Welcome everyone to a new explanation. Here we will review how we can color clothes. As we know, adding shading to anime character clothes gives them a more beautiful and wonderful look. Even if the level of drawing and coloring is modest, shading can help you improve the quality of the drawing. I will show you my favorite method that brings the best desired results, so follow along with me.
The first step is preparation for coloring clothes.
First, we begin by drawing and inking the anime character. There are tutorials on character drawing on my website. I've explained this many times in previous lessons, so there's no need to repeat it now. When coloring the clothing, we make sure to color each part in a separate layer. For example:
- The shirt is layered
- The skin in the layer
- Hair in a layer
This way we will control each element separately, and this is useful if we want to delete, add, or modify the coloring, without affecting the other elements. .
The second step is to begin shading using an airbrush.
We add a new layer on top of the base color layer of the shirt. Then we select the tool. Airbrush Tool The toolbar allows for a soft shading effect on the clothing. We begin by drawing at the edges of the shirt, as indicated by the red arrow on the left side of the image.
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The third step is to use the eraser tool to define the lighting.
After shading, we select a tool Eraser ToolWe use it to remove small areas of shading, especially at the edges of the shirt. It's essential to use a large airbrush and a very small eraser for a more precise effect.
A video demonstrating shading techniques
I have posted an explanatory video on the website to help you visually understand this technique, and it will help you see the steps practically.
Step four: Gradual shading
It's very simple. We paint with a brush, then erase immediately afterward. Do this not only on the edges of the shirt, but also in the middle as needed. This way, the shading will appear beautifully, following the folds of the shirt.
Final result
This is the final result of the shading. Notice how the gradation in the shading looks beautiful and pleasing, and in harmony with the folds of the shirt itself.
Additional step: Second darker shade
How to add toons to manga and webtoons for clothing
Now we move on to a darker shading effect. We select the areas where we want a darker shade than the first, then add a new layer, using the same airbrush. We concentrate the shading at certain edges, and this creates a gradient from light to dark.
Lighting stage and fabric shine
Add a new layer and set it to a "glow" effect or use the "Add Glow" setting. Then, use the airbrush again, but this time only on the areas where the shirt is most prominent. Reduce the brush size and begin applying a light highlighting color.
The tools we used
- Airbrush Tool: For soft shading.
- Eraser Tool: To remove small parts to determine the lighting.
- Layer Effects Lighting Layer: To activate the shine effect.
This is an illustration of the previous stages.
Balance between shading and lighting
After shading is complete, we balance the lighting so that it doesn't overwhelm the overall shape of the pants. Shading reveals the details, and lighting enhances the pants' aesthetic appeal; both are important for realistically portraying the garment.
The final result of coloring clothes
This is the final result. As you can see, the technique is very simple yet effective, giving excellent results when coloring anime character clothing. You can use this method on various types of clothing, and you'll notice the difference for yourself.
You can apply the same steps to any clothing you like, such as blouses, coats, and dresses.
You should keep practicing this method, and don't worry if you don't succeed on your first try. Coloring clothes requires continuous practice until you master the skill of choosing the right places for shading and highlighting. The two most important tools we focused on today were the airbrush and the air eraser, because one colors, and the other erases parts of our anime drawing. I hope you enjoyed the lesson. I'll see you next time with a new explanation, God willing.
