|
If you've got the Layers Window open, then you've probably already got the Channels window up. it's a tab next to Layers. If not, then choose Window > Show Channels.
If you're image is in Grayscale, there will only be one channel in the window, however if your image is in RGB there will be several. Drag the channel called "Gray" (or RBG if you're in RBG mode) down over the far-left icon at the bottom of the window. (Load Channel as Selection). This will load all the luminessence (lightness) as a selection. However what you want selected is all the darkness, so next choose Select > Inverse.
|
 |
Return to the Layers Window and create a new layer by clicking on the "New Layer" icon, or by selection Layers > New > New Layer. While in the new layer, select the Paint Bucket Tool  , make sure Black is selected as your foreground color and click anywhere in the image to fill the selection with black.
|
 |
Return to the background layer, select all (Crtl+A) and hit the delete key (make sure you're background color is set to white) This will clear out the pencil/inked drawing and allow you to see what the lineart looks like with the white background.
The image to the left shows the new lineart on it's own layer with the transparency behind it. (this was done by turning off the Background layer temporarily by clicking on the eye icon for that layer in the layers window)
If you're afraid that the lines are too light, don't worry. Once color is applied under it, the lines will appear darker. However if you feel that they need to be darker you can duplicate the new lineart layer and then flatten it down on the original. This will lower the opacity of the layer's thinner lines.
|
|
Now - Paint Shop Pro | |
|
The first thing that you should do, once you've cleaned up your drawing is to duplicate the background layer by right clicking on it and choosing "Duplicate" from the drop-down menu. Return to the background layer, select all (Ctrl+A) and clear it (make sure that white is selected as the background color from the color picker and hit delete).
|
|
The new layer above the bakcground layer will be your lineart. Once we're finished with the next step you'll be able to color on layers below that layer without any of the white showing up.
Under Masks choose New > From Image...
|
|
A dialog box will appear. Make sure all your settings are the same as in the image to the left. It's especially important that you have "Invert Mask Data" checked.
Once you hit OK the white in that layer will disapear. If you turn off visiblity from the now-white background layer, you'll see the transparent area of the new layer marked by the checkerboard pattern. Now the line art is ready to be used. All the black/gray shades are on their own layer and none of the white will appear when color is placed under this layer.
|
|
Adding Color
Before you can add any color, it's important to change the image from a grayscale image to a color image. If the images' mode is set to only grays, it won't let you add colors even if you select them from the color picker. It will only be applied as different shades of gray.
|
|
Photoshop
|
Paint Shop Pro
|
|
|
|
Image > Mode > RGB Color
|
Colors > Increase Color Depth >
16 Million Colors
|
|
Colors must be applied on new, seperate layers between the background layer and the lineart layer. I find it helps me sort things if I name all the layers, but that's not entirely nessecary.
I create a new layer for every new color I use. To put a color in an area, I create a selection and then fill it. Don't use the paint bucket tool and fill on the linart layer. That won't work correctly. You have to have the colors on seperate layers beneath the lineart for it to work.
|
|
In Photoshop, I use the polygonal selection tool. (it's in a pop-out from the main tools bar - hold down on the freehand selection tool for a moment to get the polygonal selection tool).
|
In Paint Sho Pro use the freehand select tool, but set the selection type to "Point to Point" from the Tool Options window, and turn on Antialias.
|
|
That's it!
Just keep going from there. Hope this helped out some of you. If you have more questions, it'd be best if you posted them on the message board instead of e-mailing me personally. I get over 30 e-mails a day and rarely get to answer them all.
|