TUTORIAL # 001 Learn how to utilize layers in Photoshop

Tutorial 1 (basic) Learn how to utillize Layers in Adobe Photoshop. First I scanned my penciled artwork via a scanner and exported to Adobe Photoshop 7.0 (I ll be using version 7.0 here). Basically What you learn here is also applicable in version 5.5 6.0 and 8.0. The function of layers and basic tools involving layers are the same.

 

STEP 1 Obtaining your artwork and exporting it to Photoshop.
Scan your artwork and export it to photoshop. Or you can just import the scans from Photoshop.
STEP 2 Start isolating the layers
On the layers tab, Duplicate the Background layer.
 
Done? It should look like this.
Now make a new layer in between them.
delete this.
Delete the original Background layer, as shown here.
Select the new layer and do as shown in the figure. Make a new 'Background from layer'
It should look like this now. Next select the lower layer (as shown). Make one new layer.
It should look like this now by now.
Before proceeding to next step.... make sure the color plate tab is like as shown in the figure here.
Now pick the Channels tab. Press the button (as shown in pic)
Now it should look something like this.
Go back to layers tab. Select the layer (as shown) and press DEL on keyboard.
On that particular layer, Deselect the highlighted selections.
Lock the layer as shown. Now your artwork's outlines are locked at ready.

Now you can use the brush tool to brighten up the outlines at this layer

As you can see here, the background layer is 'hidden' so you can actually see that the outline sections has already been selected and locked. The outlines are not that bright so you can brighten them up. By locking the layer, it means it wont be disturbed when you are colouring other layers.

You can also drag layers above each other. Play around and you can learn more.
Prepare other layers according to your prefences and you are now ready to color.
STEP 3 Colour your artwork and play around.
Coloring your work...etc etc, play around..
STEP 4 Flatten your artwork to be saved.

Finally You can Flatten all your layers (as shown) and save your artwork in any of the format you desire. We save our Artworks in .jpeg with the quality of 7 to 9 most of the time.

Jpeg is much smaller and easier to move. Gif is good at saving images meant for web viewing. Saving Gifs allows you to save in 2 options: Interlaced (when image is loaded, it is loaded in strips) and non Interlaced (it wont be visible until it is fully loaded). Gif is also good at perserving black and white or grayscale images. Oh, Gifs is copyrighted so we cant abused it so much.

Tiffs and Png are great at perserving colored works but be prepared for the large file size. Bmp is good if you are intending to save as wallpapers.

End of tutorial 001. >o< Happy colouring!