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herms85 — How I Color Sonic the Hedgehog
Published: 2013-05-28 00:57:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 55578; Favourites: 1627; Downloads: 717
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Hey guys! Here's something I've had alot of requests for for a long while. This is a step-by-step for the character rendering style I do in the pages of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Universe every month! I've been meaning to put this together for ages and finally had a window thanks to the production schedule for the Sonic/Mega Man crossover.I hope this is useful or at least sheds some light on the process for ya'!
Also, I have a PSD of this lone panel with each of these steps separated onto its own layer. If someone can suggest a way to host that and link it here for download, I'd be happy to share that, too.
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Comments: 176
oh so your the person who makes the sega comics,may i ask you a question?whats your opinion about people who are haters of amy rose?
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You probably won't believe it, but I've been waiting for your coloring tutorial forever! I was so inspired by your work that I've tried to color some of my Sonic and Mega Man pieces the way you do it several times before, but now I can clearly see that I really failed at it T___T
Anyway, it's like a dream come true! *___* Now I can finally improve my coloring skills 
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Nah, those other attempts look pretty great! I love seeing artwork that uses "the comic book style."
Thanks so much for the compliments! Let me know how things turn out if ya' use the tutorial.
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This is great! I didn't know I wanted something like this until I saw it, haha.
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Hey Herms! Thanks for the awesome tutorial!
If you want to distribute the PSD File, you can use Mediafire.com or MEGA to share it
Thanks for wanting to share it
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My question is: Do you use this same style for Mega Man as well?
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Pre-e-e-ety close to it. If anything, Mega Man is probably a little more basic cel-shaded than Sonic. Basically, I use alot less of the paintbrush and rarely if ever any airbrush. Mega Man's characters are largely robotic, so having sharper shading and highlights is part of creating a more metalic texture on them.
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[link] In case you're interested in seeing the final piece. I spent all day trying to work with the style, but mine wound up slipping in there.
I've been on a Doctor Who fix lately...
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Aah okay. Thanks! <3 Maybe I'll try this coloring style.
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Tried out the new coloring style today on one of my own pieces . It may not look nearly as good as your work but I just wanted to say thank you again! I think the piece pops out more than my usual colored work.
I'll probably use mostly plain flats or cel shaded colors for my work but it's nice to know that there's another way to approach a piece.
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Hey thanks for posting this. I am a huge fan of STH and SU. I love both the art and story of these comics.
Anyway, once again thanks for posting this up because I've been practicing how to color on photoshop and just been looking at tips on how to color. So thanks!!!
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You're very welcome! Thanks for checking out my tutorial!
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thanks dude, i love this number of comic is so cool
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awesome 
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This looks like something out of Archie Comics, but I guess since you work there, it's natural for anyone to think that!
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This is really great and informative! I look forward to trying out this coloring style on my own pieces. Thank you for taking the time and making this tutorial!
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Hey,Herms what program u use in coloring according from this tutorial?
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Photoshop. Specifically, I use Photoshop 7.
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Thats the exact same version I use! Yay!
I'm glad that this tutorial is very useful, I've been trying to find one for this style of colouring for ages!
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Does even PhotoShop 7 exist? I heard that PhotoShop CS6 is the last version? But if you have PhotoShop 7 than where can i download it?
By the way,how did you learn coloring like this?
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Photoshop 7 came out around 2003/2004. I think it was the last version before they rebranded it Photoshop CS. (Which I guess technically would make CS6 actually Photoshop 13.) if you've got a recent version, I would stick with that. Does everything 7 does and more!
Mostly, I learned from trial and error and reading books/tutorials on how to color. I developed this style for the Sonic books because I wanted something colorful but also a little more complex than just cel-shading. It also needed to be a style I could do quickly to keep up with deadlines.
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I need you to transfer photoshop7.exe install thru skype.
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Photoshop 7, as I recall, came out before Photoshop CS existed. As for downloading... I've heard rumors that Adobe is offering old software for cheap or free download... but knowing Adobe, I really doubt it.
Also, soon Adobe will begin licensing Photoshop on a monthly basis, requiring you to pay continually to use it. Keep that in mind as you look around.
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This is one of the most usefull tutorials since ever! Thank you so much for your work)
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No problem! Thanks for checking out my tutorial!
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Do you work for Archie comics?
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I do! I'm the colorist for Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Universe, and Mega Man.
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Well now I know why you're coloring stands out regardless of who's drawing.
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Sweet tutorial, Herms.
All this time, I colored freestyle with a style similar to yours but I never thought you used a tablet.
I color with my mouse, which many of my friends thought was interesting, however I see no defect there.
Gradients are still new to me so I'll try it out but that won't change the way I color my art like you, sir.
Thanks for this easy-to-follow tutorial and I hope you continue coloring the comics for another decade or two!
You're one of my biggest inspirations and I hope you stay strong and keep on punching and kicking!
Later, Mr. Herms!
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Thanks so much for the compliments!
Nothin' wrong with working with a mouse. One of my favorite colorists at Marvel - who did multiple books per month, in fact, and each is friggin' gorgeous - does it all with a mouse. It's largely about what you're comfortable with.
For example: I can't color with a mouse, but I am also actually SLOWER with a Cintiq where I draw/color directly on screen. After nearly 10 years, I am just so much more comfortable with my hand stretched out to the side of me while I color.
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That's good to hear, sir.
And I hope your coloring not only improves but lasts in legend as you continue giving the world of Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man a colorful style that will make it a world like no other!
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You could upload the PSD file via Sta.sh, which is found in the drop-down list when you hover your cursor over the Submit button at the top of the screen.
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You're.....you're using a page from the first issue I bought...I LOVE YOU, MAN!
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Oh my god this helps so much!
I love the colouring style in the comics!
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Now I know your top secrets muahahaha!
I credit the style for you <3
Thanks for sharing!! <3
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Thanks a lot for this, Matt! I've realised that I've been doing pretty much the exact same process for my recent stuff, but it's great to see how you've been doing it.
I love how smooth your colours look, and can't wait to see more in the future!
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Thanks so much! It's a pretty simple style, truth-be-told. Designed for lotsa' color and lotsa' speed!
Really digging what you guys have been doing with StCO, by the way. Keep up the amazing work!
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Wow, thanks for checking us out, Matt!
Y'know, I don't know if you'd fancy helping us with a pinup one day?
...I can only ask!
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I'd love to, actually. Hit me up on Note or eMail sometime (mattherms@hotmail.com). Would just need enough advanced notice to make sure I could fit it in.
I read the first half of #261 this morning in fact. A happy 20th anniversary to you guys!
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That's very kind of you, thanks! And a happy 20th to StH as well! It's a great time for us both, to be sure!
Let me get back to you, but I'll be sure to send you an email soon!
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Cool stuff, Herms.
Question: How do you do your word balloons?
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Thanks man!
I don't actually do the word balloons. Those are usually done by our letterers - industry vets like John Workman and Jack Morelli.
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