adobe photoshop CS4 tutorials: how to draw lineart and how to color using layers

[Candlebell]

For the drawing, the head is WAY too small.

[amychaogirl]

@Candlebell actually, it's perfectly in proportion to the rest of the body. I wasn't doing the drawing sonic style

[Candlebell]

@amychaogirl It's too small anyway. It just needs to be a little bigger is all.

I'm just trying to help. :D

[amychaogirl]

@Candlebell oh sorry XD I apologize if I sounded rude (it's hard not to over the internet -_-) I appreciate the critique. This was from 3 years ago, so it's not as good as I could make it now, but I was using a base so the head just went with whatever proportion was on the base I used.... Not much of an excuse, but oh well. I have to agree now though, my proportion was off.

[Candlebell]

@amychaogirl Na na, it's cool. You didn't sound rude at all! :D

[amychaogirl]

@Candlebell that's good, I tend to worry myself over things like that sometimes XD

[ortizorville]

worth the time :D

[95Kosty]

plz can you help me? I don`t have the pencil tool :(

or at least I can`t find it :|

[amychaogirl]

@95Kosty click and hold on the pen tool icon, a side bar should pop up with a pencil icon. click on it and there it is ;)

[95Kosty]

@amychaogirl thnx a lot :D

[suwhenzetie]

I hate the Pen tool, it's so hard to use.

[amychaogirl]

@suwhenzetie i don't really like it either... I usually do all of it by hand. This tutorial was actually probably the last time I used the pen tool to use lineart XD

[RosesareAllie]

ok at 3:46 where the color can go over the line..i can't do that, i mean i switched the layers like you said but the color im using on my pic just colors the line and the pic..and its really frustrating! :(

[amychaogirl]

@RosesareAllie make sure you also have the right layer selected. you want to be on your color layer, not your line art layer. So you want to be on the layer above the line art.

[cassidychey22]

at 4:08 how are u not going through the ear since the brush is so big?

[amychaogirl]

@cassidychey22 I use a tablet, so there's pressure sensitivity. If i press light i get a finer stroke, when i press harder i get a larger stroke.

[ZombieSushy]

how is it so smooth??

[amychaogirl]

@ZombieSushy you have to change the tool that it is set on. When you click on 'stroke path', it will automatically be set to the pencil tool. you need to change it to whatever tool you want(most likely just the brush tool). If you have done this and it is still not smooth, try changing your brush settings.

[kohaya7kae]

Hello! I see that's how you color a lineart drawn in photoshop :D it's awesome! but how do I color a lineart that I drew using my hand, scanned then opened it in photoshop? I mean, coloring it and still got the lines there? Cause I can't seem to color it like you did with the gray color there and still the lines remained uncolored. T^T hope you can answer :] thank you!

[amychaogirl]

@kohaya7kae when you open up the picture, the whole thing should end up as a background layer. Sadly, you can't simply use the pencil drawing as the lines, you have to go over them again with the pen tool or just using the brush. You should be able to do this by making a new layer on top of this background layer. after you finish going over the lines you can simply erase the background layer. Now, you may have to go to the image tab and change the scale to RGB, so you can color later on.

[GolamFaruque1975]

Hello there! Have you considered the intellectus money maker (google it)? Ive heard some amazing things about it and my buddy made crazy amounts of money it.

[lawsonbutcher]

thank you so much amy chao for making this :D

[kingmickey666]

how can you collor him with grey, and still got the lines?!

[amychaogirl]

@kingmickey666 as long as the lines are a different color or are a lighter/darker shade then the color you are using, then yes

[kingmickey666]

@amychaogirl It wont work for me.

[amychaogirl]

@kingmickey666 i really don't know what to tell you, because I don't exactly know the problem. what exactly is happening?

[kingmickey666]

@amychaogirl I dont know how to explain it becouse Im not english... lets just say that I dont see the lines anymore if I collor the character.

