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Spoonful0fcats — Photoshop TuT: Using Layers
Published: 2006-12-25 06:23:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 5873; Favourites: 106; Downloads: 265
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Description
This tutorial focuses on using Layers.Please read everything and don't skim/skip over. It's all important(or else I wouldn't have typed it x_x)
Thankyou!
Edit: I had a better description here but it vanished. Sorry >.<;
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Comments: 49
nice this will help me lots now that ive got cs5
let me know if ur posting any tutorials for that version
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Thanks! I haven't thought of it but I think I might
I can post videos now so I could actually do a video tutorial too
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This is not working out well for me. Whenever I tried to color something on my lineart in layer 1, instead of coloring the character's hair, paint-bucket colors the whole thing. I didn't want that. Can you tell me how to fix it? I'm also using Photoshop 4.0.
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make sure that you are using the paintbrush tool and not the paintbucket tool.
The bucket fills area with color while the brush lets you 'paint' the color in
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this is very helpful! however how did you manage the skin without making the eyes nose etc the same color of the skin?
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If you mean how I kept the eyes white I created a layer just for the white of the eyes, and another seperate layer for the pupils(blue)on top of the whites of the eyes. So when I paint in white it covers the skin color.
I guess one way to think about it is..like a sandwich! Think of the layers as the layers on a sandwich.
the bottom slice of bread would be your first layer, but once you put on yoru second layer; the meat, you can no longer really see the bottom layer anymore.
So when you make a new layer, whatever layers are below that layer you won't be able to see when you paint over it.
Did that make sense? D:
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ummm i think i got it, however i cant seem to get the hang of the way you do it.
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Don't worry, it just takes practice.
The more you use photoshop on a regular basis the more you'll familiarize yourself with the program and get better.
When I first started using photoshop I wasn't aware layers even existed and relied heavily on the burn and dodge tool to make my shadows and highlights..they're not bad but it's better to paint in shadows and highlights if you can.
Some people paint on one layer, but I find it more convenient to use more then one, that way if I mess up or decide to change something I won't have to ruin other parts of the picture to do so.
Just know that the more layers you use the bigger your file size will get.
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yeah, but i get frustrated so easily
thanks for the advice! i really appreciate it!
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i just got photoshop today and its actually adobe photoshop elements 3.0 and really hard to use. and its like 4:26 in the morning. could you help me?
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I'll do my best!
what is it you're trying to do?
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color some stuff but i basically got it. i just had to test a bunch of stuff out. although i only figured it out 2 hours ago
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(:
I coloured in a picture
I'm not good at it
hahaa
and it doesn't look right
but it's okay.
(:
Thanks!
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ok
well...
I tried, i did!
But photoshop wouldn't let me frikking create a new layer!?
Im so horrible and artistic stuff
*sigh*
BUT GOOD TUTORIAL.
(:
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Hmmm, Try again? If it doesn't work create a screenshot and paste it in paint and email it to me at neko_cloe@yahoo.com
Maybe I can see what's wrong and help you?
Don't get discouraged!
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Um
Well okay, but I have ot use CS2 or whatever it is i have, 'cause I exited the boxes on the right hand side of my photoshop 7.0 and don't know how to get them back (:
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To get your windows back(and I can't BELIEVE I forgot to include this info in the tutorial(jeez, gotta edit it XD) go to "Window" which is inbetween "View" and "Help" and all your windows you can open to aid you are listed, you can also go to "Window>Workspace>Default Workspace" To get all the windows you have at startup.
I sent an email explainging how to work around your layer obstacle.
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...
I'm so stupid.
Kay, well, I got back the colours and that, and I coloured in a lineart, then clicked something, I don't know what so now I can't put colour onto it.
Oops?
And I did it before I did shadings and stuff hahahaha
yep...my bad.
do you know how to fix it?
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you can't color on the layer?
You probably locked the layer. The little icons in the layer menu above the actual layers have special functions. One looks like a lock and litterally locks the layer. This keeps you from accidentally coloring or editing the layer accidentally. To undo this you can just click the lock icon again.
