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niaro — Paint Process+The Layer Clip

Published: 2010-01-26 06:28:33 +0000 UTC; Views: 101460; Favourites: 2809; Downloads: 1270
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Description Wanted to show how I paint kinda @U@;; I'll try to be as clear as possible...

First of all: I am definitely not professional. This is just how I "paint."

TL;DR ahead

Tools:
SAI; Ink pen (lineart + base color), Marker (shading)

I USE A LOT OF LAYERS. I flatten them a lot too. That is why my use of the marker tool is uh "controlled"

1. Lineart. I draw out what I want to paint... I don't really do lineart for it so it's basically my sketching lmao ; u ; That's why the hair area looks messy... I erased the appropriate areas DURING painting so sorry I didn't screenshot the basic sketch.

2. Base Colors. Mostly base colors. I completely deleted the hair outline to give a softer look. Sorry for the shading (shorts etc), I just brushed over the areas with the marker tool and flattened the layer on the base.

3. I shade... I actually do random colors. OTL That's not a really good idea but it seems to work decently for me. I just try to see if the colors look good LMAO ... I tend to mix in a lot of blues, oranges, and purples.

4->5. Smoothed some things out and yuh. You can see how I add most of my highlights (eyes, hair) here. I add a new layer and stroke over areas with the base color (look at the sleeves... see how it's kinda blobby white on top of the shading?) that's how I like to show form.

6. Finished product...

Sorry I ramble/it looks confusing. :C I'll do my best to answer questions in the comments if anyone has any <3... Will scrap later.

Time taken: 40 minutes
Tool: SAI

EDIT!! *Extra: sorry something important. I use the Layer clip/ Clipping Group option a lot. Note: That is why my shading is within the base color and clean.

Above your layer box you see check boxes:

[ ] Preserve Opacity
[ ] Clipping Group
( ) Selection Source

To use Layer Clip first you have a base.

Layer 1 - Base Color

Then you want to shade? Make a new layer OVER the Base. Not below.

Layer 2 - Shade
Layer 1 - Base Color

Select Layer 2. Check the Clipping Group Box.
[ ] Preserve Opacity
[x] Clipping Group
( ) Selection Source

---Layer 2 - Shade
Layer 1 - Base Color

You can do that for multiple layers and STILL edit the Base Color (which you can do with slightly more difficulty with Preserve Opacity/Opacity Lock)

EX.

---Layer 4 - Highlight etc
---Layer 3 - More shade
---Layer 2 - Shade
Layer 1 - Base Color

If you have any questions please don't be afraid to comment. But this is pretty much the best way I can explain this. If you have SAI please experiment for yourself! I save a lot of time this way. You can do this with later versions of Photoshop too (Right Click layer -> Clipping Mask) Have funnnn
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Comments: 187

HershayX [2013-09-21 19:06:22 +0000 UTC]

what are your brush settings?

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derse-dreamers [2013-06-10 04:01:11 +0000 UTC]

this is so soft wow

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aruberuto78 [2013-02-21 20:02:51 +0000 UTC]

haceis que las cosas parezcan sencillas, gracias

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Peachdalooza [2013-02-18 06:59:01 +0000 UTC]

Why your tool so smoth?

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Art-Recale [2013-02-01 23:37:00 +0000 UTC]

Hi Niaro!
I'd just like to say, thank you SO much for making this tutorial.
I'm a learning tab artist, and I've always had trouble with
shading and eyes. I've also always wanted to draw in this
beautiful, soft style.
Thank you, thank you SO much for your effort. You've made
my life SO much easier; thank you from the bottom of my heart !
<33

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niaro In reply to Art-Recale [2013-02-02 02:50:31 +0000 UTC]

waa this comment is incredibly sweet ;_; Thank you so much for looking at my tutorial! I'm glad it helped you even a little bit mdhfgnhgf Thank you so much for your message!!

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Art-Recale In reply to niaro [2013-02-02 06:28:47 +0000 UTC]

Uwahhh there is nothing to thank me for!
I really can't thank you enough though ! ;n;
ACTUALLY if I get good enough to draw something
in your beautiful style, I'll link you to it maybe?

Seriously though, thank you SO much. It helped heaps !
You're an amazing artist and you inspire me so much ! ;A;

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niaro In reply to Art-Recale [2013-02-12 03:05:05 +0000 UTC]

sosososo sorry for the late reply!! cries ;__; thank you for your comment waaa;;;; I'd love a link if you do!!

Thank you, your words are a really big pick me up! If you have any questions just ask in the future and I'll do my best to answer.

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Art-Recale In reply to niaro [2013-02-16 04:26:09 +0000 UTC]

You're so kind !
Thank you sooo much!
I'll try my best to emulate your style as best I can ;u;

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rachenice [2013-01-24 13:01:43 +0000 UTC]

What tool did you use to color it?

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AikoSukoshi [2013-01-09 15:54:33 +0000 UTC]

how do U flatten shit? :U

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niaro In reply to AikoSukoshi [2013-01-09 16:01:53 +0000 UTC]

you flatten layers with these two icons on your sai u v u;; [link] they're ontop of your layers bar!

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AikoSukoshi In reply to niaro [2013-01-09 16:05:18 +0000 UTC]

h-huh?

Advertising Services? //slapped

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niaro In reply to AikoSukoshi [2013-01-09 16:59:41 +0000 UTC]

sorry the screenshot is so small ;; it's between the ads the little familiar icons

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AikoSukoshi In reply to niaro [2013-01-09 17:13:25 +0000 UTC]

oh! ouo;;


I found it //shot.




u mean the merge button? ouo;;

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niaro In reply to AikoSukoshi [2013-01-09 20:19:06 +0000 UTC]

yep it merges the layers and to completely flatten the picture you go to menu -> layer -> flatten image - v- hope it helps

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AikoSukoshi In reply to niaro [2013-01-10 08:40:29 +0000 UTC]

ASFGKT.