[amychaogirl]

@kingmickey666 you might be on the layer above the lines. make sure the layer that's highlighted in blue is below where you drew your lines

[kingmickey666]

@amychaogirl * facepalm * that should be the problem. I was trying to collor a black white picture that I had from the internet. ... anyways, thanks for your help xD

[amychaogirl]

@amychaogirl lol, no problem C: happy that i could help 

[chenakm]

u r talented and good, but u need to improve on your demo and explanation

[Diamonddusted68]

Name your laters it reduces confusion.

[amychaogirl]

@Diamonddusted68 my laters?

[Diamonddusted68]

@Diamonddusted68 Levels..sorry. I don't type much.

[mrgemini100]

hey can you use a digital drawing in photoshop

[amychaogirl]

@mrgemini100 that's what I'm doing in this video

[Predatorvidzz]

@mrgemini100 HURPDURPHURPDURPHURPDURP NICE STUPID QUESTION YOU ASKED THERE

[Fell2244]

When I color it in the layer underneath the lineart, it doesn't stay within the lines? Can you help me?

[amychaogirl]

@Fell2244 it won't stay within the lines. the color will still draw on that layer, it's just that whatever is drawn on the layer above will just cover up anything it's above. if you want to have no color outside the lines, use the magic wand tool to select an area on the lineart layer, then switch to the color layer and it shouldn't go out of the area selected. hope this helps!

[normalfaerie]

this was really helpful thank you! been finding a tutorial on lineart and this was simple and really informative!

[supergirlangela]

what program or softwre did u use to recored this with?

[amychaogirl]

@supergirlangela camstudio. it's free so you don't have to worry about paying for it or registering anything

[0zzyninja]

So....would this work in CS2? yes I have highly outdated software when it comes to photoshop etc.

[amychaogirl]

@0zzyninja yes i'm pretty sure it should, though the selection of "stroke path" might be something different.

[0zzyninja]

@amychaogirl righto thanks heaps :)

[MolifaTube]

'Stroke path' doesn't come up on the menu :(

Does anyone know how to get it?

[amychaogirl]

@MolifaTube are you still on the pen tool when you right click? i know it sounds stupid but that might be the problem XD. is it like you aren't able to click it or it doesn't show up as an option at all? other then that all i can say is it might be the version of photoshop you're using has the same option but under a different name, or the option is located somewhere else

[loadyourhead]

Ahh delete path nonono save paths. To make the path go away all you have to do is go to the paths pallet and click anywhere below the work path, but what you want to do is double click on the work path and name it so it saves, and you can use it over and over. It you don't double click on it then it will go away. Then you can deselect the path. If you delete the path and need it again for some reason you'll have to do it over again.

[o0DeathStrike0o]

What is this about?i missed the point.

[amychaogirl]

@o0DeathStrike0o it's for if you need help with photoshop -.-

[o0DeathStrike0o]

@amychaogirl yes but what are the lines for?

[amychaogirl]

@o0DeathStrike0o oh the ones i randomly made? just for example.

[o0DeathStrike0o]

@amychaogirl example for what

[amychaogirl]

@o0DeathStrike0o do you have the audio turned on? it's an example for how to make lineart

[o0DeathStrike0o]

@amychaogirl whats a lineart?im from slovakia :D

[amychaogirl]

@o0DeathStrike0o ah, it's the black outline that you color in. sorta like in coloring books where they only have black lines

[o0DeathStrike0o]

@amychaogirl then you mean its not helpfull

[amychaogirl]

@o0DeathStrike0o yes, it is because this teaches you how to make them. i was just telling you what they are. a lot of people don't know how to use the pen tool in photoshop and this is explaining how to use it

[jungla3]

thank u!!! 8D

I didn´t know about that pen tool thing, so I´ve been drawing all the lines with the brush, and believe me, that takes hours -.-´

btw, do u have deviantart? :3

[amychaogirl]

@jungla3 no problem ;) and yup. mine's riolu-mewfan

[jungla3]

@amychaogirl yeah, I found it on your channel xD mine's Shadowsilverfan1997 :3

[Themangadrawer]

thank you very much for this :D it acctually works :D

[xJannah637]

can you make a tutorial on how to colour?

[amychaogirl]

@xJannah637 sure, but i can't make any promises

[dcamandaf13]

to draw things on your pc can you also usse gimp

[amychaogirl]

@dcamandaf13 yep. it's a great program too and it's free

[TheUltimateReaper2]

Quite helpful, very awesome since I just got photoshop. And so on my quest to master digital art, one tutorial down... a hundred more to go >_>

[d1k3y94]

i made it !!!!!! thanks a lot :)

[d1k3y94]

Well i am doing it as you showed but my brush tool doesn't go through the lines :/

[amychaogirl]

@d1k3y94 under or on top of the lines?

[d1k3y94]

@amychaogirl i meant it goes through the lines :/ so when i make something it doesn't go under the lines

[amychaogirl]

@d1k3y94 ah that means you're on a layer on top of the line art layer, or you're on the same layer as the lineart

[d1k3y94]

@amychaogirl well after i create the lineart on the background later i create another 2 like she does but it just doesn't go under the lines :S

[HandreyAlex]

thank you so much. hope you'll have a great future and a good husband. =)

[amychaogirl]

@HandreyAlex no problem :) lol and thanks

[EXMattix]

What a girl :D *thumps up* nice tut :)

[lettieconca]

omg, this has been EXTREMELY helpful, i tell you!

thanks ever so much!

^^

[deathpaladin95]

thank u alot  =D kinda hard 2 get use 2 it but works great =)

[Mystl1]

thx that helped me ^^

[boapu]

Wait is there an easier way like frehand like some person say?

[amychaogirl]

@boapu freehand is easier. i find freehand less reliable though because my tablet has a pressure setting, so sometimes my lines end up being transparent

[boapu]

@amychaogirl ok!NIce drawings you should put them in deviantART

[aleahsplash]

When I Right Click To Click "Stroke Path" The Stroke Path Is Grey So It Doesnt Let Me Click It. How Do I Make It Able For Me To Click It?

[CyaniandBlack]

its raining!! D:

[chimjw]

IS THIS THE ONLY WAY TO GET PERFECT LINES IS IT POSSIBLE TO FREEHAND?

[amychaogirl]

@chimjw yes, it is. it just can be agrivating and takes a long time

[OneTrueCanine]

the layers deal helped a ton. thanks n-n

[TouchTheCrazy]

thanks so much. i just got photoshop right now and i was completly lost 0.0

thank you <3

[subarustarz]

the initial part where you say to hold down the control,i cant perform it to move it any way i want,it results in another arrow formation,please help in clearifying the step

[amychaogirl]

@subarustarz make sure you're holding down the ctrl key while clicking on the point you want to move. if you don't hold it down, then that will occur. make sure that key isn't locked either. that might be a reason. other then that i really don't know what to tell you

[amychaogirl]

@LPSSarah it should be an icon that looks like the tip of one of those old fasioned pens that you dip in ink.

[gleboi27]

why is it that when i click the stroke path, the lines doesnt change at all?

[amychaogirl]

@gleboi27 i don't know. i would need to see what's happening to fix it

[lolkid669]

When i click pen, and try to draw it just comes up a hand

[sokolev1]

oh my nerves... whatever i do, the lines just won't go over the paint...

when i am using the brush, the paint is either going over the lines or just nothing happens.

i just don't get it <:\

[amychaogirl]

@sokolev1 make sure you're on the correct layer. the layer that's highlighted is the one you're currently painting on. other then that i really don't know how to help you :/

[sokolev1]

@amychaogirl i think i got it...

so you imagine, that the new layer is a clear glass sheet, on which you sketch.

you use the background to paint the picture itself...

wait i'll try ;)

[amychaogirl]

@sokolev1 well, i wouldn't use the background except for actual backgrounds. you can make up to 500 layers

[killuminatigang]

good vid

[WickedRob1]

how do i end the path?

all the squares still show up on my drawing T_T

[amychaogirl]

@WickedRob1 right click- delete path(while still on the pen tool)

[WickedRob1]

@amychaogirl

okay thank i decided to start over on my drawing lol

Nice vids btw

*subscribes*

[McGuireInK]

Minted tutorial! Thanks for passing on the knowledge! I've used PS for editing photos for nearly a decade and have totally avoided the bendy pen of hell. Your tutorial has just simplified something that has haunted me for bloody ages so many thanks :)

[amychaogirl]

@McGuireInK no problem! yeah, it haunted me too -3- lol

[BZKaoru]

Im trying to use the pen tool but when i click it, it doesnt change. The button shows that it has been click but its still on the hand tool, any suggestions on how to fix that?

[amychaogirl]

@BZKaoru i've had that problem a few times... if you are using a tablet, sometimes it's the pen. but i don't know about a mouse. clicking around sometimes works

[Assassin14Deadlink]

Yo are very smart, Can the (pen tool) be used to draw over lines from other Photos In other words can it be used for tracing?

[amychaogirl]

@Assassin14Deadlink yes. you can change the opacity on the picture you are tracing and make a new layer for your lineart to make seeing the lines easier

[Assassin14Deadlink]

@amychaogirl Alright, Thank You!

[amychaogirl]

@TUKjes ah. i don't know then. it would be easier if i could see the situation

[amychaogirl]

@TUKjes you probably need to change your brush size or shape (like round hard brush, etc) other then that i don't really know what to tell you :/

[animefake1isbored]

is there anything i could do if i accidentally merged my lineart with the background, so my lineart is now a background layer? nope, undo is too late for me.

[amychaogirl]

@animefake1isbored no, sadly there isn't. :( what you can do is copy the background layer and use the magic wand tool to get rid of all the white. it takes awhile but it's efficient. you may have to go over the lineart a little bit though

[SandeSkolen]

You did very well, but.. I have a problem. I have an drawing of Stitch (yes, the disney character), and I'm about to color him. But no matter what I do, the color goes over the lines, not under as you showed. How come?

This is like the only thing stopping me from getting done with the drawing.

[amychaogirl]

@SandeSkolen yay i love stitch ^^. anyway i know what your problem is. if you don't have two layers and your drawing is on your background layer, there is a bunch of editing you would need to go through to make this work out. but if you already have two layers all you have to do is switch the way they are positioned. if you click and hold on the second layer (the top one) you can drag it beneath the first layer (the bottom one) if your first layer is a background layer then u can't move the 2nd

[SandeSkolen]

@amychaogirl Noo, that didn't work out either.. well, I didn't quite understand what you ment, but my brother in Australia (I'm in Norway) explained it to me. So, I just need a background, and then I'm finished:D Looking for some exotic tree :P

[amychaogirl]

@SandeSkolen ok, yeah it's hard to explain in a comment box that's limited XD good for u :3

[saidje91]

quick screen recorderXD.

[mysteryguy96]

mine is 7.0, can i do like yours doing the colour thing with easy

[amychaogirl]

@mysteryguy96 yep. it works on all versions

[XCool9]

lol it is sonic!

[amychaogirl]

@XCool9 actually, no, it's my friend's fc. he's different now though..

[NaruNaruChan26]

Thanx for showing me how to draw lineart!

[MrTesticools]

how do i make the pentool thicker D:

[amychaogirl]

@MrTesticools you have to change the size of the brush tool to make it thicker

[hector052892]

thank you, i finally came to a basic understanding of how to use the pen tool correctly, i basically looked over 20 videos in youtube and they all had shit on them nothing that would explain how to trace, until now that i saw your video i understand completely how to use it you are great!!! :D

god bless you, u just made my day

[amychaogirl]

@hector052892 ddddaaaaaww thanks i'm glad you could understand :D

[xMisterTina]

Thank you very much! ;D

So that's how you draw. :3

[jizdeortega]

ooohhh slang :D

[StaticShock13]

thanks

[thisisntyouomfg]

Well ive had cs4 for quite some time now but I never really use it.Way too complicated for me, I prefer real paper and pen. ;)

[klick4x]

WILL YOU MAKE ME A KOOL LOGO?

[amychaogirl]

sure depending on what you want

[TreeMuncher99]

Fuck u fucking loser you dont go into detail fucking whore dont be like omg its not my fault to me got it fucking bitch fucker!! lol jk.

[amychaogirl]

XD for a second i thought you were serious lol i was all like D:

[SnifyAndTifany]

how did you get layer 4 and 3? :(

[amychaogirl]

you can add more

[FFF693]

Awesome ;) hahahaaa.....^ ^

[12taylor11]

ummm im still a little confused

[amychaogirl]

about what part exactly?