(sorry I'm replying so late ^_^; )
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Bahaha
I fixed the problem (:
It's okay hehe, you've helped me ALOT.
So thank a bunch!
(:
Hmm, now I need to find new linearts bahaha
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haha, your welcome and no problem!
And goodluckk!
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Thanks!
I had to look a bit, and decided to click on "reset pallete options" or something like that, BUT THEY'RE BACK!
Thanks a bunch!!!
(:
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eek, no comments on this? DX
Well I forgot to mention before but thank you so much for making this, it's really helped me out. and soon you shall see the wonders it has done for me in my next coloring of someone's lineart. *.*
after that I'll try it out on my work.
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awww, thanks, yeah be sure to tell me when it is finished I'd love to see how the coloring comes out on their lineart and yours!
Goodluck!
and thankyou for the comment ^__^
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I'll be sure to let you know if you don't already find out yourself, oh, and it's gonna be a kingdom hearts one, the first, with Sora Kairi and Riku. right now I'm working on the last person (Riku) and I should be done pretty soon here. so you might even catch it tonight ^_^
no prob, I know how nice it is to get comments on my works ( ;_; wish I had more on mine)
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Waugggh you replied me with an explanation! You're awesome!
Wow I didn't see this sooner; thanks for directing me here. Truly appreciate your hard work. 
And one more thing: there are so many tools and "brushes" in photoshop! AAAAAAh! What's the best way of learning how to use them, and can I do without? (Just pure colouring, as I'm accustomed to doing?)
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>3
It really just takes practice to get used to photoshop and become more familiar with the tools but in photoshop you can only undo once unless you go back into the history panel(which also only allows you to go backwards so many times(20 I think).
There's no real way to color in photoshop, you can overlap with coloring and mix them too. It's ideas like those where new styles from artists emerge 
You can actually trace over photographs or lineart though. Layers are especially beneficial if you want to trace over your lineart on the computer. Also in the 'layer properties' tab(in the Layer's window) with 'multiply' 'screen' and what-not if, lets say you want the hair color to have a luminicense (uh..glowly like) color to it and want it to appear brighter. By duplicating the hair layer and changing the property of the layer, like to 'color dodge' or 'screen' you can produce some really cool effects.
XD
Since your more accustomed to coloring traditionally I would use the top 'default' brushes and lower the flow to 36% or whatever setting you find you like. This will make it so the color doesn't come out as the full color. Like if you wanted to color with blue it would start off as light blue as though you were coloring lightly. Once you feel comfortable coloring with those I'd start experimenting with the other default brushes.
But yeah, my friend Sora colors a lot of her stuff all on the same layer. It's not bad and you can always fix it by painting over. If your painting this can work out real nicely, but if your cell shading(like how anime characters are colored in animes) then I would give everything its own layer.
It really just takes practice, but if you have any other questions feel free to ask ^o^
I like helping people, especially with photoshop X)
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This is really cool, and I especially appreciate it because I plan to start doing digital art soon, as opposed to all handrawn. This'll come in handy since I'm a photoshop noob.
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Your welcome! Glad to be of assistance ^__^!
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I love your work <3
You should post this up at [link]
stop by and say hello
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oh, thankyou. I"ll look into it ^_^
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too bad i didn't know this when i had the photoshop free trail
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thankyouuuuuu 
I hope it is useful to even you(even though you already use photoshop nya 
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very good
very helpful
yep -nodds head-
once you explained some of the stuff to me
xD guess it helps sitting right next to ya xP lol
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>D Yayyay! Nice job on the tutorial! I don't really see any spelling or grammar mistakes (whoo XD) and it was pretty easy to follow! Awesome job X)!
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heheh(grammar errors heehee)
lol
thankyou I took my time cause I wanted people to be able to follow it(not that I didn't take my time on the other one! uwah!! >.<
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Wheeeee tutorial
You told me about this on the phone XD Pretty cool
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ooooohh, so THIS is how you get those hot shades and tones. xD;
HAWT. <: <333
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lol, mmmm, yez the hotness
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wish i had the patience for that type of thing. xD;
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XD lol,yeah..*working on a picture with lots of layers* ^_^;
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