How to easily color sketches in Photoshop

[CharmsB55]

This was awesome--you explained everything so well and your artwork is amazing! Question: how would you add "depth" to the drawing by adding different coloring and shading to it? I have my drawing color blocked, but want it to look more professional. Thanks!

[xgcwardog]

@CharmsB55 Thank you! That's a whole area of study, hard to explain in 500 characters! My best advice is to know your light source, and show that by depicting accurate shadows and light bounce. (Something dark next to an object that has light shining on it will be bright). Many small things you don't even notice come into place. For example, objects further away outside tend to be lighter, due to atmospheric haze. There's really a TON of things to consider.

[UndefinedMentation]

What photoshop is this?

[xgcwardog]

@UndefinedMentation CS5

[THEgirlONfiire]

THANK YOU!!!! Your drawing is amazing by the way :)

[CodyHoardTV1]

Great video! That helps me a lot!

[MrSupa5]

Where can we see the finished work?

[gilon1239]

@xgcwardog what do you mean by tablet

[MrSupa5]

@gilon1239 its an electronic device that is a tablet (couldnt find a better word) and it has a pencil that comes with it and they are connected to your computer and you use the tablet as paper and you draw with the electronical pencil on it and its kind of like a mouse but since its a pencil most people see it as easier to use then the mouse.. alot of teachers use the tablet in America (mostly when they get bored of cleaning the chalkboard)..... btw sorry my description sucks..... try google

[Redgrave66]

5:44 he said Cockpit XD

[uhgal]

thx helped me alot!!

[metan75]

liked and favorite.

[soren2294]

so helpful sooooo helpful! thank you this is exactly what i was looking for!

[HollyAngelDreamer]

I've been trying to figure this out for ages! Thank you so much for posting this!!!

[SkyeEventide]

This was SO amazingly helpful!! Thank you!!

[Gorekiller6]

@xgcwardog How did you get you sketch to look so neat? My sketches usually look 'bumpy' or something rather when I shade them, but yours look nice and even.

[maybriri]

I DID NOT KNOW YOU COULD DO THAT MULTIPLY THING

GOD I AM SO STUPID

EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE

THANK YOU

[MJCPeters]

Excellent tutorial style - I learned a lot

Thank you for explaining the why and how, that makes it much easier to understand.

and thanks for the shortcut explanations. So many tutorials use shortcut keys and no way for us to know what just happened. Again thanks

[veilx]

Holy fuck, I've been doing this all wrong for so many years. HLASFJ THANK YOU> :D

[Jasonzilla]

This video is exactly what I needed! Thank you so much for it! Oh, and your sketch is great as well.

[YamisAwesome]

I have a question. When I try to use the curve tool short cut, it says there is a program error. Do you know what this error might be or how I can fix it?

[xgcwardog]

@YamisAwesome Does it still happen when you go to Image>Adjustments>Curves?

[YamisAwesome]

@xgcwardog yes.

[JPmoozik]

DUDE,

LIST OF AWESOME THINGS IN THIS VIDEO

A. That Arwing looks freakin' schweet.

B. This method is so easy!

C. You esplained it so clearly!!

I'm totally using this! Thank you!!

[vismadring]

this is the only video i watch for coloring

:D

[Castlefullofstring]

i can't lock or unlock or do anything with my background layer...why is this?

[SpiTnRoach]

@Castlefullofstring you gotta double click the name and rename it, cos its specially locked or somethin like that.

[BGeeTea]

Thanks for the video! I just got photoshop and I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the functions. This help cleared things up nicely. Very useful!

[jacksonbiscuit]

YOU ARE SUCH A DUDE.

[indigokitkat]

how do you select?

[MaliceGirl09]

Thank you so much for explaining this! I have a hard time figuring out photoshop and how to use it. But mostly on coloring. :3

This video really flow to me and help me understand.

I have question though:

Will this also work on digital lineart drawings or that's a bit complicated to do? O_O

[Mysticalseacreature]

I'm new to this coloring shit, and I have a really stupid question,

which brush to use? @_______@"

[MiPedoteTUMBA]

WOW man this is so awesome! I've always wanted to color my sketches in PS! I'm going to try it soon. Sick drawing too!

[DeadP00L757]

Thank-You

Awesome

Great Job

[AmberJFMeZoo]

yaaaaaaay!!! ty ty ty!! <3

[furrmie6]

You've explained this very well! This has helped out A LOT! Thank You!

[eScythe]

i love starfox btw, great sketch

[eScythe]

thanks a lot :D

[niknak3345]

is there a way that you can get the background to be like 100% white and get all of your lines 100% black???? just asking in case you might know how. :c

[xgcwardog]

@niknak3345 Slow reply! Sorry! There's no concrete method of doing this both quickly and cleanly that I know of. You can use your curves controls and you can get fairly close, then smooth things out by brushing them. Open up curves and make an "s-curve" (google that for a full explanation) and tweak that until it looks good. Then go at it with an eraser or brush tool. Let me know if that helps!

