It's been two years since my last skin study, and I've learned quite a bit since then. I recently drew a cute image of one of the elves in my WoW comic, so as I set out to color her, I decided that I would document my process and show everyone. I enjoy making tutorials and studies; I always hope that at the very least, someone will pick up a tiny sliver of information that they didn't know before.
This tutorial is for Photoshop 7, but it will probably work in any program that uses layers and blending modes. I recommend using a tablet, but one can probably pull this off with a mouse if they have the patience.
Here's a little note:
I spent many years of my life blending colors without ever touching the smudge tool because I thought I was too good for it. Now I'm using it because it saves time. Every person should learn to blend colors manually. I don't have the space to cover it here, and it's better with trial and error anyway. So try it.
Comments
PHLiM2 Says:
wow... this will most certainly help me out a lot! thanks for this!
Kit Starr Says:
Awesome. :] I'll definitely try this technique out soon. :3
Mawrz Says:
Great tutorial, but I still don't believe relying on the smudge and blur tool is good. Its better to learn how to blend on your own.
BluesGirlNei Says:
Wow!!
I think this skin study is so useful!
Thanks for posting it!
Wedge McCloud Says:
The study itself is pretty informative, but... the pic itself is pretty bland.
What happened?
This doesn't look like your style. This doesn't even look like a style at all. From the base sketch to the shading, it looks like stuff 100 other artists have done. It looks like you're just mimicking typical, run-of-the-mill anime instead of drawing your own style. This looks like art from visual novels. When I saw the thumbnail on the main page, I couldn't even tell it was your art.
Are you trying to become more generic? Are you trying to go with something safer? Was your own unique style not getting enough attention?
This doesn't even look like Zinta anymore. (Is it just my eyes, or is this not even the same character?) The style she's drawn in lost all the emotion older sketches of her had and the outfit is so different. And her chest size has been practically doubled. Where did that come from? Are you trying to attract more viewers?
You started to break through with her and were doing something unique and different. Now it looks like you're just shoving her into the mold of some typical trope. All these changes just seem so out of place.
Are you so afraid of your own unique style being rejected that you're just following the crowd? Are you that anxious to please? And you called me "tame"...
Mobster M Says:
Heya. I tried to do the whole mask thing and it didn't work. Even a little bit.
Ya see, I opened the image, selected everything, cut it, added a new layer, made it black, added a mask and when I pasted my image, it was on a third layer, and well, nothing happened. I couldn't paste the image on the second layer with the mask or on the mask (if that's what's required), and it just sorta, sat there, not going red.
If you have the time/will, could you possibly explain it more specifically to me? I've been battling with making my line art cooperate for a while now, and I remember hearing about this technique before, so I'm really curious.
Elite Beat Tiger Says:
There is a shadow on her forehead, caused by the fringe, so why not do the same with the hair strands on the sides of her cheeks?
Star Chronicles Says:
I personally like this Tutorial, it's very helpful and is in wondrous quality! Keep up the good work! ^ ^
Who knows, i may use this sometime xD