OK, it's a method I learnt from the Falkenzone. But since I think most of you don't have leet language skillz to understand French, here it is in English, with my own twists. First things first : *NO*, you don't need to be a l33t artist to use this method. Some of my students had to do a stupid multimedia project, and they used this method with great success (but maybe a bit more efforts than someone who can already draw). So go on, don't be afraid, try it 1st step : Get a drawing. If you have a scanner, and you are better on paper than with a mouse, this first step will HELP you, but it wont replace the second step. Simply scan a drawing you like, like this one : 2nd step : In Photoshop, or any software that allow you to use layers. Simply create a new layer where you draw on top of your original, using a paintbrush or pencil (personally I prefer the pencil, as it doesnt anti alias...) It looks kinda crude, but it's much faster than cleaning the original. Here it is : 3rd step : Now use the magic trick : the Path tool ! Simply select all your lineout (since it's pure black, it's dead easy to select it ...) I don't know if there is an equivalent of this in other software, but in Photoshop, simply switch to the Paths panel, and "Turn selection into Path". Now, on a new layer, "Fill Path with Foreground colour". It's almost magic... Et voila ! This took me exactly 10 minutes, from scanning to final presentation. Now on to colour it. I'll post that later, or maybe you wanna still my black and white, and show me your colouring skillz ???(hint ! hint!) youpla :-P [edited by - ahw on March 24, 2003 12:51:18 PM]

Wow

nice tip, i just had this kind of problem 2 days ago, i scanned a pencil drawing and started to clean it in photoshop after 20mins i gave up

I dont know how many times i gotsta praise ahw, but good job. It helps out quite alot. Now I have to find a scanner.:p I will become quicker, stronger, more intelligent until the day the master becomes the student.

I''m goudy old style and don''t you forget it.

Just remember, if you don''t have a scanner, simply start at step 2 !
You could have a drawing next to you to help you ?
Don''t worry too much and try to draw directly with the mouse...

youpla :-P

Thanks. Great tutorial

"If it doesn''t fit, force it; if it breaks, it needed replacement anyway."

Can you explain the part about "selecting your lineout"? Are you selecting the whole canvas? Just the black lines? How is it "dead easy" to select all the black? Is there an option for that in Photoshop?

quote: Original post by Pyabo

Can you explain the part about "selecting your lineout"? Are you selecting the whole canvas? Just the black lines? How is it "dead easy" to select all the black? Is there an option for that in Photoshop?

When you do your lineout over your scanned photo, you have created an empty layer. When you are finished drawing, you just Control-click on the layer, and the whole content will be selected. But because you started with a transparent layer, only the black pixels will be selected. Q.E.D
IF you decided to draw your outline on a whie background, you go into the Select menu, and you choose Color Range. Then by playing a bit you should be able to select only the black pixels, and again, you are done.
Hope it''s clear enough

Oh, and here is the final work after half an hour of colouring.
I still have a lot of work to do before I can get that Manga colouring style right... but I like it, it fits with the simplicity of the lines. Enjoy



youpla :-P

[edited by - ahw on March 24, 2003 12:52:22 PM]

That tutorial was REALLY GREAT. Now I can make good looking art to my games. Here are some I've made. Not by scanning, just fast-painting (step 2) and then I did as you said:

This image took about 1-2 min to make, not colored tough:



This football player took about 5 min to make(from nothing)



Not as good as ahw's, but still nice enough to use. It has got it's own artistic style.

/MindWipe

"If it doesn't fit, force it; if it breaks, it needed replacement anyway."




Edited by - MindWipe on May 25, 2001 4:28:02 PM

Excellent I am glad you are happy with your results.

Now here is an idea : to make sprites, just scale down your drawings The fact that you color the drawing simply won''t be seen because of the size of the scaled down version.

Mindwipe :
One problem you have (and it''s a typical mistake) is that you tried to Fill your drawing. It does do the job quickly, but as you can notice, it doesnt''s look terribly nice on the lines.

What you have to do is this : once you have done your lineout,
DONT TOUCH THIS LAYER ANYMORE
Just create new layers UNDERNEATH the lineout, and paint, using the paintbrush.
If you can''t see the colours underneath, simply turn the lineout layer in Multiply mode, et voila.
Another good idea is to create different layers for different part of the drawing. My woman has a layer for the dress, for the hair, for the skin, for the background.
In a few clicks, I turn her into a black, an asian, I change her hair to fit, etc ... (I explained that in another tutorial with a slightly different method)

Enjoy