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Need some tips!

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 12:05 pm
by Nutcracker
Here`s a little experiment, because I`m bad at drawing people so I need critique to make my crappy art any better... This is a picture of my boyfriend resting his head on the back of the couch. Of course, it is not finished yet (the couch and shades are still in pencil).
I know the head is big, because it`s just my cartoony style and I like it this way. The rest of the body is pretty realistic cause I was drawing with a photo and it looks exactly the same. Oh, yeah, he looks like a girl in reality, too. :)

So please tell me what is wrong with my shading. I`m sure there`s something wrong... it is my second time ever. I used PSP8

The light on the hair is my worst nightmare. I have no idea how to do this :cry:
http://nutcracker.keenspace.com/images/Hare3.JPG
http://nutcracker.keenspace.com/images/Hare4.JPG

Is it better with the lights effect or without it?

Is it nice? just a teeny tiny wittle bit?...

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:41 pm
by Mvmarcz
your shading is fine :D What I did when I first started shading was I would sit in low light and just start at the way the light would be on my arms and hands. from certain angles light can catch even the smallest textures, and others it can wash out everything. It all depends on how detailed you want something to be. Where your lights coming from, and the kind of light that is casting the shade. All of that matters. But like I said. It looks fine especially for a second time. And as for drawing people, get your guy to pose for you or buy an anatomy book :) just keep drawing and drawing and drawing.

er I hope I was helpful, I have a tendency to ramble

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 4:05 pm
by Levi-chan
They look okay. ;)

If you want things to be cartoony, try using a cel-style approach. Tweak the contrasts between your shading layer and your base layer so they're more distinguishable.

For the overlay layer, try using a color besides a lighter shade of your base layer. Make it the same color as the source of light (i.e., if your light source is a street light, make the overlay layer a bit on the reddish side. ;))

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:05 pm
by Nutcracker
Good to see that it`s not that bad after all. Anyone knows about some kind of shiny hair tutorial?

Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:59 am
by RemusShepherd
Nutcracker wrote:Good to see that it`s not that bad after all. Anyone knows about some kind of shiny hair tutorial?
Do a Google search on hair tutorial -- they're all over the place. Here is one I've used in the past.

Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 3:06 am
by Eunice_P
RemusShepherd wrote:
Nutcracker wrote:Good to see that it`s not that bad after all. Anyone knows about some kind of shiny hair tutorial?
Do a Google search on hair tutorial -- they're all over the place. Here is one I've used in the past.
That's freaking amazing coloring skills. I wish I could do that. *still trying to figure out how to use the pen tool in potatoshop*

Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:19 pm
by Christwriter
Eunice_P wrote:
RemusShepherd wrote:
Nutcracker wrote:Good to see that it`s not that bad after all. Anyone knows about some kind of shiny hair tutorial?
Do a Google search on hair tutorial -- they're all over the place. Here is one I've used in the past.
That's freaking amazing coloring skills. I wish I could do that. *still trying to figure out how to use the pen tool in potatoshop*
That's the technique I use. I extended the use of the pen tool to do all my flats with it. I don't use outlines so it's a godsend for getting the sharp edges I want.

Another tip I could add to this is, if you're having trouble getting good coloring out of this, do everything in a nutural tone, like the cool browns swatches, to make sure you get the shading you want. Then select it and add the color you want on a layer set to "overlay". It'll give you better tones than if you just did it by doing your coloring at the same time that you shade. Photoshop's swatches aren't exactly the best color pallate in the world when it comes to shading.

CW

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 12:30 pm
by Nutcracker
What the... :o this tutorial is for people who can actually draw :wink:

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:13 pm
by Mvmarcz
Eunice_P wrote:
That's freaking amazing coloring skills. I wish I could do that. *still trying to figure out how to use the pen tool in potatoshop*
The pen tool in photoshop is evil...EVIIIIIIIIIL

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:20 pm
by Gengar003
Cute!

Only thing I notice is on the face, you're shading a lot in a little space. Make the overall color change take up a bit more space maybe?

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:05 am
by Nutcracker
Yep. You are right. It looks flat, like a bas-relief, doesn`t it? :-?