How to Color a Comic Book Character Using Photoshop
Suppose that you, or another artist , has finished line drawings for a Comic Book in black and white that need the finishing color and shading. Coloring line drawings for Comic Books in Photoshop can save hours of time over the traditional inking process. If you have access to the equipment, the process is relatively simple if you have the basic drawing skills for shading.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer
- Adobe Photoshop or other Digital Image Editor
- Flat-bed Scanner
- Optional: Drawing Tablet with Stylus
- Finished line drawing of Comic Book panel
Instructions
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How to Color a Comic Book Character Using Photoshop
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Scan the line drawing using a flatbed scanner. Set the scan resolution for 300 pixels per inch (300 ppi). Open the scanned image in Photoshop. Use the magic wand tool to select the black lines and shadow of the drawing, Set the tolerance to 30%. Make sure that the "Continuous" feature box is UNCHECKED. Then copy the selection and paste it to another layer.
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Select the Paint-bucket Tool and begin filling sections of the drawing in a flat color of your choice. Each section of color should be entirely enclosed by a black line. If the color flows outside of the section, check the line boundaries for a gap an connect the ends with a black line.
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Select the Burn Tool. (It looks like a hand holding something) Set the burn-to feature to "Midtones". Set the strength to 30%. Gradually shade the areas of color that fade into the shadows
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Select the Dodge Tool. (Looks like a puff-ball on a stick). Set the dodge-to feature to "Midtones" Set the strength to 30%. Use the tool to create highlighted areas, where the light shines brightest on the figure.
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Add other effects, such as a Gradient Fill for a background on a layer below, or a Lens Flare for a plasma ball as in this example. Don't be afraid to experiment with different effects and filters.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have Photoshop, there are other Digital Imaging Editors that work in a very similar fashion. A less expensive alternative is Paint Shop Pro, and there is a very good freeware program called Gimp.
