Coloring a black and white base (part I)
Hello~
Since there haven't been any anime icon tutorial posted here yet, I bring mine ^^ This tutorial basically explains one way to color a black and white image: plain color layers set to Multiply.
Tutorial #1 - Maryweather
From
to
Step #1 ~ cropping & cleaning.
Since the base image is in Indexed mode, we first need to change this to RGB (otherwise we wouldn't be able to add colors). Go to Image > Mode > RGB. Then crop the image the way you want. But the result can be a bit blurry. To fix that, I suggest to use Sharpen (Filters > Enhance > Sharpen) with a value of 15, but you can adjust this value depending on the quality of the image you use. Between 10 et 20 is fine; more isn't a good idea, because we're going to duplicate the base several times and set it to Overlay, which will also sharpen the image. Finally, check the Levels (go to Tools > Color Tools > Levels and hit "Auto") and you should get something like that:
Step #2 ~ coloring.
Create a new transparent layer set to Multiply, and be sure it's placed above the base. Then take your favorite brush tool and color her face on this transparent layer (not on the base!). Each time you color another part of the image, create a new layer, put it above the others and use the brush tool. Since we're going to use a texture in a next step, you can only use plain colors, no need to create gradients. I just made one for her dress, otherwise it would have been too... flat.
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I only used Multiply to color this image, but other layer modes can work fine as well, like Burn for instance. Don't hesitate to play around with the blending modes and the opacities to know the different effects you can get :)
Step #3 ~ enhancing colors.
Flatten the image, copy the layer you get, cancel (i.e. you get back all your layers but the flattened version of the image is still in your clipboard) and paste this layer above all the others. Since this layer is in Floating selection mode, select it and hit the New layer button: now you can use it as a layer. Once you've flattened the image, if you use shortcuts it's just Ctrl-C, Ctrl-Z, Ctrl-V, New layer. Duplicate this layer and desaturate the first one (select your layer, and then go to Layer > Color > Desaturate).
Set the desaturated layer to Overlay at opacity 50 %,and the non-desaturated one to Overlay at opacity 45%.
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Step #4 ~ the background.
I took a texture from a batch by anais_dirge, because it reminds me of the childhood world, which fits the image. I chose this one because it has a vertical bar on the right, juste where the base is empty. Set it to Normal at opacity 100%, after having erased the part that covers Maryweather with your favorite technique : Eraser, Selection tool... Personally I prefer using masks because you only make parts of your textures invisible and never erase them. Since we're going to use a light texture, duplicate the background and set it to Multiply at opacity 100%, otherwise some little details will become completely invisible...
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Step #5 ~ we could stop here but I'm not that satisfied with these vivid colors, and I'm sure the little girl could better blend with the background. To soften the colors, we're going to mimic the well-known "Photoshop's Blue Exclusion Layer". Here's the technique, courtesy of icon_tutorial: take a white layer, and above it put a dark blue layer set to Substract at opacity 100%. Flatten these layers and get a pale yellow layer that you set to Multiply at opacity 100%:
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Then create another dark blue layer (of the color you used previously) and set it to Screen at opacity 70% (without it, the result would be far too yellowish).
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Step #6 ~ I like those faded colors, but this resultat is too dull...
To enhance the contrasts, use the same technique than previously (in Step #3): flatten, copy, cancel, paste and desaturate. Then set this layer to Hard light at opacity 100% (I just love the effect brought by Desaturate/Hard Light *__*):
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Step #7 ~ hmm... the black outline of Maryweather' hair stands out too much. To soften it and put some reflections, I take a light texture from a batch by anty_ (my favorite light textures of the moment ^^). Set it to Screenat opacity 100% under the last desaturated layer:
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=
I'm almost satisfied with the result, but I prefer duplicating the dark blue layer from Step #5 and set it to Screen at opacity 30% to soften the parts in black:
+
=
Step #8 ~ phew, that's all for the background. Now let's add a little decoration on the top right corner because it seems empty. I used a brush by colorfilter with a home made tiny text (SimHei size 3 with all text options checked; write anything, it doesn't matter). The pink color comes from Maryweather's dress. To pick a color from an image when it contains many layers, flatten it temporarily, pick the color you want and then cancel (Ctrl-Z): this way, you get back all your layers but the color you chose remains selected.
Step #9 ~ add a 1 px border to finish the icon. There are several ways to do that, here's the one I use: create a new white layer, go to Select > All, then Select > Shrink and type the width you want for your border (in this case, 1px). You've got it!
The final touch: I don't want my border to hide the right side of my image so I flatten all my layers excepted the border and move the layer I get 1px left. The end (at last!).
Don't hesitate to tell me if this tutorial was useful to you or if some steps remains unclear. English isn't my native tongue and I don't know if all that I wrote was understandable ^^;
Since there haven't been any anime icon tutorial posted here yet, I bring mine ^^ This tutorial basically explains one way to color a black and white image: plain color layers set to Multiply.
