First there is the basics i need to go over in order to proceed. These are the Polygonal Lasso Tool, the Rectangular Marquee Tool, the Dodge Tool, the Burn Tool, and the Smudge Tool.. all these will be used by far the most in this Tutorial. I will also go over the Keyboard shortcuts for these and also for other devices to help out the learning process and also make this go faster for me and you. Polygonal Lasso Tool/ (shortcut: L) - Rectangular Marquee Tool/ (shortcut: M) - Dodge Tool/ (shortcut: O) - Burn Tool/ (shortcut: O) - Note: the Dodge Tool and Burn Tool are on the same button and under the same keyboard shortcut. Smudge Tool/ (shortcut: R) - |
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These are the shortcuts for the other devices we will be using. Copy - Ctrl+C Cut - Ctrl+X Paste - Ctrl+V Fill with Foreground color - Alt+Backspace Fill with Background color - Ctrl+Backspace Move Tool - Spacebar Zoom In - Ctrl + Zoom Out - Ctrl - Increase Brush Size - ] Decrease Brush Size - [ With a Tool such as Polygonal Lasso Tool or the Rectangle Marquee Tool holding down Shift will allow you to add to your selection while holding down Alt will allow you to subtract from your selection. This will be used frequently when making detailed selections for a large area or so you dont fill in certain parts of complicated drawings.
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| Layer Blending Modes - The layer blending mode is what will set the drawing apart and bring out the color. Normally the Blending Mode is set on Normal. In this case however we will be using Multiply for our filler colors. This Blending Mode keeps the color but makes it transparent so you can see the drawing behind it. This can sometimes become difficult if your trying to make highlights using a lighter color ontop of the Multiply alot of times it will not show up. This is were the Soft Light Blending Mode comes into play. this mode lightens the areas your trying to lighten and at the same time allows you the transparency needed to see the drawing below. However this Blending Mode will be used rarely as there is a much faster and easier way to add Highlight to parts of the picture you need. |
A Word Of Warning. Before starting I would like to just say that when you use the dodge and burn tools you will be using them on the same layer as the filled layer. Some people do not like this because they might want to change the looks later on. This is how I will be doing this tutorial the other way of doing this is the use of Soft Light Blending Mode and the Darken Blending Mode. Both of which double the time it takes to add highlight and shadow. This is your preference on whether you wish to use either or. I choose the former because it allows the use of alot more detail.
ALRIGHT LETS GET STARTED ON A NEW PAGE SINCE THIS ONE IS PRETTY MUCH FILLED UP :) |
This tool will be used frequently to make fast selections both to deselect and to select. I suggest getting familure with this tool as it will be used throughout the intire tutorial. 
This tool is used frequently to make selections of single or multiple pixels. I use this instead of the pencil or brush tools because i can use the Alt+Backspace or Ctrl+Backspace fill commands for quick fills (see keyboard shortcuts below).
This tool is used later on to lighten up parts of the picture needed lightened (such as the gleem from jewelry) if you havent guessed it by now this tool lightens up the color you are dragging it on.. allowing to add highlights were need be.
This tool is used later on to darken up parts of the picture needed darkening (such as the shadows under the eyes) if you havent guessed it by now this tool darkens up the color you are dragging it on.. allowing to add shadow were need be.
This tool is used throughout the Tutorial to get rid of imperfections in both the actual drawing and the colors being overlaid on it. This (if set to a low strength) is a great tool to touch up over cropping or under cropping and is also used to break up pixels that are too riggid.
