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Description
In case anyone can't read what the tiny text says on the layers, I'll list them here:
line art - Normal mode
tints/highlights - Grain Merge mode
darker shadow (use solid black color) - Overlay mode
shadow - Multiply mode
base/flat colors - Normal mode
white canvas (all layers listed are at 100% opacity) - Normal mode

This tutorial is just a basic reference on how to cell shade so you have room to add other effects or develop your own coloring techniques.

[ MARCH 22, 2012 UPDATE ] - Updated with an actual layer screenshot and some info about darker shadows. Also, I was testing some stuff out and realized that the tint layer should NOT be in Addition mode, but instead should be in Grain Merge mode.

I was studying how some of Megaman official art is cell shaded and noticed that the tints and the darkest shadows are used sparingly (unless the situation or art style calls for it). Too much use of tints or darkest shadows can make the character jarring.

- - - - -

So, I was talking with ~Despondent-Mega-Man about a few days ago for advice/tips on comics and how to cell shade. I took some time to do a cell shade study with GIMP, a free/open source software that's like Photoshop. This tutorial/reference may get updated in the future.

I'm shocked and disappointed that Photoshop Elements 6 doesn't have a CMYK color model, which is very helpful when printing artworks and such...

However, I'm also surprised that while GIMP doesn't have an integrated CMYK mode feature, it does have a CMYK color picker so my colors won't end up so hot and over-saturated like this .

Tutorial: GIMP - Basic Cell Shade Color Study © 2012 by Susan Lee

COPYRIGHTS NOTICE: You are free to download my tutorials for your personal use and archive, but my tutorials must remain in the ~SoulAura777 deviantART account and not anywhere else.

You are NOT permitted to upload my tutorials outside of deviantART, but you can provide links back to the original tutorial.

Art Metadata
Software: GIMP

Description
In case anyone can't read what the tiny text says on the layers, I'll list them here:
line art - Normal mode
tints/highlights - Grain Merge mode
darker shadow (use solid black color) - Overlay mode
shadow - Multiply mode
base/flat colors - Normal mode
white canvas (all layers listed are at 100% opacity) - Normal mode

This tutorial is just a basic reference on how to cell shade so you have room to add other effects or develop your own coloring techniques.

[ MARCH 22, 2012 UPDATE ] - Updated with an actual layer screenshot and some info about darker shadows. Also, I was testing some stuff out and realized that the tint layer should NOT be in Addition mode, but instead should be in Grain Merge mode.

I was studying how some of Megaman official art is cell shaded and noticed that the tints and the darkest shadows are used sparingly (unless the situation or art style calls for it). Too much use of tints or darkest shadows can make the character jarring.

- - - - -

So, I was talking with ~Despondent-Mega-Man about a few days ago for advice/tips on comics and how to cell shade. I took some time to do a cell shade study with GIMP, a free/open source software that's like Photoshop. This tutorial/reference may get updated in the future.

I'm shocked and disappointed that Photoshop Elements 6 doesn't have a CMYK color model, which is very helpful when printing artworks and such...

However, I'm also surprised that while GIMP doesn't have an integrated CMYK mode feature, it does have a CMYK color picker so my colors won't end up so hot and over-saturated like this .

Tutorial: GIMP - Basic Cell Shade Color Study © 2012 by Susan Lee

COPYRIGHTS NOTICE: You are free to download my tutorials for your personal use and archive, but my tutorials must remain in the ~SoulAura777 deviantART account and not anywhere else.

You are NOT permitted to upload my tutorials outside of deviantART, but you can provide links back to the original tutorial.

Art Metadata
Software: GIMP