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COLORING
FLATS,
METHOD #2
| Step 1:
Find a picture you want to color. It helps if the lines on the
drawing are a strong black instead of thin or done in pencil.
This is because the areas of color are going to be defined
without using any anti-aliasing to smooth out the edges. |
Step 2:
Open the picture you want to color in Photoshop (or a similar
program)
I've chosen a drawing by my friend
RSJ |
Step 3: Now
the lines need to be modified so that you can color underneath
them. There are two ways to do this:
Way 1: Select everything, cut it, and paste it into a new
layer (Keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V).
Then change the mode of the new layer to "Multiply"
Way 2: Select everything and cut it
(Keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C). Then create a new
layer, which can be done by going to Layer >> New >> Layer,
clicking the new layer button, or using the keyboard shortcut
Shft+Ctrl+N.
Fill this new layer with black using the paint bucket tool.
Now change to Quick Mask Mode. To do this you can click on the
button to switch to quick mask mode or use the keyboard shortcut
Q.
Now that you're in Quick Mask Mode paste the lines
(Ctrl+V). The picture will look weird, with a black
background and colored lines.
Now switch back to Standard Mode by clicking the button right
next to the one you clicked for Quick Mask Mode or using the
keyboard shortcut Q. The whole picture will appear black with
marching ants going around the areas that're supposed to be
white.
Now hit the delete button to get rid of all those areas that
aren't supposed to be black.
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Step 4:
Time to start figuring out where your colors will go. To
do this
you'll need a new layer for defining the areas of color on. If
the layer appears above the lines layer make sure to click and
drag it below the lines.
I usually use the Polygonal Lasso Tool with the Fill Tool or the
Pencil Tool (click and hold on the Brush Tool in the toolbox to
be able to change it to the Pencil Tool) for my flats.
Be sure the anti-aliased box isn't checked for the Lasso or Fill
Tools.
The reason for this is because the end product of doing the
flats with this method is to have clearly defined areas of
color. Here's a close up of two shapes:
The one on the left was done with the Polygonal Lasso Tool and
Fill Tool anti-aliased, and the one on the right was done with
the anti-aliased option turned off. The one on the left looks
smoother, but the one on the right has more clearly defined
edges. Also, be sure that if you use the Eraser Tool that it's
set on Pencil mode.
It doesn't matter if everything is the color you want to make
it. The important thing is that everything that you want to be a
different color is a different color.
Even though I could put the background color on the same layer
as the character colors, it's just a habit of mine to have the
background separate. |
Step 5:
Copy the colors layer by either clicking and dragging it to the
"Create a new layer" button or right clicking on it and
selecting "Duplicate Layer..."
Note: This step is purely because I like to be
able to go back and tweak areas or to completely redo a section
if I end up not liking, for example, the way I colored the hair.
Using one layer will work fine if you don't feel you need to be
able edit whole sections later. The rest of this tutorial will
go on using two layers method, however, so make the necessary
adjustments if you're gonna use only one layer. |
Step 6:
Fill the color areas on the new layer with the actual colors you
want everything to be.
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Step 7: Now
your flats are all done and you can go ahead and start on the
shading and highlighting. When you want to color an area you can
select it on the lower layer with the Magic Wand Tool, hide the
marching ants that will appear (Ctrl + H),
and color on the upper layer.
Don't forget to change the Pencil Tool back to the Brush Tool to
get nice smooth shading and highlighting. |
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