Shading Tutorial

Tutorial requested by Eriartist 

STEPS:


1. You need your outline of course, so make sure it is solid, no gaps. If there are gaps it will be a pain to add your color later on.

2. Add your flat color in a separate layer, I use my wand tool and select everything inside of my outlines so then I only have to worry about coloring where I need to. In your flat color, if the characters design calls for a certain kind of effect; such as around the eye in this picture, go ahead and add it. This effect should not effect the shading later on.

3. Make a new layer and set the mode to "shade." With this mode, it will make your brush slightly transparent so it makes it very convenient. HOWEVER, if you make your color too dark (such as using the darkest of blacks) it will not work well and make your shading too dark!! For the picture above I used a dull red color that was a mix of grey and red; notice how on the black fur it is still very dark, that is why we do not use black for our shade. BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGIN TO SHADE, DETERMINE A LIGHT SOURCE!!! When you have determined your light source, begin to messily scribble where you want your shades to be, but don't make it too messy, or it won't look right.

4. Take the Watercolor tool and lightly go over your shading to blend it out. If your tablet has pressure sensitivity then this step should be fairly simple, just make sure not to press down too hard. Be gentle.

5. Keep the same light source as in step 3!! Make a new layer and set it to the "Luminosity" mode. This will do the same as the shade except things will be lighter, use this for your highlights. When you have set the layer mode, scribble your highlights, basically the same as Step 3 but for your highlights. You can use pretty much any color for this layer.

6. Repeat step 4 with your highlights.

I hope this helps someone
I use Paint Tool Sai and a Wacom Bamboo Create tablet 
If you have something different I cannot guarantee things will work out the same, I'm sorry.

Do You have any questions?? Feel free to ask!!

The drawing above was a contest entry for a contest held by M1SS1NG-MARI the character belongs to her and his name is Makival 

THE FINISHED PRODUCT:

Makival .:CONTEST ENTRY:.