95 replies to this topic

[Yun]

Double-handed dao?

Looks really promising!

[Sephodwyrm]

Actually its supposed to be a Tang dynasty era dismounted general with a Mo Dao...

But I never really seen what a Mo Dao is, so I assume its something like this...

But anyway, still working on the line-art and cleaning up sketch lines so that people can start coloring it. I am going to write a second tutorial based on this guy, with special tips that comes, ultimately, from deviantart.com tutorials.

[Sephodwyrm]

OK, guys, let the fun begin.

Feel free to download the 417 KB lineart file to start coloring. Do post your personal color combinations and show off to CHF what you can do. I bet there are some that are better than I am, but lurking...lurking like some crouched leopard...

Edited by Sephodwyrm, 30 August 2006 - 12:44 AM.

[Sephodwyrm]

No accuracy needed. But I would start a thread with all the results posted and the CHF members would decide which one's the best.

I would not enter the competition, just to tell you guys.
But I am still making a coloring tutorial for this.
Be warned that CHF members may want historical stuff.
They are very demanding.

But first of all we always start with a line-art.

[Sephodwyrm]

The base color is done...in 2 hours.
(Friggin long for me)

So I found out the reason:
I wasn't using the Lasso TOOL!!!
Here's a short tutorial on how to use the Lasso Tool. Its very helpful in helping you to color a weird shaped region RAPIDLY...

Select the lasso tool.
The circular lasso is a free-hand lasso. You draw out the shape of the region free hand. It is recommended for very weird shaped regions and people with sleighty hands. Tablet recommended.

THe square lasso is the polygonal lasso. People with shaking hands (like me) and only mouse should use it. You might get frustrated with it though...so be warned.

The magnetic lasso is for truly lazy (AKA smart) people. It only seems to work properly in clean linearts and not so confusing regions. It works really bad in small regions.

And after you have properly made a region, you can color it in.

[Sephodwyrm]

This is the introduction to highlights. I am pretty inept at this, so this is just a few basic steps.
First you always set the light direction first. In this case I am pretending it comes in from the left of the picture. And yes I felt that silver is cooler than bronze, hence the color change.


I use burn and dodge a lot. You should too.
BURN, the pinching finger icon (for some reason)
It increases the darkness of the area dramatically.


Remember to set the exposure. I use 77% for intense burns. Set it lower for less intense burns...


And then start burning. Here is the basic effects of burn.
Clicking on the same area twice means twice the burn...


You may want to zoom out and do a general burn after you have burnt the little details. Remember the general direction of the light. You may need to increase the brush size to perform an adequate general burn.


After burn, you should DODGE.
Vice versa is also alright, but I prefer burning before dodging.


Effects of the dodge. Dodge increases the brightness.
So for this, I dodged the left side a lot, and since the metal rim has a curvature to it, I try to recreate that curvature and bends by dodging and burning appropriately.


Do a little BLUR (which reduces contrast between two colors) for touches.
Don't over do it for metallic surfaces or it would look like fabric.
Hope this helped...erm...it helped for me...but I'm crappy...

[General_Zhaoyun]

Fantastic artwork Seph, besides photoshop, you might want to use freehand as well..

[Sephodwyrm]

Erm, the Mo Dao was the hardest to outline...
So the only recommendation i can give you is:
DO IT YOURSELF!!!

Btw, freehand requires way too much technique. CG is the way to go. It will replace traditional art very quickly IMO...(don't throw **** at me, I say it only because I CG better than freehand).

Anyway, here is a face tutorial for those who want to make a face. I make crappy faces so don't complain if you follow my instructions and make him look like a piggy.


As usual, use the burn tool to shadow the face. The human face is like a ball (kinda) with the center part jutting out. But also remember the light is coming in from the left side of the picture...


Use the dodge to bring out the nose and lips, and the cheeks.
Dodge and Burn would be used again and again in this tutorial.
Basically the contour of the face has appeared. But this guy looks as if he's been smoking 5 pipes of opium for the last hour. Needs blood on his face.


And hence we use the airbrush technique to correct this ashen faced guido.


Decrease the opacity and flow for a real airbrush effect.
Always remember to abuse the system. We're not making a rosy cheeked virgin.
We're making someone hardcore.


Great. The evil man has blood on his face now. He has successfully completed the opium rehab program. Lets give him a round of applause as we continue to work on his face.


As I said before, I am very inept at faces. This guy looks weird. Wonder what the opium rehab did to him.

[Sephodwyrm]

OK. This is it for today. Very tired...
I hate the color combination, btw.

[Yun]

I normally love yellow, but in this case the yellow might be better as red or blue.

[Sephodwyrm]

Kinda too late to change that now...
I'm lazy.

Btw, YELLOW and RED do NOT work well with BURN and DODGE.
(yellow dodge becomes light yellow, but burning makes it orange!
for red, dodge makes it brown!!!! burning makes it dark red...)
You have been warned.
Btw, will people that has downloaded the lineart for coloring please respond so that I can have a headcount of how many are actually in this competition?

Edited by Sephodwyrm, 01 September 2006 - 02:13 AM.

[WangEnlai]

I'll go for it when I have time. (This sat & sun)

Kinda too late to change that now...
I'm lazy.

That's how every artist is , "hey that part doesn't look right."

"Fred it's too late to change it now."

[Sephodwyrm]

Finally, job done. Color combination is not to my liking.
Btw, I am still keeping to my word that my work will not be in the competition (if there's any). Too ashamed to put it for sport.

But I made it into this Background 1024x768 for people who like to have some background.
Have fun guys. Here is a sample:



Link to Tang General Background, 561 KB
Click to view the background, and save it for your desktop.

Edited by Sephodwyrm, 01 September 2006 - 05:59 PM.

[Yang Zongbao]

MODAO FTW.

Winnar. I like.

[Yun]

YZB: Wanna make that your avatar for Zhao Zhenghu? It's got the modao and the Khitan bow