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HEY COLORISTS --Are you tired of getting turned down?
HEY SHOP OWNERS --Are you wishing your colorists were better?

Okay, so... turns out this is an easy fix!
Being a Shop Owner, Lineartist, and Colorist I've been around the B/C Block a few times.
I've noticed an abundance of Colorists out there just looking for shops to work at.
Well- here's your chance to show them what you're worth!

Here's how things are gonna roll:
Quote:

: Post:
:Getting Started:
:Examples:
:Tutorials:
:FunStuff:
:FAQ:
:Link:
:Affiliates:
:Res:
:Res:
Getting Started:
Quick Assessment:
-What Program Are You Using?
-Does It Support Layers?
-Do You Draw?
-Do You Own a Tablet?

These will be the first questions I ask when troubleshooting.
I'll fill this one out:
-Photoshop Elements 3.0
-Yes
-Yes
-Yes

This thread will *hopefully* teach you the basics to lineart-coloring. Not just filling in the lines, but actually coloring and making it pretty!
Examples:
(Click to Zoom)
Standard Lineart of a Cat: This is what you get
from a basic Lineart Auction- Usually what colorists get.
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How not to Shade: This is an easy mistake...
Don't only shade one side of the leg! It is a tube more
or less-- treat it that way. Shading goes on both sides!
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Cel Shading: AKA Comic book shading. This
is an easy way to shade and also the fastest. Most
lineartists shade their templates like this.
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Soft Shading: This is the most common among
pets. It's most versatile in my opinion. This is
basically cel shading with a blur filter on top.
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How I Shade: I mix the two a bit because, upon
further reconnaissance, some shadows are sharp
and some are soft. Thus having both = okay to do.
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Tutorials
How To THOROUGHLY Color:
I've done this tutorial in Photoshop Elements-- That's what the key commands are.
However- most of these commands are more or less universal.

Step 1/2: Open your document and move the template to a
new layer! (ctrl+O) for Open; (ctrl+C) for Copy; (ctrl+V) for Paste
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Step 3/4: Open the Hues and Saturation Menu (Ctrl+U) and
change the color to whatever you want it to be. Then set that
layer to "Multiply" (This makes white transparent)(It also sets
colored pixels to a different value depending on-- no. I'm not
going geek on you guys. It makes things crazy- just try it)
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Step 5/6: Use the Fill tool on a new layer under the Lineart
and use the Magic Wandy Select tool (Real Name.) to
select the unwanted region.
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Step 7/8: Find the expand selection tool(Yes, you have to
search for it.) in the Select > Modify > Expand. Area and
expand it about 2 px (depends on the cleanliness of the
lines) and hit the delete key. (it should turn transparent)
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Step 9: I've run into this OVER 9000! times. The lineart is
too dark or too light. You can't do much... unless you use
Levels (ctrl+L). The graph represents all of the grey values
in the image... percentage-wise. The White Arrow recalculates
the brightest white value, setting it lower will make greys
whiter. The Grey Arrow recalculates mid-tones, this is
the main toggle you will end up using. It makes minor
changes. The Black Arrow recalculates the blackest values
Definitely helpful when you're shading a dark pet.
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Step 10: Okay there's like 50 ways to put patterns on the
pet. I make a new layer and hit (ctrl+G) for a clipping mask
this can also be done with a right click on the layer. You
can also lock the layer however, you will erase in a solid color.
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FunStuff

I'd give a "please do not steal" here but... you guys know
better and it's only one stage of one gender- you'd go through
more trouble paying a lineartist to match my style.

CONTEST!! :3
Best Coloring Gets a prize:
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So Do your best! :3
Runs Until: March 30th <3
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(More practice lineart on the way)
FAQ
Aka Whine-Editorials

Q: I don't have money how can I do this?
A: Elements comes free with most Wacom
tablets. The Gimp is a freeware, as is oC v.1.1
Pixia is also something I'm experimenting with.
Talk to me about it if you need help <3

Q: How long have you been coloring for?
A: 5 Years? It took a LOT of practice-
so maybe I'll save you 3 years of struggle?

Q: How Old are you?
A: 17 as of Nov.

Q: How much do Tablets cost?
A: 4x6 Tablet = what I have:
Bamboo = 80's Graphire= 90's
Intuos= 200
If you can find anything cheaper
go for it! But I'm a Wacom Luver

Q: What if my shading is on
a separate layer from the line-
art?
A: THANK THE ARTIST! This
will totally save you time in a
jam/ mad rush for pets. Trust me!

Q: This is taking FOREVER!
A: Coloring shouldn't-- you need
to utilize everything you've done
from orders... Save stripe patterns
and wings from previous orders
to use again! It definitely helps!

Links
Programs:
Freeware:
GimpShop Is Almost Photoshop
Sai Is For Those Willing to Learn Japanese (Kawaii Tool and all)
Pixia Probably Has a Kawaii Tool
Paint.net Is Not Almost MS Paint
Demos:
Adobe Has a Monopoly
oC Has an English Button

Hopeless Case? Try A.S.S. Lessons

More Tutorials:
Moar Visual? Try Videos!
Moar Reference Material? Link
Using a Mouse? Link Link
Need Shading Help? Link
Coloring in General Link
Uber Tutorial Site Link
Affiliates
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[URL=http://tinyurl.com/2ehqkx][IMG]http://tinyurl.com/2z9qrt[/IMG][/URL]
Additional/ Wiser Advice:

Ginger.Duckie

If I can get my two-pence in on the works.. One two three testing testing, 'ello, I'm Jeshi, been a B/C owner, colorist, artist, lineart-editor, and even writer, and if I have one word of advice to give to all ye.. things.. out there, it's use. your. resources! I find a lot of colorists or otherwise artists who draw again and again, and who have been doing the same for five years, and who still aren't very.. ehh... advanced? You could learn all that you progressed in five years and more very easily in a week or two, if you just put effort into every picture, experiment, research, and learn. Use whatever resources you have, whatever you can, and it's not that hard, it's not talent, and it doesn't take ten years to learn how to cell-shade - only a few pictures, and then you progress in those ten years!
-flails- Use each picture wisely! ;-;
i love you
Iranian Tochme Sag
i love you


<3 <3 <3

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