;if your drawing is made with simple lines like mine, you can use the "Magic Wand tool" to select the area to paint,then go to the menu Select>Modify>Expand and there change the values to 1-3 pixels(depends of how large is your image), accept and fill the area you want to paint with the "paint bucket tool".
If the lineart is not well defined in your pic to use the "Magic Wand", you can use the "Polygonal Lasso Tool" to select the area, (it takes some time but be patient)then fill it with color. v
Now it's time to add the shading, you need to chose a light resource(from where the light is coming) ,based on this ,you'll be able to say where to shade and where not. (This is a Photoshop tutorial I don´t enter in details in how to shade) .Using the same technique to color the drawing;using the "Polygonal lasso tool", you need to select by yourself the areas that need a dark color to create the shade effect. v
I think that´s all,maybe you would like to add some shines with the highlights tool, or something. The background it´s up to you, just be creative , you can use filters ,custom brushes,etc
This is the result:
Any questions?
Last edited: