Cut Paper Tutorial
A manga tutorial that covers the 'drop shadow' feature, giving the icon a paper cut-out effect. Made in CS2 - not to sure if other programs have the drop shadow option. If not, get out now just skip that part.
Turning
into
1. I cropped my image from an Ocarina of Time Manga scan. I then prepped my image:
a) Erased everything but the focus of the icon; in this case, Link.
b) Because the line art was very faded, I duplicated the original layer and set it to color burn, opacity 75%.
c) I then duplicated the original image one more time, dragged it to the top, and set it to soft light to mellow it out again. This makes for a bold (sometimes crude) effect.
d) Flatten the image, and go to Image+Mode+RGB Color. This allows for added color in an otherwise black and white pic.
e) Using the Magic Wand tool, I selected the white portion of the background to the right, and used Select+Inverse. I then cut out that part, and moved it to a fresh 100x100 blank icon. Background: white. This allows for any background changes behind the original piece.
2. Alright...we all know that's pretty boring. So I decide to take advantage of my cut+paste effort and put in a nifty background. I chose a blood stain background by
cala_jane; this one specifically because it has the remnants of a Japanese symbol in the back. I want that visible, so I rotate the image 180 degrees. Lastly, I erase the still-white background that wasn't deleted in the first place.
to
3. Better, but a little n00b-esque still, huh? I want to add color to Link so the original image isn't so bland, but am feeling to lazy at the moment to do anything about it. So, using colors from the background, I pick a couple things to color on Link: his hair, one gauntlet, and the beams near the Master Sword.
Starting with the hair: I borrow a lighter shade of yellow from the Japanese symbol, and creating a new layer (not duplicating the original one) color it in. I set that layer to multiply, 100%
to
4. Essenitally I do the same with the gauntlet; I found a nice red-brown shade somewhere on the background - might have been the blood stain - and with a new layer colored it in, setting it to multiply, 100%.
to
5. Ghetto hot-ness.
Now I'm looking around, and notice that a) still looks half-done and slopped together, and b) the beams of light don't really look like beams of light. So (leaving the half-hazard look alone for the time being) I color those an even paler shade of yellow than the hair, and set the brand-spankin new layer to color, 100%.
to
6. To help with the grey hue, I then add - my personal favorite - an exclusion layer at 100%. Those that have read my tutorials before probably knew that was coming.
to
9. Wow. That actually helped out alot more than I was expecting it to. So I decide that you can leave it here, if you want. Do it over, Spruce it up your own way, whatever. But if you came for the cut paper effect, then listen up. All you really need is a drop-shadow. And here's what you do (if your program is able to).
a) Without flattening the image, right-click the figure of Link. Uncolored Link is fine. Select Blending Options.
b) Scroll down to Drop Shadow, and highlight the option. Also click the box, to apply it.
c) For the most part, I let the settings be at default. But if you want the shadow to be a certain color, size, opacity, etc., then adjust with what you will. Click Okay when you're done.
d) Commence basking in your glory.
to
As always, if you have any questions, comments, rants, feel free to comment. I won't hesitate to reply.
Trust me.
And again as always, I'd love to see any results you could come up with. So have it. I'll see you all later. Not really, but whatever. Ciao.
Turning
into
1. I cropped my image from an Ocarina of Time Manga scan. I then prepped my image:
a) Erased everything but the focus of the icon; in this case, Link.
b) Because the line art was very faded, I duplicated the original layer and set it to color burn, opacity 75%.
c) I then duplicated the original image one more time, dragged it to the top, and set it to soft light to mellow it out again. This makes for a bold (sometimes crude) effect.
d) Flatten the image, and go to Image+Mode+RGB Color. This allows for added color in an otherwise black and white pic.
e) Using the Magic Wand tool, I selected the white portion of the background to the right, and used Select+Inverse. I then cut out that part, and moved it to a fresh 100x100 blank icon. Background: white. This allows for any background changes behind the original piece.
2. Alright...we all know that's pretty boring. So I decide to take advantage of my cut+paste effort and put in a nifty background. I chose a blood stain background by
cala_jane; this one specifically because it has the remnants of a Japanese symbol in the back. I want that visible, so I rotate the image 180 degrees. Lastly, I erase the still-white background that wasn't deleted in the first place.
to
3. Better, but a little n00b-esque still, huh? I want to add color to Link so the original image isn't so bland, but am feeling to lazy at the moment to do anything about it. So, using colors from the background, I pick a couple things to color on Link: his hair, one gauntlet, and the beams near the Master Sword.
Starting with the hair: I borrow a lighter shade of yellow from the Japanese symbol, and creating a new layer (not duplicating the original one) color it in. I set that layer to multiply, 100%
to
4. Essenitally I do the same with the gauntlet; I found a nice red-brown shade somewhere on the background - might have been the blood stain - and with a new layer colored it in, setting it to multiply, 100%.
to
5. Ghetto hot-ness.
Now I'm looking around, and notice that a) still looks half-done and slopped together, and b) the beams of light don't really look like beams of light. So (leaving the half-hazard look alone for the time being) I color those an even paler shade of yellow than the hair, and set the brand-spankin new layer to color, 100%.
to
6. To help with the grey hue, I then add - my personal favorite - an exclusion layer at 100%. Those that have read my tutorials before probably knew that was coming.
to
9. Wow. That actually helped out alot more than I was expecting it to. So I decide that you can leave it here, if you want. Do it over, Spruce it up your own way, whatever. But if you came for the cut paper effect, then listen up. All you really need is a drop-shadow. And here's what you do (if your program is able to).
a) Without flattening the image, right-click the figure of Link. Uncolored Link is fine. Select Blending Options.
b) Scroll down to Drop Shadow, and highlight the option. Also click the box, to apply it.
c) For the most part, I let the settings be at default. But if you want the shadow to be a certain color, size, opacity, etc., then adjust with what you will. Click Okay when you're done.
d) Commence basking in your glory.
to
As always, if you have any questions, comments, rants, feel free to comment. I won't hesitate to reply.
Trust me.
And again as always, I'd love to see any results you could come up with. So have it. I'll see you all later. Not really, but whatever. Ciao.