LadyJudgement

Okay Check out this Cell Shading Tute

Then do a search on DA for more Cell Shading Tutorials... this is just one of many, many out there...

YIPES!!! /profusely apologizes for typo... S-U-I-C-H-I-R-O!

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All NSFW content needs to be behind two links. The two click rule is there so that you cannot directly link to any adult material from this site. Instead, you link to a pointer site where you can then link to the real material. This was instituted a while back by the mods.

As for the style you want to go, Masamune Shirou is probably the worst place you can steer this project. That's so high on the complexity scale that it's really no longer 'anime' style anymore. It's true CG with some anime elements. But as with anything we try, you need to take things in steps. Jumping to the end of the scale will only make all the needed skills inbetween dull and flawed in the end.

Simple, simple, simple. Then we can get more complex.

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I can't agree more.

What I see you doing with 3DSMax is cheating. You aren't really learning how to "create" what you're after, you're pushing buttons hoping the layers of filters will do it for you. That is photo manipulation, it is not art in my humble opinion... and certainly not anime.

If you want to learn Shirow's skill, look at his attention to detail. He understands the process of light, dark, form, highlight, and texture to create the things he draws the most - fabric, leather, metal, skin, hair, blood, rust, water, etc...

Those are things that require extensive study, each in of itself to get right. Using 3D programs to do it well, would also require that you have done before in either traditional or painting based digital programs, so that you have a framework of what you are trying to achieve.

I think you should bone up on your Anime Art history, to study the evolution of the coloring. The simple cell shading Shia showed you is a good place to start, when you have "mastered" that you can move on to more complex coloring and from there to even more complex coloring. I believe you understand some of anime's principles, elongated limbs, and torsos, the unsually large eyes, lack of expression, or simplification of it.

Those are apparent in your drawing, however to take that 2D process and click away for a 3D coloring polished finish, you are losing tons of the depth that would make the picture uniquely your own. Instead what you get with most filters is this generic unrefined "plasticness", that has given digital art a bad rap and almost no respect in the traditional art world...

You cannot paint complex 3D forms, with no understanding of the bare bones behind it, the process of painting itself.

I could break down how he does the eyes for you, and you maybe able to achieve great eyes, but what would the sense be on a flat face? The same goes for great leather textures but on a poorly anatomical figure, you lose the weight and impact the body can make.

I hope I haven't offended you, that is not my intent, just to say, don't skip steps with that program. Get use to using photoshop as it was not intended. Skip their filters altogether, and do some painting...

the sketch... just 10 minutes to get a feel for him, sorry not a lot of time today.... hmmm now that I know he's suppose to be more cowboyish, I will have another go when I get a free moment.

Hmmm interesting take... I would have gone for an almost cowboy feel with that goatee and those boots. I can't promise anything as nice as the Drunkfu thing, but I will give it a once over later today if I have the time.

I would add some more color to her skin, you can barely make out the shading on it. Also the white highlights on the legs and hair are a bit strong. You might want to use your base color in 3 tones first, and then add the white in sparing proportions. Look at a piece of leather. Only the most shiny parts would translate as white, the rest would be black, grey, and several lighter greys...

The same can be said of your hair. Anime highlights are sharp and striking, but there will always be at least two colors to it, maybe 3. Are you going for a cell shaded look or a cross over between comic coloring and anime?

Edit: in my humble opinion, I don't believe the 3DMax Studio is helping you. The piece in general looks overly filtered. I know this, because I have done this, before, many times before I knew how to color properly or with any semblance to the styles you're looking for... it looks cheated, especially when your drawing has so much personality, the coloring takes away from it, in that it looks like 2 different people did the piece. One who can draw anime, and the other learning to color it.

I would try your hand at the traditional cell shades, then add some comic highlights for effect. I could be stepping out of line here, but were you going for a specific look of anime, as in some movie or manga you know of? If I saw an example of what you wanted to achieve, I could probably breakdown some tips for you in coloring in a similar vein.

Congrats on the write up! And ST, congrats on the arts! Cool new toon...

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View this on fast:
http://artpad.art.com/gallery/?kg1sb7vv4rc

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Love it... you gonna color color?

Nope no custom colors, but if you lower the opacity on the color you choose, you get lighter and lighter tones.

Also you can layer those light tones to give a sense of "glazing", so say you want a different green, you can start with yellow, then layer blue, or viceversa. (sp)

You can layer colors over black, and light grey over colors, and the same with a light white wash. These are all painting tricks... experiment, make some "happy trees"...

LJ

I'm sure you will know soon enough...

... and no he doesn't pay me. lolol

LJ

LOL mmmm Alex has my Movie Tourette's Syndrome... I think it's catching. I think someone's *coughfoocough* getting measured for an art body bag... can't we all just get along?

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[color=pink] But now, after seeing the talents in these threads, I find myself really wanting to see what inspires the artists here. So, enlighten me with your visions and send me your creations that I can feature in my articles for the City Scoop.

~*~VexXxa~*~[/b]

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Perhaps you would like to put up a list of art themes, you'd like us to draw... say for future issues? Oh and welcome...

"dagnamit mama, can't i have some privacy!"

"One way or another you're gonna tell me who took all my pigeons off this roof..."

Ooo wish i could join...

congrats Alex... I didn't vote for you, but I am willing to put partisan art aside...

Cool! Makes a nice avatar...

Color Version is up!

Thank you everyone for the kindness and support, and glad you like it Emmi.

Send me your email, and I will send you the LARGE 5MB, 5700 x 4302 version of the Ink and final color.

Ink is up...

More to follow...

Oh and if you ever post, and I know you from only here or DA, please let me know...

Art of Me... and the story behind my freebie birthday present for Envee's Husband...
You can wish him well in this Pinnacle thread...

My thanks to Mr. Majesty, Barron Overlord, Lady Liberty, Sassy, Memphis Bill and Black Shroud for the unlicensed use of their likenesses in my header... that will probably change now and again, but I had so much fun using recent work, I forgot to ask everyone if I could... again my apologies AND thanks!

Anyway, going to be posting all new art in here instead of Deviant Art from now on. Sizes will be toned down as will resolutions, but I may include a detail now and again. Not to worry though, any and all "clients" will still receive my requisite normal HUMONGOUS sizes...

This first post was more of a mock up, and guinea pig for what the final may look like, for now after 5 hours of editing, I am happy with it... more changes to come.

I will be blogging my big COH project in here, with a new thread for each group as I get them done, and then the final 62 person whammy at the end.

Anyway thanks for looking, and hope you like the post. Click the images for larger versions, I didn't size everything down, just used what was handy at the time.

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARRON, your wife loves you A LOT!

LJ

Wow, gorgeous work...

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Thanks, both of you, for responding. I appreciate the fact that, even tho you're busy with commissions, you took the time to answer me. That in itself is all I required. At least I know people are busy and can't do my piece, instead of they just plain don't wanna.

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I'd love to make some money, but I also don't want to beg for it.

That aside, I had planned on doing your piece from the get go... for free. Mostly because she is really a simple thing to draw, I could do it in less than 3 hours, maybe 2... but my problem was that I did have something else I was working on in secret for the past week, which I can't post until tomorrow because it is a surprise.

And the other thing is being in the mood... I tried to do it last night, but something else on my plate got there first. Creatively speaking. Today is also a very very busy day, but when and if the muse hits me, I will send you whatever pops up (gees that sounded dirty)...

Do you mind if I use blood drips? I have some great brushes for that... or I could do the misty night glow of the grave look behind her? Tootles!

LJ

LOL All this time I thought you were a dude!!!

You have 4 days...