Any Photoshop Wizards Around?

Barewolf · 10-09-2010, 16:21

I hope there's some artists amongst you that can help me with my drawing, as I have come to a point where I cant continue without help.

I am trying to colour my drawing (Picture 1) which I did using Photoshop, and a graphics tablet. I want to do a colour version so I can overlay the image onto some clouds, and have some doves in the picture and then have it printed off onto an A1 Canvas for my house.

it won't work if its black and white as I need the colour element of the clouds.

my major problem is the skin areas of the picture, because he has a beard it's not possible for me to colour underneath it. you are bound to see parts of skin even though he has a beard, see picture 2.

I have looked at tutorials for this, but nearly all of them show you how to colour a black and white image using layers and colouring the image with a brush tool, this is what I have done using (Layer > Color > Fill > Mask > Hide All) Then coloured in the skin and altered the luminosity.

But as you can see, it looks rough and I can't manage to colour areas "Under" the beard.

If you look at picture 3, I have coloured over part of the beard so you can see what it looks like, it doesn’t look TOO BAD, but parts of the beard that should be black have been tinted to a skin colour, and I don’t like it as it looks like Jesus has ginger hair.

I'm sure there's a very simple way to solve this problem, so if you can please please help me, I would be forever grateful.

grandmaster · 10-09-2010, 16:30

Would it not be possible to disect the image into layers and colour each layer seperate?

Barewolf · 10-09-2010, 16:33

The image isnt in layers, the background layer is locked, but i am actually colouring in the new layers one by one.

Eyes, Skin, Hair

Trouble is that theres so much fine detail in the beard itself that i cant select it using the lasso tool, nor can i colour over it using a layer

Lord Nikon · 10-09-2010, 16:47

Would be easier if you posted a link to the psd.

joglynne · 10-09-2010, 16:48

I think you may have backed yourself into a corner with this. I always try to save each layer separately so that I can backtrack and tweak any problem areas.

I know it's going to be a pain but I personally would start again. You have done all the ground work of working out how to achieve all the hair textures so starting from scratch shouldn't take as long as this original drawing took.

Barewolf · 10-09-2010, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

Would be easier if you posted a link to the psd.

Why would it be easier?

I'm not too keen on posting my PSD incase someone steals it

And I really aint to keen on starting again, it took me ages to complete and i'm not sure if i can recreate it as good as the original

**Maggy J** · 10-09-2010, 17:47

I'm with jo on this.Start again and work in layers..that's the main advantage of Photoshop.

---------- Post added at 17:47 ---------- Previous post was at 17:46 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barewolf

Why would it be easier?

I'm not too keen on posting my PSD incase someone steals it

And I really aint to keen on starting again, it took me ages to complete and i'm not sure if i can recreate it as good as the original

It will be better because you have learned the pitfalls already...

alferret · 10-09-2010, 18:01

Cant give any advice but its a pretty good picture

Barewolf · 10-09-2010, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by alferret

Cant give any advice but its a pretty good picture

Ty Alf

peanut · 10-09-2010, 18:50

I'll save you the time and trouble. Here's the finished result.

Barewolf · 10-09-2010, 18:55

Well........

I've managed to add the colour to the face with positive results, I also changed the eyes, I think with more work it will look better.

For those who stumble upon this thread and want to know how I did it...........

I created a new layer, filled it with colour, and painted it like i said earlier. Most tutorials tell you to do this.

I then went to the layer, right clicked and went to blending options and changed the underlying layer, this kind of makes it fray at the edges.

I plan to blur the edges further with the blur tool, and if i cant achieve the results i want, i will just redraw the beard in a dark brown and black rather than do the whole thing again.

Im still in 2 minds as to the colour of the eyes, blue, green, or brown, its very easy to change them using the layers though so i guess i could do all 3.

Thanks for your advice again

Barewolf · 10-09-2010, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by peanut

I'll save you the time and trouble. Here's the finished result.

lol plonk :P

**Maggy J** · 10-09-2010, 18:58

Well done..But remember skin first next time..

Barewolf · 10-09-2010, 19:10

lol yeah maggy, trouble is i didnt plan on doing a colour version, would have been easier to do it in colour then turn it black and white, maybe i will just do colour from now on.

so used to working with pencil that you kind of forget

**Maggy J** · 10-09-2010, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barewolf

lol yeah maggy, trouble is i didnt plan on doing a colour version, would have been easier to do it in colour then turn it black and white, maybe i will just do colour from now on.

so used to working with pencil that you kind of forget

I work in pencils but I prefer to use colour from the start.

I only use graphites when I'm doing quick 15 minute life drawings..