Tutorial #1 - Maryweather
From
to
Step #1 ~ cropping & cleaning.
Since the base image is in Indexed mode, we first need to change this to RGB (otherwise we wouldn't be able to add colors). Go to Image > Mode > RGB. Then crop the image the way you want. But the result can be a bit blurry. To fix that, I suggest to use Sharpen (Filters > Enhance > Sharpen) with a value of 15, but you can adjust this value depending on the quality of the image you use. Between 10 et 20 is fine; more isn't a good idea, because we're going to duplicate the base several times and set it to Overlay, which will also sharpen the image. Finally, check the Levels (go to Tools > Color Tools > Levels and hit "Auto") and you should get something like that:
Step #2 ~ coloring.
Create a new transparent layer set to Multiply, and be sure it's placed above the base. Then take your favorite brush tool and color her face on this transparent layer (not on the base!). Each time you color another part of the image, create a new layer, put it above the others and use the brush tool. Since we're going to use a texture in a next step, you can only use plain colors, no need to create gradients. I just made one for her dress, otherwise it would have been too... flat.
»
»
»
I only used Multiply to color this image, but other layer modes can work fine as well, like Burn for instance. Don't hesitate to play around with the blending modes and the opacities to know the different effects you can get :)
Step #3 ~ enhancing colors.
Flatten the image, copy the layer you get, cancel (i.e. you get back all your layers but the flattened version of the image is still in your clipboard) and paste this layer above all the others. Since this layer is in Floating selection mode, select it and hit the New layer button: now you can use it as a layer. Once you've flattened the image, if you use shortcuts it's just Ctrl-C, Ctrl-Z, Ctrl-V, New layer. Duplicate this layer and desaturate the first one (select your layer, and then go to Layer > Color > Desaturate).
Set the desaturated layer to Overlay at opacity 50 %,and the non-desaturated one to Overlay at opacity 45%.
+
+
=
Step #4 ~ the background.
I took a texture from a batch by anais_dirge, because it reminds me of the childhood world, which fits the image. I chose this one because it has a vertical bar on the right, juste where the base is empty. Set it to Normal at opacity 100%, after having erased the part that covers Maryweather with your favorite technique : Eraser, Selection tool... Personally I prefer using masks because you only make parts of your textures invisible and never erase them. Since we're going to use a light texture, duplicate the background and set it to Multiply at opacity 100%, otherwise some little details will become completely invisible...
*
=
*
=
Step #5 ~ we could stop here but I'm not that satisfied with these vivid colors, and I'm sure the little girl could better blend with the background. To soften the colors, we're going to mimic the well-known "Photoshop's Blue Exclusion Layer". Here's the technique, courtesy of icon_tutorial: take a white layer, and above it put a dark blue layer set to Substract at opacity 100%. Flatten these layers and get a pale yellow layer that you set to Multiply at opacity 100%:
-
=
*
=
Then create another dark blue layer (of the color you used previously) and set it to Screen at opacity 70% (without it, the result would be far too yellowish).
+
=
Step #6 ~ I like those faded colors, but this resultat is too dull...
To enhance the contrasts, use the same technique than previously (in Step #3): flatten, copy, cancel, paste and desaturate. Then set this layer to Hard light at opacity 100% (I just love the effect brought by Desaturate/Hard Light *__*):
+
=
Step #7 ~ hmm... the black outline of Maryweather' hair stands out too much. To soften it and put some reflections, I take a light texture from a batch by anty_ (my favorite light textures of the moment ^^). Set it to Screenat opacity 100% under the last desaturated layer:
+
=
I'm almost satisfied with the result, but I prefer duplicating the dark blue layer from Step #5 and set it to Screen at opacity 30% to soften the parts in black:
+
=
Step #8 ~ phew, that's all for the background. Now let's add a little decoration on the top right corner because it seems empty. I used a brush by colorfilter with a home made tiny text (SimHei size 3 with all text options checked; write anything, it doesn't matter). The pink color comes from Maryweather's dress. To pick a color from an image when it contains many layers, flatten it temporarily, pick the color you want and then cancel (Ctrl-Z): this way, you get back all your layers but the color you chose remains selected.
Step #9 ~ add a 1 px border to finish the icon. There are several ways to do that, here's the one I use: create a new white layer, go to Select > All, then Select > Shrink and type the width you want for your border (in this case, 1px). You've got it!
The final touch: I don't want my border to hide the right side of my image so I flatten all my layers excepted the border and move the layer I get 1px left. The end (at last!).
Don't hesitate to tell me if this tutorial was useful to you or if some steps remains unclear. English isn't my native tongue and I don't know if all that I wrote was understandable ^^;