I dun have dat button.

tears

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llJoelynll [2012-12-08 04:01:47 +0000 UTC]

thx for the tutorial =b

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nintendo12 [2012-11-08 00:22:52 +0000 UTC]

hey do you use a pen tool or your mouse?

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XHikariChanX [2012-11-02 20:47:54 +0000 UTC]

very cute ^^ nice work

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Christopher-Hart [2012-10-12 09:40:58 +0000 UTC]

Very, very nice work. Subtle, sweet, and great characterization.

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Eschewal [2012-10-11 06:58:18 +0000 UTC]

Ngaww thanks so much for this tute! eue;
May i ask what brush settings you use for your marker tool?

I messed up my marker settings so idk what the default are anymore. juj""

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FunSizedReesesCup [2012-09-25 23:24:09 +0000 UTC]

How do you use Layers ?

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niaro In reply to FunSizedReesesCup [2012-09-26 00:24:27 +0000 UTC]

It becomes very natural if you intend to do digital art! I would try googling a couple of more tutorials maybe before trying to do a painting one to get a better understanding of the basics first!

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FunSizedReesesCup In reply to niaro [2012-09-26 19:16:12 +0000 UTC]

Thank you ! A few minutes after I posted this, I figured out how to do it

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NostalgicOblivion [2012-09-22 16:50:00 +0000 UTC]

I am still learning about layers. I really dont know which layer to use for my line art? could you help by any chance.

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niaro In reply to NostalgicOblivion [2012-09-26 00:23:23 +0000 UTC]

The proper layer order's in the description! Just place the lineart layer on top or near the top in this sort of situation

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Oseuchichan [2012-09-22 16:31:15 +0000 UTC]

so cute *-*

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moonbaby17 [2012-08-04 20:47:13 +0000 UTC]

Not bad at all
At what level did you set the stabilizer?

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Keritomato [2012-07-31 17:17:51 +0000 UTC]

OMg!! i wish i can did that too

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RuruCreations [2012-07-30 19:50:23 +0000 UTC]

what were your marker settings? I can't seem to get them right

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niaro In reply to RuruCreations [2012-07-30 23:20:21 +0000 UTC]

default!

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Dandalily [2012-05-25 00:51:17 +0000 UTC]

What is the layer clip for anyway?

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RONIN013 [2012-05-22 13:12:30 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge on painting!

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ShaytheHedgehog1214 [2012-05-20 03:16:41 +0000 UTC]

ur good ;u;

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Bridget3678 [2012-04-18 20:44:52 +0000 UTC]

on my paint tool sai i can not find the Clipping Group

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8Bit-Chan [2012-03-04 23:28:23 +0000 UTC]

Wow, that clipping part you edited in the end really helped. I now have a new technique to use in SAI. Thank you! Also, very nice painting in only 40 mins. Takes me forever to make something like that.

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XCrissa-ChanX [2012-02-10 22:22:30 +0000 UTC]

TT____TT
Im sorry if this is going to be a dumb question but how did you do the white shawl-like clothing? >___<
and how do you make them blend so much together?

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niaro In reply to XCrissa-ChanX [2012-02-11 03:02:23 +0000 UTC]

well design wise I just thought of them!
and for coloring I just used the marker tool and stroked over with different colors and many layers. This is pretty old so I may not remember everything but I remember that!

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SilverCrunker In reply to niaro [2012-04-19 11:15:55 +0000 UTC]

if you dont mind me asking, did you also use just the marker with the eyes too? D: why does it look so well blended o-o did you blur it or smth like that? thanks xD;;

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niaro In reply to SilverCrunker [2012-04-20 06:18:56 +0000 UTC]

I believe I used a solid brush and airbrush for the eyes! I don't mind at all but it was so long ago I unfortunately barely remember.

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SilverCrunker In reply to niaro [2012-04-27 02:10:20 +0000 UTC]

Ah, thank you!

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Azraetine [2012-02-04 02:16:48 +0000 UTC]

Niaro. What do you mean you're not pro? j B j

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Proxy-0 [2012-02-02 23:00:12 +0000 UTC]

First off I love your style and the way you colour! Just a quick question or two. I heard mention of you saying you use the marker tool for your shading. Do you use the default marker tool? Did you change the smoothing, blending settings? Im just curious because whenever I attempt to use the marker tool...lets just say it doesn't look like this haha. Im currently looking for a new colouring style because im a bit tired with my current one. Anyway great walk through .

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niaro In reply to Proxy-0 [2012-02-11 03:01:18 +0000 UTC]

Sorry for the late reply! Yes I use the default marker tool back then! Then I just stroked and used a lot of layers to do this style!

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Proxy-0 In reply to niaro [2012-02-12 01:35:02 +0000 UTC]

No problem and awesome! Thx for answering my questions lol much appreciated

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mintykat [2012-01-22 05:40:12 +0000 UTC]

the Layer clip option isn't on my toolbar, what do you need to do to get it to appear?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

niaro In reply to mintykat [2012-01-22 07:16:48 +0000 UTC]

the newest version of Sai I believe! just google sai english and it should be there!

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mintykat In reply to niaro [2012-01-22 07:40:05 +0000 UTC]

oh really? thanks c:

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amyxxxify [2011-12-25 21:16:50 +0000 UTC]

Does the base include all the colors or it's like
--layer 4 shade
--layer 3 base colors
--layer 2 shade
--layer 1 base color?

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