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navateSKIN: a tutorial - Part 1

Published: 2009-11-21 15:24:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 578768; Favourites: 16743; Downloads: 18309
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Description UPDATE 7/31/2011: I've uploaded a slightly revised version. Content is still the same.
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This tutorial is very extensive and will be published in (at least) four parts.

IN THIS SECTION:
Skin basics: A simple but in-depth look that expands beyond the usual shadow-midtone-highlight formula, and how to use each tonal range most effectively.

SECTION II: Skin tones. how to apply the basic formula to light, medium, dark, and fantasy skin tones.

COMING SOON:
SECTION III: Background color and ambient light. How surrounding colors affect skin.
SECTION IV: Building a skin tone, blending and texturing. The technical section showing how to paint skin start to finish.
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This tutorial uses mostly digital work as examples, but the theory behind it should apply to ALL mediums. But of course it goes without saying that this is hardly the end-all-be-all of skin painting tutorials. Just my way of thinking about it.

I tried to make this accessible for artists of all skill levels. Intermediate artists will probably benefit the most. Beginners will probably find some of the principles discussed difficult to put into practice. But don’t be frustrated! The only “secret” to being a good painter is practice. And hopefully even advanced painters will be able to glean something useful.

Also-- this should go without saying, but I will say it anyway: the ONLY WAY to learn how to paint/draw anything well, let alone realistically, is to STUDY COLOR THEORY AND FORM. All the stuff I blather on about in this tutorial is meaningless unless you take the initiative to learn the fundamentals of color and figure drawing.
Color theory resources can be found HERE .

Please, any questions, concerns, criticisms, etc: comment below.

Thanks so much for the DD!


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Comments: 734

navate In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 18:53:20 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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WendyFae In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 04:14:37 +0000 UTC]

this is very interesting, thanks for posting!!!

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navate In reply to WendyFae [2010-06-08 18:53:06 +0000 UTC]

Most welcome

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xplosivemind In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 02:09:21 +0000 UTC]

Great tutorial.

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navate In reply to xplosivemind [2010-06-08 18:52:59 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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xplosivemind In reply to navate [2010-06-10 07:19:09 +0000 UTC]

No Problem.

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Living-with-aliens In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 02:05:06 +0000 UTC]

This is interesting and helpful, thankyou! c:

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navate In reply to Living-with-aliens [2010-06-08 18:52:55 +0000 UTC]

Glad to help

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DBRv6 In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 01:59:03 +0000 UTC]

Looks excellent and useful. Thank you for sharing.

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navate In reply to DBRv6 [2010-06-08 18:52:48 +0000 UTC]

No problem

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warhammer2000 In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 01:20:33 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for posting this! I will refer back to it over and over again!

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navate In reply to warhammer2000 [2010-06-08 18:52:43 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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Venikins In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 01:05:25 +0000 UTC]

Awesome, thank you for making it

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navate In reply to Venikins [2010-06-08 18:52:21 +0000 UTC]

you're welcome

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Venikins In reply to navate [2010-06-09 06:48:22 +0000 UTC]

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nika4843 In reply to ??? [2010-06-07 18:36:50 +0000 UTC]

I have a quick question...In the end of this segment, you talk about "low contrast" shadows. Is that the same as low saturation? Can you please explain what that means? Thanks!!

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navate In reply to nika4843 [2010-06-08 18:52:13 +0000 UTC]

Hmm, complicated questions... contrast can refer to a lot of things when working in color. When working in gray-scale, contrast is created from the black and white values. Darker areas indicate shadows. The darker the area, the more contrast, and the deeper the shadow. If you convert the two images I use as an example for low-contrast shadows into gray-scale, you'll see that the revised image does indeed have more value contrast in it.

But when you work in color, contrast gets complicated. You need to factor in not only the “darkness” of a color, but also the saturation and hue of the color. All of these things together will create believable shadows.

Basically, I have found that dark colors generally look much better if you increase the saturation while also decreasing the value (blackness). So if you take one of your mid-tone colors and only make it darker, it becomes a desaturated, grayed-out version of that mid-tone. This creates a very flat looking shadow. However, if you take that mid-tone color and pump up the saturation while also making it a little darker, the shadow color looks a lot more alive and deep. That’s what is happening in the example. In the original, the shadow tones were close to the mid-tones in value (lacking contrast), but also very desaturated (also creating a lack of contrast). So in the revised version, I had to try and fix both.

Does that make sense? Saturation and value are really tough things to understand and put into practice—definitely the most difficult hurdle I had to get over myself.

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nika4843 In reply to navate [2010-06-08 21:08:44 +0000 UTC]

it makes more sense to me now...thanks!!

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september28 In reply to ??? [2010-06-07 12:35:16 +0000 UTC]

I've got to add this tutorial as a favorite cuz I keep falling all over myself to find it again and again. Thank you for spending the time to make such a great guide!

