Coloring a cartoon character FIRST PART


1_DRAWING_
In this case the work is drawn in pencil, lines have been inked using a marker and the final drawing has been scanned. I suggest you to use a big resolution, like 200/300 dpi.
The first step after scanning is cleaning the drawing: this phase is called “clean–up”.
Our drawing will be on a layer called “Drawing” set to “Multiply” mode.
The Multiply layer mode allows us to paint “under” the linework.
It is really important to give good contrasts between the colors and that all the white parts are “true” white (r255,g255,b255) otherwise the “Multiply” layer mode will affect the underlying colors.

2_COLOR_
After obtaining a cleaned “line-art”, the first phase of the coloring is to paint with flat tones every part of the character: skin, clothes, hair, etc.
We need a new layer that we'll name “Color” and that will be under the one named “Drawing”.
In this phase we want to fill areas with flat color, without gradients , so you can use the Bucket tool or a Hard Brush set to 100% opacity.
If you’re using the Bucket tool, select areas with the Magic Wand and use “Expand Selection” (1 or 2 pixels) in order to avoid creating gaps between the linework and color.
I Usually try and stick to a 3-4 color palette, from which I gain also a secondary one . Using less colors is always better!
If you don’t know what kind of colors to use or how to combine them, you can download some images of cartoon characters to use as reference…it’s useful!
Using a picture as reference will help you to understand what kind of chromatic choices have been taken depending on the character type!

3_DIFFUSE SHADING
It might sound strange, but the coloring stage is already over!
Now it is all a matter of light and shadow!
Create a new layer called “diffuse shadow” and put this layer between the “drawing” and the “color” layer and again set it to “Multiply”.
It’s really important to choose a light source for your drawing ( in our case the light is coming from the top left side).
Again, you can take a look at some cartoon screenshots in order to understand how to use lights to communicate feelings.
This phase allows you to draw some light shadows on the character and to start defining form.
Use a simply black transparent (50% opacity) soft brush.
Start painting lightly in grey ( the multiply filter will use them in order to darken the colored areas) in the areas that are on the opposite side of lit area; especially in the areas that are hidden to light, in the joints of the elements, between lenses, under the hat and under the hair etc…
You can adjust the transparency of the layer trying to reach the proper shadow intensity.

4_DIFFUSE LIGHT
This phase is technically identical to the first one, but we need to obtain an opposite result.
Create a layer named “Diffuse Light” and place it over the “drawing” layer, but this time set the layer mode to “Linear Dodge (Add)”.
Then set the opacity of the layer to 10/15% (very transparent) and use the same brush used during the third phase (still using grey)
This time the grey that we’re going to paint will actually make the colors lighter instead of darker.
Paint on areas that are more exposed to the light, opposite to onesthat are in shadow: on the left - top side of the hat (leaving shadow through the folding) on the forward part of the hair, on the face etc...
This phase will complete the previous one giving more volume to shapes.
Be careful to not exaggerate in steps 3 and 4, because lights and shadows should not destroy the drawing covering it... and always keep in mind the light source!

-end of the firt part.

Translation by Christian Russo and Ryan Lovelock Thanx!