So, a friend of mine told a certain "Chap-Hop" artist that I liked to draw. Said Chap-Hop artist "I like the cut of your tweed. Do me a drawing"
I have done said drawing. It has been approved for issue #3 of Professor Elemental Comics.

I am very excited. I'm not getting paid*, but even so, properly published...

Anyway, my dilemma is that I HAVE NEVER COLOURED ANY ARTWORK IN MY LIFE AND IT HAS TO BE READY BY THE END OF THE MONTH!!!!

All I have is Photoshop Elements and a 1st gen wacom tablet that was given me.

Any advice would be very very welcome.

WHY DID I DRAW A SPACE HELMET?!?!?! HOW DO I DO THE COLOURING FOR THAT?!?!?!? ARGHHHHH!!!!

Here's the basic pencils:



I'm thinking EC comics-style colouring. The card he's holding is going to have text relating to a web comic that can be downloaded, and will be in the style of an old-fashioned telegram.

If you are unfamiliar with the work of Prof Elemental, I give you his most famous track:




*I'm being paid in biscuits suitable for nibbling while drinking tea. That's what I asked for, that is what I shall receive

This is probably the best guide to comics coloring I've personally seen --



http://www.amazon.com/dp/0823010309/?tag=imwan-20

Cheers Hanzo. I'm kinda freaking out a bit at trying to learn this stuff so quickly. My one advantage is I think I'm looking at mostly flats for the retro look, but it's the technical terms that make my brain hurt. I'm not a technophobe, but I'm easily intimidated when i know absolutely nothing

Luckily I have that book in stock, so I'll grab a copy.

The quick start guide --

1) Scan your linework and open it in PS

2) Go to the layers palette -- if your linework is labeled "background" and has a lock symbol next to it, double-click it so it's a regular layer (say yes to any pop-up boxes)

3) While on the linework layer, click the layers palette's drop down menu and select "multiply"

4) Add new layers underneath the layer with the linework -- color on those layers; the colors will appear below the lines

Quick Tip: While doing flats, you can fill in large areas quickly with the paintbucket. Just --

1) On the linework layer, use the magic wand to select the area you want to color

2) Go to Select > Modify... > Expand and select one or two pixels (you want to do this to avoid any white "halo" areas around selected areas)

3) In the layers palette, click onto one of the layers you're coloring on

4) Select the Paintbucket tool, make sure you have the color you want, and click inside the selected area

http://www.steeldolphin.com/htmltuts/di ... part1.html



These are on how to set up things to begin with. I couldn't find the one I used way back when I started on the JBF.

First crude attempt to lay down some flats - yep, lots of missing bits/overlaps etc

ignore the pink border - that's my background colour for spotting mistakes. Interesting that a couple of colours are different on this, but it's just a jpg.

Cool, keep us updated on how it's coming!

Day 2

Replaced the pink background test colour with a much nicer aged comic-style colour.

Pulled the main figure forward by essentially backlighting him.

Began my first ever attempt at modelling colours.

STILL can't figure out why the dino-thing is such a violent purple on the Jpeg!!

Maybe you're working in CMYK and when displaying on screen, which use RGB, the color isn't being translated well?

DAY 3

Hours spent trying to model colour on the face - really couldn't do it, so unless I have a major breakthru, leaving as is.

Nice accident with the pipe stem to get a tortoiseshell effect

Reflections on the helmet - a bit too much I think, will probably tone down later, although I think the "front" of the helmet might need a streak or two.

Calling this 90% done now.

Looking good. I'll put a bow on that call it done.

Why are the words on his helmet backwards?

So he can read 'em without taking his helmet off... did 'em in the style of the old label makers that were popular when I was a kid

Late to the party, but I found these videos super helpful:

A few more:

Well, well, look who's come crawling back to IMWAN.

Your MOM, that's who.

Paulo Rivera has started posting about his process for colouring
http://paolorivera.blogspot.co.uk/2014/ ... -of-3.html
http://paolorivera.blogspot.co.uk/2014/ ... -of-3.html

LIES

After all that, forgot to put the finished version up:

Changed the main colour of dino-thing and rocket - gave both a bit more shading, plus a little more colour in the volcano plume (thanks to Rick for the input).
Some small tidy up.