STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL TO COPY ART/ CELL SHADING
Ok before we start the most important thing is to make your work place comfortable. Nice comfy chair I sit on my lovley pillow.
[link] My tablet is what I use. ^^
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I need something to drink at my side, I have chosen Orange Juice this time due to the fact I am sick.
[link] The art program I use, Adobe Photoshop Elements.

And last but definatley not least I need my choice of music, seeing how I am doing a Duo Maxwell Pic I need something up beat and perfect for his mood.
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Ok now we have all the things we need lets start.
Step 1: Sketching.
First chose the picture you would like to copy.
[link] Now make a new canvas, go to file new and make it as big or small as you wish, when I work with mine I like to start big. Now you have your canvas to work on. Make sure the BG color is white. label the layer "White". Now make a new layer over the White layer.
[link] Label it Sketch. Now your ready to start sketching, I have a hard time getting it right the first few times. Just start sketching the drawing, while looking at your reference picture. Use a 2point paintbrush to do your sketch.
[link] Now sketch away! This part is a builder for me. I have to use so many sketches to get it right on. Ok now your sketch is done. look at that.
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Step 2: Lineart
Now that you have your sketch done it's time to do the lineart. Make a new layer over your sketch layer. Name it Oultine or Lineart.
[link] ^^ Ok now take your 2 point brush chose the color of the outline. I always do black unless it's for Happy Tree Friends...anyway now start to trace over your sketch making it fit the way you want it to. I always zoom the picture in about 300 so i get the lines as straight as I wish.
[link] Now that your Lineart is done and your satisfied with it. Delete your sketch layer by right clicking on the layer and click delete layer.
[link] Ok now make a new layer and label it Background. and bring it to the bottom under the White Layer, Do this by clicking and dragging it to the bottom. ^^
[link] We will need that layer later. Now go to the outline layer highlight it and then click the Layer tab on top of the screen. Click Merge Down
[link] Now that you have merged the White and Outline layers it's time to make your lineart much thinner and clear. Now right click on the new combined layer and click Duplicate layer.
[link] Now click the top layer and go to the filter tab on top of the screen. Go to Blur. Gaussian
[link] Now set the blur to 2.0 (I used to do 1.5 but 2.0 gives re Tutit a better look.)
[link] Ok now go to the layer tab and select the Hard Light option.
[link] Now the lineart is so much better. ^^ Ok now merge the two by merging down once more. Be sure you still have your Background layer. Ok now label your layer Outline or Lineart which ever you prefur.. Now highlight that layer and go to the layer tabs again and chose Multipy.
[link] Now you are ready to start the base coloring. ^^
Step 3: Base Color
Now start on the BG layer Fill it in what ever color your BG is going to be.
[link] now click the new layer tab at the bottom. Label it. (Always remember to label your layers.) I always start with skin. (Remember the layers have to be under the Outline. Now start coloring, it doesn't matter if you go out of the lines, we will deal with that later.
[link] (I like to have referance to my coloring. I don't every now and then but it is nice to have something there.) Now that you have that layer colored click a new layer and start on something else. I chose to do the hair. (Make a new layer for everything you color. Ex. Skin, Hair, Shirt, Pants, White of Eyes, Eyes. ect...)
[link] Ok now it's all colored, but now we need to fix it up.
Step 4: Fix up the worst bits
Ok now that you have a bit of touch up to do, it's a long but nessisary step. ok Zoom in on the picture about 300 or so. And now you can see all the worst bits. Start on the top layer and erase the worst bits also keep the paintbrush with the base colors handy.
[link] Look closley, Now after you have it all fixed.{
[link] We can start shading.
Step 5: Shading
First off determine where your light source is comming from. on mine I chose the light to come from the upper left. Now you shade away from the light source. Before we shade there is one thing to do. On the layer your working on make sure the Lock transparency is on.
[link] Ok now start shading away from the light. Chose a lightly darker shade of color, it depends on your set lighting.
[link] Use different sizes of brushes for this. The further the light the more the shadow.
OK now you are finished, I like to see what it looks like without the BG color and see if any white shows then fix it, you do not have to if it doesn't show through the BG color. I am just picky.
[link] I am not going to go into BG cause I am no good at them myself. I hope you learned about Cell shading. I will make more Tutorials soon. Till then happy Cell Shading.
End Project.
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