Coloring and Scanning

[Roy_D_Mylote]

Yeah, question, how should you scan and color your drawings, like in Photoshop or whatever?

[neyo the king]

Well, if you can afford that, it does seem to be the "new hip thang" for you artsy types.

Or, you might like The GIMP (http://www.gimp.org), maybe. You'd have to try it, I guess...

[CelesJessa]

What I typically do is draw my picture on drawing paper, then ink over it with nice pens ("rolling ball"? they tend to be more expensive than regular pens). Then I erase the pencil marks and scan it, and once it's in photoshop, I go to Image -> Adjustments -> Threshold and mess with that to make the lineart more uniform. Then from there you can use the magic wand tool to make the lineart on another layer then go ahead and color on lower layers.

I strongly suggest photoshop, but it is expensive, so just use what you can.

[Krylo]

Silly, CJ.

Everything is free on the internet.

Also, the GIMP is like photoshop, but free and open source. It's main weakness is that it's a bit harder to use--and to get full utility you'll probably need to hunt down some patches for it.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Assuming you have a program such as Gimp or Photoshop to do said coloring. Make sure when you scan to make the scan pretty large, i.e. larger than your desktop resolution..by a lot, so as to keep the overall image as clear as possible. Spend a LOT, and I do mean a LOT, of time practicing coloring. Lighting sources, texture, shadows, color shading, skin tones, etc. Experiment with different styles to figure out which one you find easiest to work with early on.

[QueenQeeko]

What I typically do is draw my picture on drawing paper, then ink over it with nice pens ("rolling ball"? they tend to be more expensive than regular pens). Then I erase the pencil marks and scan it, and once it's in photoshop, I go to Image -> Adjustments -> Threshold and mess with that to make the lineart more uniform. Then from there you can use the magic wand tool to make the lineart on another layer then go ahead and color on lower layers.

I strongly suggest photoshop, but it is expensive, so just use what you can.

I use a similar method, except I create my lineart by using paths and stroking it with a pt.3 square brush. As of such I scan the images witout inking them as it works faster and I don't have a steady enough hand to ink.

[CelesJessa]

I use a similar method, except I create my lineart by using paths and stroking it with a pt.3 square brush. As of such I scan the images witout inking them as it works faster and I don't have a steady enough hand to ink.

Do you have any tutorials on doing lineart that way? I've been looking for better ways to do some lineart on photoshop, but I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with the tools.

[Loyal]

I never use ballpoint pens for inking over drawings. Or any pens at all, really. More often than not, it simply slides over the pencil markings without leaving much of anything. If you can get one of those ultra-fine-tip markers, you're good to go for inking.

I don't actually ink them for scanning purposes, since I always go over it on the computer anyway... I just keep 'em that way for preservation purposes.

[CelesJessa]

I never use ballpoint pens for inking over drawings. Or any pens at all, really. More often than not, it simply slides over the pencil markings without leaving much of anything. If you can get one of those ultra-fine-tip markers, you're good to go for inking.

Really? That's weird. My pens always work perfectly when I'm inking them (unless they are running out of ink, which happens a lot since I draw a lot) Maybe it a special kind of pen?

I use these kind of pens
http://image.misterart.com/grouppix/528x352/1000/g1057.jpg
They always go over the lineart smoothly and perfectly. They were about $7 for a pack of them at staples (a little pricy for pens, but they're way nicer than cheepo pens) (I only use them for inking drawings too)

[pocheros]

For inking, I prefer Sakura Pigma Micron felt tip pens. They come in all sizes, some being ridiculously small (the 01 is .25mm, and that's not the smallest!). They're mostly waterproof and smudgeproof, and they don't bleed. Make sure not to press too hard on them, though, or they'll explode. I picked mine up at Curry's for... I don't know how much, because I went on a spending spree that day.

[Roy_D_Mylote]

See, I've been using gell pens to ink with. They work okay. Nice smooth lines. Except on occasion when they'll make an irritating noise, like something in them is rubbing against another part of the pen.

[Demetrius]

I'm looking for a way to clean up my pencil scans, is there anything to do beside trace and lighten darken to lose smudges/paper shadows?

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Depends on what program you're using. If you're using photoshop allow me to impart my wisdom to you.

1. Use Image>adjust>brightness & Contrast (I prefer using Curves since it allows for greater adjustments of black/white/grey tones for pencil scans. If you aren't well acquanted with Curves stick to Brightness & Contrast for easy mode.) Fiddle around until you've dropped most of the grey tones and give the pencil sketches a darker weight. Don't overdo it though 'cause it'll make it all pixely and ugly.

2. Make a new layer. Over, under..Doesn't matter.

3. Click the Channels Tab and make a copy of the Blue channel (click and drag the blue channel onto the little button below it that says "Create new channel" right next to the trash bin. [really doesn't matter what channel you use, I just stick with blue since it's on the bottom) This will make an easy-mode marquee of the pencil lines.

4. Delete the original layer so you have the blank one left. (trust me on this)

5. Select>Load Selection will bring up the Load Selection window. Click the Channel drop box and choose Blue Copy. Click the Invert button and then OK. Fill in with black (or whatever color you want) and voila. Dropped the white paper and easier to color with other layers if you so choose.