[12taylor11]

umm how to u get  the checkerd borad thingy off?

[amychaogirl]

you shouldn't have problems with that unless if you're making your back ground invisible.(by clicking the little eye next to the layer) if you're working with the background ivisible, change the bg to a layer and put a dfferent layer under it and use the bucket tool to make it white

[KIBAfang90]

thank you for the simlpe and non annoying help with my photoshop. just got it today

[amychaogirl]

no problem :3

[KIBAfang90]

im still having truoble with it cuz im a SUPER noob! i dont even know how to get a paper on there.

[N7Kaelel]

How do you make the shading and highlighting blury!!!!

[amychaogirl]

you can use the blur tool on 100% strength

[onecrazymofo1]

hello, Im a pencil and paper artist, and i just got this program, my question is when doing the line art how do simulate a pencil.

[amychaogirl]

hmmm... i would probably suggest using a hard brush that is small in size. you can also lower the opacity

[deathangel1308]

k so i scanned this pic onto my compie, and how do i color it without it going over the lines? like i wanna ink it, but i made new layers and its being retarded... <_<

[amychaogirl]

so go to the top layer, make the lineart, then go to a layer below the lineart layer and color it in.

[N7Kaelel]

could you tell me how many pixelz i should use for shading and highlighting in my drawings?!?!?!

(i'm asking you these questions cause i'm making a video on my drawings im doing in photoshop and i don't know how to use photoshop cs4. Is that okay)

:(

[amychaogirl]

it depends. for very detailed areas and for things with small shading i use a smaller brush. for things with larger shading area i use a larger brush

[N7Kaelel]

:D Thanks amychaogirl!!!!

[N7Kaelel]

I mean to make it realistic!!!

(like to make it shiny or shady).

[amychaogirl]

i use the burn and dodge tools. the burn tool makes it darker, and the dodge tool makes it lighter

[N7Kaelel]

how do you shade it in?!?!

[amychaogirl]

do you mean like shading or coloring?

[NatsuFairTail]

i have the program but i hardly go on it lol

[yemenhar]

awesome

[katreallyhatesyou]

what should I do when I pic a pic with th lineart already done? how can I paint under the lines? @--@ btw, great tutorial (Y)

[amychaogirl]

thx. but i'm not sure how to do it and still make the quality look great.

[katreallyhatesyou]

what I mean is, I scanned a drawn and I want to do the lineart in it, to color it after. but i cant ;3;

[amychaogirl]

so u mean u want to do the lineart on top of the drawing then after u want to color it?

[katreallyhatesyou]

@amychaogirl yes, like, do the lineart on the top of the drawning and after that, delete the drawning and color the lineart

[amychaogirl]

ah. very easy. when u open up the file for the drawing there should only be one layer. add a new one and draw the lineart. then once u are done with the lines, click on the layer with the orignal drawing. erase it then add another layer under the lineart layer and color it in

[katreallyhatesyou]

thank you, you helped me a LOT ♥

[Nickgan13]

@amychaogirl thnx a lot for this tutprial. i have a tablet and adobe photoshop but i didn' know how to use the adobe photoshop CS4 and it is an excelent software! But i have a question: What is the tool to do the basic shape? I mean to do a first, basic sketch with little lighting to do the clear shape over the basic. I must use pencil, pen tool or brush tool with little size?

[amychaogirl]

yes i recomend using the default tool that is selected when you first enter the program. you can also change the size, texture, and shape by clicking on the top right hand tool selection thing. i don't know what else to call it but it shows the brush shape and then a number next to it with a drop menu bar

[FAHDSAJER]

hi... i hav this broblm befor but now :) i find it look make more layer down the line ...face color - and hair color contnu like this .. i hop i help u

[NatsuFairTail]

too complicated , drawing traditionally is much easier, but i might try

[amychaogirl]

yeah it's very complicated at first sight, but in reality when you have it down for about two years it's very simple and easy XD but i'm even still figuring out some things

[Thanason1c]

nice :)