[niknak3345]

@xgcwardog ok thanks anyway!!! I actually did find a way to do it, in case others were wondering (since my post was liked) I just removed the color then went to adjust color> and then replace color and messed around with the lightness. but you have to take a very clean picture for it to work or your lines will come out really blurry. Thanks! :D

[xgcwardog]

@niknak3345 Whatever works best for you! There are many ways to solve a problem with Photoshop. Being able to innovate and fix it yourself on the fly like that are what gets you to a higher level of Photoshop-fu. Keep at it!

[Sneakwitty]

Thank you, this is a good way to start. I'm going to try it now

[LEEEEROYJENKINZ]

@xgcwardog I was wondering if there was any way to make it so whites are not colored at all?

[theadoork]

This video helped me so much! Thank you kindly. God bless.

[syriafree20111]

thanks very much for your video .. I think that will help me alot!!

[xgcwardog]

@TheRosiiee97 @twilitprincesszelda @njr689

Go to the top toolbar and click "Image" then select "Mode" and then choose "RGB Color". Should take care of it!

[kaizerlelouch]

the color is gray on the paint tool? how can i change it

[twilitprincesszelda]

I've done all of the steps you have but my coloring ends up coming out in gray

scale. Do you have any idea on how I can fix this? Thank you! c:

[njr689]

hey man thanks a lot for this video, but for some reason when i do it, the colors just come out as different shades of grey, like if i click on red for example it will be a different shade of grey, I'm using CS5 is there anyway to change that?

[4j45l]

do a barrel roll!!

[LTCJ2006]

Is there another way that you can color your image without 'multiplying the layer'??? :-)

[1GreenEmerald]

I like how you made it green :3

[Gamerportalconsole]

i got a boner from ur picture

[onthemove201]

very nice tutorial, honestly 1 of the best that actually goes into detail XD keep the vides coming id appriciate it, and nice vid XD

[ODSTD56]

Hey could you tell us how to paint figures like humans?

[ODSTD56]

*bows down to you* I've been trying to use ArtRage to do this and I just can't do it. now i switch to photoshop.

[TheHaystack]

Thank you my good sir!

[The48cats]

When I scan sketches ontoo my computer, sometimes there's faint lines or the page is different colors in spots. I know there's a way to adjust the whiteness of the page and you can get there with a shortcut key from the keyboard, but I can't remember for the life of me HOW to .___. If you could help me out I'd really appreciate it.

[xgcwardog]

@The48cats Curves, Control + M. Most of the time you want to use an "S" shaped curve. Very subtle, play with it until it looks right.

[HectorAndresMayoral]

... I think I love you sir.

[ChibiKittiez]

this is rly good!

[lastride29]

thanks very much! this video helped me quite alot. :)

[PVW9999]

Hey, nice vid. One question, why is it that when I choose a color it doesn't look the same as the one I chose? I mean for example I grab a Red from the swatch palette and when I start drawing it looks darker, and if I use it on the sketch layer it looks like the one I grabed. Does this make any sense?

[suzispazzurrz]

@PVW9999 i have a similar problem. i chose brown and when i was trying to color it in it looked really really faded like almost a golden tone but you could even barely tell that the portion was being colored in. idk if this made any sense either, lol.

[xgcwardog]

@PVW9999 Yes and this is normal. Unless the area you are coloring under is 100% white, the color is going to be darkened by the layer that is set to multiply. This is why you can shade drawings and the color will use the shading you applied.

[lash83n]

I'M GLAD YOU DON'T HAVE AN OBNOXIOUS VOICE. THAT WOULD MAKE THIS A LOT WORSE, AND NO, I'M NOT BEING INTENSE, IT'S JUST BILLY MAYS CAPS LOCK DAY. GREAT TUTORIAL :)

[DanmEveryNameIsTaken]

How come, when I try to use white on the layer underneath the sketch, it doesn't come up?

[thelephonebook333]

Such a clear discription thankyou verry much

[noellemikazuki]

YOU ROCK DUDE!! thanks for the tutorial!!

[karagu1]

its awsome tutorial well done with the fave i find yourube s tutorials now at times helpful but still wish some thing with the vids would be more than legit

[DrLymer]

SO HELPFUL! You're awesome!

[velutican618]

THANKS Mn

[Adigruia]

I don't have that free-selection tool!

:(. I have only quick selection and i cant color with it!:(

[SpeedyCraigerz]

thanks a bunch man!!

quick question, how much do tablets go? rough figures

[ReneexBlue]

Thank you for the tutorial :) I'll try to do this some time.

[KeiHime013]

Great tutorial. Ever tried using the pen tool instead of lasso? Works great when coloring in organic or objects with curves on them.

