4
LAYERING THE DRAWING
As I’m drawing my finished line work, I break the
drawing up using separate layers. This makes it much easier
to edit colours and add depth in the colouring stage. In this
drawing I create a layer for the foreground, and one for the
background. If there were other characters or elements I
would usually place them on their own layer as well.7
TIME FOR SOME CEL SHADING
Now I add animation-style cel shading. I create a
new layer, set it to Multiply and place it between the colour
and line art. Then I add shadows, using a light grey brush
at 100 per cent Opacity. By setting the layer to Multiply it
enables the colours underneath to show through, but
become darker.6
ADDING COLOUR HOLDS
Changing the colour of the lines can take things up
a notch. To do this I hold Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (PC) and click a
layer of line art (this will select only the lines). I then colour
over the lines, usually only on Tank Girl’s skin and lighter
objects in the scene. I try to not go too crazy; it’s very easy
to go overboard during this stage – the voice of experience!5
BLOCKING FLAT COLOURS
Now that I’ve finished my line art, I start the
colouring process in Photoshop. I create a new layer under
each layer of line drawings, and fill in that element with a
solid colour. Then holding down either Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl
(PC) I click the colour layer to select it, and fill in all the
different colours.3
FINISHING THE LINE WORK
Now it’s time to clean up the drawing and tighten up
the lines. Again, I lower the Opacity of my current layer and
create a new layer. I use a modified Pencil tool and a darker
colour to trace over the sketch below, adding variation in
line weight to give the drawing more personality.8
AIRBRUSH SHADING
Using the Magic Wand selection tool on the layer
of colours enables me to select certain areas to work on at
a time. Next, I create a new layer that’s set to Multiply above
the colour layer. I select an Airbrush tool on a very low
Opacity (which is also set to Multiply), and add gradient
shading and pink skin hues where I want them.PRO SECRETS
SPEND TIME
ON YOUR LINES
The lines are the
backbone of your art.
Let them shine! Play
around using fat,
skinny or tapered
lines. A good variety
of weights and styles
is sure to keep the
viewer interested. It
can also help to make
certain parts of the
artwork stand out,
and others fall back.SHORTCUTS
Hue/Saturation
Cmd+U (Mac)
Ctrl+U (PC)
Use this to pull up the
Hue/Saturation window
to modify colours
on the fly.WORKSHOP
BRUSHES
SKETCHBOOK
PRO
CUSTOM BRUSHES:SUPER YETI
A fuzzy brush with a
nice variety of sizes
with Pen Pressure.
Used for rough
sketching and layouts.5-B BEER-CAN
I use this brush for the
final line work.Workshops