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navate In reply to september28 [2010-06-08 18:31:21 +0000 UTC]

Your welcome! I have text versions available on my website now, if it's easier for you to bookmark them [link]

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lucreziac In reply to ??? [2010-06-03 00:17:23 +0000 UTC]

you are amazing!! beautifully, comprehensively and simply explained - you are an angel!!

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navate In reply to lucreziac [2010-06-08 18:28:54 +0000 UTC]

Aw, thank so much

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Nicondra In reply to ??? [2010-06-01 17:38:46 +0000 UTC]

Invaluable help, especially for a beginner painter such as myself. My humble thanks for sharing it with dA so that I was able to stumble upon it.

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navate In reply to Nicondra [2010-06-08 18:26:46 +0000 UTC]

No problem, I'm very to glad have helped Keep practicing! Everyone is a beginner when they start.

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EugeniusMaximus In reply to ??? [2010-05-31 03:50:44 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much.

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navate In reply to EugeniusMaximus [2010-06-08 18:24:22 +0000 UTC]

Welcome again

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Alkonybestia In reply to ??? [2010-05-24 10:30:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for this tutorial, it is very useful!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to Alkonybestia [2010-06-08 18:19:41 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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Stang-cool In reply to ??? [2010-05-16 11:46:41 +0000 UTC]

OMG! This is soooo...

Many Thanks!!!

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navate In reply to Stang-cool [2010-05-17 23:19:53 +0000 UTC]

Glad to help!

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Crazymeau In reply to ??? [2010-05-08 08:39:26 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for the tutorial. I can't wait to try it out

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navate In reply to Crazymeau [2010-05-17 23:21:53 +0000 UTC]

Glad to help!

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jadedtempest In reply to ??? [2010-05-07 03:51:55 +0000 UTC]

I cannot thank you enough for your tutorials. I have been struggling with color and eschewed it entirely in favor of shading in B&W and coloring with gradient maps. Your tutorials have given me hope! And understanding!

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navate In reply to jadedtempest [2010-05-17 23:21:46 +0000 UTC]

Good luck! Color used to be (and sometimes, still is) my nemesis; if I can beat it into submission anyone can.

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Aleeart7 In reply to ??? [2010-04-13 17:51:39 +0000 UTC]

<3 thank you for the tutorial! It helps me a lot! I can't wait to see the rest <3

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navate In reply to Aleeart7 [2010-04-19 15:00:33 +0000 UTC]

It's coming, I promise!

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Ethelle In reply to ??? [2010-04-13 07:17:50 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for this tutorial! I've tried many simpler ones before, but they just can't help me. Now I finally feel like I know what was missing all along. I'm going to study those links on colour theory now, first. And then, with the help of this tutorial, I feel I will finally be able to do some real digital painting for the first time! I'm very excited and inspired now. Thanks again!

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navate In reply to Ethelle [2010-04-19 15:00:12 +0000 UTC]

So glad to have helped! I tried to fill a gap with my tutorial, and I'm beyond thrilled I seem to have hit the mark.

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Bio-Electric-Anemone In reply to ??? [2010-04-09 09:29:21 +0000 UTC]

This is possibly one of the best skin tutorials I have ever seen! Thank you so much!

(And congrats on getting the DD! :3 )

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navate In reply to Bio-Electric-Anemone [2010-04-19 14:58:41 +0000 UTC]

And thanks. I tried!

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JustMilla In reply to ??? [2010-04-08 19:00:04 +0000 UTC]

woooww
this is just amazing

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to JustMilla [2010-04-19 14:58:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Desdana In reply to ??? [2010-04-04 11:27:23 +0000 UTC]

Great tutorial! Thanks

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navate In reply to Desdana [2010-04-06 19:53:52 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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arawraw In reply to ??? [2010-03-24 22:39:13 +0000 UTC]

Probably the most quality I have ever seen in a tutorial. The tutorial is in depth, then simplified, and very organized and definitely what I have been looking for in a tutorial: realism. Showing what was wrong and what was right definitely helps incedibly well, and i know what I will be looking at and perfecting from whenever I'm painting. I'm very proud to see this here, it's just what I've been looking for (: Thank you so much for the tutorial!

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navate In reply to arawraw [2010-04-06 20:21:41 +0000 UTC]

Thank you All that stuff was precisely what I was aiming for, so I am thrilled to know it's been such a hit with people

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arawraw In reply to navate [2010-04-06 22:30:58 +0000 UTC]

Yes, it's probably the tutorial I've used the most. With almost no experience, I've gotten the hang of skin in no time [:

Now only to be patient for the third one with different light source colors, I'm REALLY curious about that one. xD

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navate In reply to arawraw [2010-04-19 15:05:00 +0000 UTC]

So glad to hear

The 3rd part is coming... going to work on it this week.

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BlueKungFu In reply to ??? [2010-03-24 18:45:40 +0000 UTC]

Hey, I wanted to say thanks again for this fantastic tutorial . It has really helped me with my artwork. This is my first attempt with Painter and your tutorial [link]

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navate In reply to BlueKungFu [2010-04-19 15:04:21 +0000 UTC]

Sorry if took me a bit to get back to you -- it looks great! I'm glad to have helped.

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