Please read the artist comments fore more explanation! ^^

In this tutorial I will explain how I color my pictures by using Photoshop [link] >w< ( I didn't add to many details because I don't want to reveal all my secrets! XD)
I'm coloring a drawing of one of my OC's (original characters) Damien. Yes, it's a boy >D I know he looks girlish but that's because he's the main character of my BL/Yaoi story, and ofcourse... He's the uke XD

>3< Let's beginnn!!!!

Step 1.: Finish the lineart. I draw on really big formats (this one is drawn on a 3000x4129) so that when I change the image size to a smaller size, I get a cleaner lineart ^^

Step 2.: I added the flat colors. I created some coloring layers underneath the Lineart. I used coloring layers for anyting: The hair, the cloth, the clothes on his arms, the skin, the eyes and so on. What I also do is, when using really light colors (like the blue), I create a layer wich I call 'erase' and fill it with a dark gray-blue-ish color so I can see what I have to erase after coloring. I select the space I want to color by using the pen tool (press ' P ' in Photoshop). Look at all the stuff: File, Edit, Image ... Underneath 'image' you can see a square and a square with the pen in it. Click on the square with the pen so you can make paths ^^ Once you made the path, left mouse click and then click 'Fill' ^3^

Step 3.: The first things I always color are the skin and then the eyes. I randomly picked some colors from my Photoshop pallete. For the light of the eyes, I create a layer on top of the Lineart layer. I just add the light with white, or with another light color >3<

Step 4.: I added the tears (you can see them better at the full picture... sorry!) I took a dark color for the tear. I put that layer on 'Screen'. The I left click on that layer and click 'Duplicate Layer'. That duplicated layer (photoshop will name it <for example> 'Layer 1 Copy' ) I put on 'Linear Light' and I change the opacity to 20%. (you can find those things in the layer box. You'll see a drop down box wich says 'Normal'. Click on it and you can change it to everything you'd like! ^^)

Step 5.: Then I color the clothes. I have 4 diffrent colors, for everything: The first flat color, then the shading color, then the second shading color and another light color wich I blend with the shading colors, this order is also how I color it >3< The patterns where added with Photoshop Brushes, but I can't renember where I found them... Sorry >///<
I took a lighter blue color, and changed the brush mode to 'Multyply'. You also can create a new layer on top of the clothing layer, and put the new layer on multiply ^^

Step 6.: I colored the other things, the hair, the shoes the fan.... I also colored it like I told in step 5

Step 7.: Hmmzzz >///< I wanted his clothes to have a more transparant look. I'll also tell you how I did that! ^w^
I create a new skin layer (I call it 'Skin2' ) on top of all the other coloring layers. I take a soft brush, and throw the first shading color everywhere I want his clothes to look transparant. Then I put the second skin layer underneath the layer where I want to make it look transparant first (I fist put it under the layer of the arm things) Then I start erasing with a soft brush (If you CG with a mouse you'll have to change the eraser's opacity to 40% or less if you want to) I erase everywhere I want to see the skin. Then I repeat this with the clothes and the socks ^3^! Renember that you'll have to end with the second skin layer underneath all the clothing layers!

Step 8.: I was probably to lazy to add a nice background, so I just added some flowers ^_______^;;;;;; Brushes found somewhere... I can't renember where, sorry T__T
Renember to add credit to your picture!!! You don't want stupid people to steal your picture! I always add something like: By Klichan 2008, or 2008 By Klichan and I like hearts so I always add a little heart >3<!


>w<! Here's the finished picture: [link]

And here's the lineart if you like to color: [link]

Tip Copy the lineart image to Photoshop, and change the Lineart layer to 'Multiply' so you can put the coloring layers underneath it ^^ If you have saved the image, open it and create a new layer. Then click on the 'Background layer' and go to: Layer > New > Layer from Background. Then put the new layer underneath it and once again: Go to Layer > New > Background from Layer. Then you can also put the Lineart layer on Multiply >w<!

If you want to submit my colored lineart here on DA, or somewhere else, please credit me!

I really suck at explaining, so I hope this little tutorial will help you futher with your Photoshop coloring! If you have any questions, please ask me in a note!