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kitton — tips: applying digital colours
Published: 2006-03-23 06:41:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 16848; Favourites: 211; Downloads: 908
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Description
Just a quick tips sheet on applying digital colours. There are two tips on here that are specifically only for beginners:"don't use gradients" because beginners think that applying gradients is doing the work for them. They can be used and applied stylistically, but most of the gradients I've seen are painfully obvious and bad looking; remember, nearly all shortcuts are obvious and lower the quality of your work.
"work from light to dark It doesn't actually matter if you work from light to dark or dark to light, but most people beginning CGing for the first time come from a background in traditional art and as a result this method is most familiar to them and sticking with it can make the transition more smooth and easier :3
The rest of my tutorials: [link]
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Comments: 36
I've been wanting to get into doing more artwork digitally, but I just don't know how to use the tools I'm given. I know how to use things like photoshop, but this tutorial will help me greatly. Thank you.
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Good luck 
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I like the tutorial it was very helpful but i wanted to ask you do you ever use bluring and how do you use the smudge tool i mean i know how to use it but i was wondering whats its purpose on your canvas
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I don't usually use blur, but if you poke around it could be something useful to you 
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Ok thank you for the help by the way i'm coloring one of your linearts i'll be linking back
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No you don't 
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Well these tutorials are just tips and hints of how I do things. They aren't some kind of biblical "HOW TO".
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They feel kind of silly and short, but some people are getting stuff out of them so I'm glad I posted them :3 If you have any suggestions, let me know!
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wil do.
waiting for nu challenge!!
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That's a pretty good basic overview on digital coloring Kat...that's pretty much how do my coloring (except you do _not_ want to know how many layers I end up using LOL). One thing I would add is that it's helpful to always paint a sample dot of each color for shading off to the side, making it a lot easier to keep coloring consistent (especially if you end up using multiple layers for the same content, i.e. skin, hair, etc.). Anyway, very useful tips, especially for those inexperienced in digital art.
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Hum, but I don't do that :0 I mean, sometimes I splotch out my colours but I never am consistant or thorough about it :S I just grab the colours... even if they change.... I think that its a better tecnique because keeping colours fluid and lucid is useful :3
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Heeeheee! I actually use gradiants all the time. Not sure if it looks obvious or not, but I'm sure it depends more on how you use them in your work.
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*taking notes and copying it*
One thing is very good you have highlighted here is *not be afraid of layers* . I know you did it for PS, which I do not (YET) work, (I use the Corel) but some principles are the same, both use the layer system. Also for the gradient, is better be careul to use it, sometimes people do mistakes with the end-member colors of the gradient.
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Is the multiply technique usually the best for the top layer [where I put my lineart]? I've seen alot of people swear up and down that the alterantive technique [involving splitting channels into black, red, and green and some other stuff that just confused the hell outta me] is much better and that multiply is just a short cut.
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I have... never heard of splitting channels. As far as I'm conceared its not necessary. Heres what you do:
Open youe piece in photoshop or PSP (whatever you use) and save the file. The create new layer and set the merge/blend mode to multiply. The lineart will be on its own layers (most likely called "background" by default) and now you can "draw over" the lineart :3 With this tecnique you don't need your lineart on the top layer :3
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This is be alot of help since I'm lost on coloring stuff on my picture @.@
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:3 it's going to becaaause I say soooo!!
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Did you mean, *try NOT to use shortcuts in general*?. It is painfully obvious to... etc. etc.
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Actually, no. Because the title of the list is "Make sure that you don't: ....try short cuts in general". It would be incorrect grammar for me to add another negative, though I admit that it sounds awkward, the intention of what I mean is clear with the rest of the line for those who were confused by this...
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I'm sorry 
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Nono its totally fineeee :3 I had to read it a few times and I was like "uhmm this still doesn't look quite right to me..." so it was awkward to begin with...
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Hehe, awesome! Yea, I re-read the whole ordeal just now, and it makes much more sense to me 
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it says "make sure that you DON'T.... try shortcuts in general."
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I have decided, that in my best interest, it is NOT good to read informative articles 2 minutes after waking from a lengthy slumber...
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I love the line art as well. I'm enjoying all your little tips ^^
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Good advice. I wouldn't concider myself a rookie but there's still time to learn... I love that line art BTW
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