[BlahShira91]

I have a question? Okay so I colored my sketch and it doesn't have a background to it because I prefer doing backgrounds in photoshop. How can I add a background without having to cut out the drawing out of its first layer?

[Qiffeyh]

MY LIFE SAVER! THANK YOU! :D

[xgcwardog]

@themaskisthebest Go up to the toolbar and select: Image > Mode > RGB Color and then "Don't Merge" layers.

[velutican618]

thaaaank yooooooouu

[domaiii]

i do not have a tablet and i want to color in ppl, but the drawing i scanned doesn't have shades. do u i start coloring in that person, with natural shades, and diffrent shades of color for exp. the hair.

[ValleyOfWinds]

Hey! I wanted to say thanks for the awesome vid, it make so much sense. So I got most of this down but I have one question, how do I make the finished product look neater? Does that makes sense? Because with some of my sketches, the coloring looks really sloppy...or it's very noticeable that I scanned in a sketch and then colored it on PS. Got any ideas?

Thanks in advance for everything! :)

[xgcwardog]

@ValleyOfWinds The solution there is called inking. It essentially involves applying proper line work on a new layer over the sketch layer. This can also be accomplished by using a sharpie/fine marker with the sketch then erasing the pencil marks, if you're brave enough!

[ValleyOfWinds]

@xgcwardog Thanks! That helped I think I'm getting the hang of it.

[Rabje1234]

thanks, awesome video. really helpful (:

I've got Photoshop Elements... i hope that's not a problem?

well if i get stuck, i'll let you know xD

[yagurlnell]

Thank you so much! This was incredibly helpful!!! Best wishes to you

[kymrhymer]

Exactly what I needed!!!!!

[kymrhymer]

Thank You!!!

[kantas242]

Indeed do more of these videos ;)

Workflows, when (if at all) to drop the scetch layer completely, etc.

[Gengar10000000000]

Hot starfox shit.

[brainy984]

thanks, dude.. this really helped...

[GGTrider]

THANKS ALOOD zomg

[Kalypso1323]

Dude, I effing LOVE you! I've been having so much trouble with finding a decent tutorial and this is it :) Love you're sketch, by the way.

[masatje]

This has proven to be very helpful. Good work on both the commentary and the artwork. Would you mind if I asked another question?

I would like to know if I need to select a different layer type if I want to add in lighting effects and shadow, and what kind of layer is required for such a job.

[saliscool7]

this helped so much :D tnx

[stianshit]

whenever I try to darken areas of an image after having coloured it in, the new colour turns out much lighter, instead of darker. Do you know how to prevent this from happening?

Thanks

[link281615]

cock pit

[hannahhoneyyy]

WOWWWWWWWWWW FINALLLY THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[konikitty]

Nice video and great sketch work :) I'm an artist as well, but new to digital stuff.. got Photoshop CS5, trying to start figuring it all out. Your video helped, thanks!

[xgcwardog]

@konikitty Welcome to the digital side. We have layers!

[konikitty]

@xgcwardog Awesome :D Cookies too?!

[luckynumero13]

great vid. clear and easy to follow.

[ynnubsiigasu]

I was wondering how to do that!! Thanks :) awesome and easy to understand tutorial.

[sianthaibright]

You could have just left the color layer where it was and change that to multiply. It's the same effect but maybe a few less steps xD I don't think you have to move it below the sketch unless thats what you prefer. Other than that it was a very helpful tip :).

[xgcwardog]

@sianthaibright That will work, yes. However, if you start adding multiple color layers, they can interfere with one another and more issues can arise from having several layers set to multiply. If the base sketch layer is set, locked, and moved to the top it reduces the chances of different layers affecting one another. It's more of a preventative measure than anything else.

[sianthaibright]

@xgcwardog

What do you mean? So would you just have all colors on one layer? Or would you make several layers under? When I ask what do you mean, i meant more like How does it affect the color exactly?

[xgcwardog]

@sianthaibright Well, let's say you have several layers under a sketch. A background, a foreground, separate layers for different effects and objects and so on. If these are all set to multiply, rather than just a single layer, it can cause the layers to interfere in ways that were not intended. In the long run, it's easier to set a single layer with the line work to multiply and leave it alone.

[thefoxdude]

i want too see it finished! nice!!!

[LauDrag]

Thanks dude ^^

[PhaydraRae]

Every time I set my background picture to multiply, it goes black... help?

[xgcwardog]

@PhaydraRae Make sure your background layer has been converted to a normal layer, and ensure it's on top of the layer stack. Also, if there's a black layer below the multiply layer will make the entire image black.

[TheRidGrid]

thankyou so freaking much.

[chipmunkninjah]

GREAT tutorial! Thank you! ;D

[gakushiji]

thanks you for the tutorial ^^ i just started studying ps and this really helps thanks ^^

[LAXcrazy3793]

very nice

[willyog]

good work. thanks