How to Color Animation With Pencils
Incorporating color in your compositions adds a layer of depth, making your drawing look more realistic. As animations, even cartoon-based ones, depend on some element of realism to make them look "alive," blending layers of colored pencils will enhance the life-like features of your designs. Experiment by using different colored pencil techniques to make your creations look and move exactly how you envisioned them. Fill in areas of your design with solid blocks of color or use different strokes to create a colored pattern.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Develop contoured outlines with colored pencils. Use firm pressure to create dark, thick lines around the outline of your animation to create the illusion of shadows and depth. Draw lightly around the outline with your colored pencils to create highlights.
-
2
Fill in shapes with hatching, cross-hatching or stippling techniques. Hatching involves creating short, closely parallel lines, cross-hatching works by creating cross-shaped marks and stippling involves making a pattern using the point of a pencil to make repeated dots in an area. Use one or a combination of these techniques to color your animation.
-
-
3
Layer colors over each other. Use one of the above techniques to fill in an area of your composition. Go back over the same area with another color using the same technique to produce a darker value or different hue. Fill in each section lightly to produce a noticeable change in hue or value.
-
4
Create a smooth effect by blending the colored pencil layers with a blending stump or tortillon. Soak a small sponge in mineral spirits. Dip one end of the blending stump into the sponge. The tip should be damp but not soaked. Rub the end of the tortillon over the colored portions of your animation to smooth out the lines created by the colored pencils.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Spray a matte fixative over your designs to protect the color from smudging.
Sharpen your colored pencils frequently for the best results.
Colored pencils are difficult to erase. Work lightly in layers to create the intended effect to avoid damaging your composition.
Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid lung injuries when using chemicals.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
