visual art Colored Manga

[RoseDust 20]

Hello out there ^^ I'm posting up some of my person faves of colored manga I did in Photoshop. Nothing big and fancy, just your basic coloring. Not the best in the world, but I worked on them just the same. Feedback is always welcomed.

 

Edited January 28, 2013 by RoseDust

[BeatrixBow 119]

Great colors. Even though I don't really like manga, you make this look really cool. In some pictures, I feel like you made the clothing a litlle eensy teensy bit too dark, but otherwise, this is good. ^-^

[RoseDust 20]

Thank you ^^ I've always liked darker colors as I actually look best in earth tones. I'll be working on others to put up and I thank you for your feed back ^^

 

RD

Edited January 28, 2013 by RoseDust

[Wingnut 6,732]

Pretty good, RoseDust.  They're eye catching but not too jailbaitish.  Did you draw and color them? 

 

I can only imagine what it's like to have naturally purple hair, lol!

[RoseDust 20]

Pretty good, RoseDust.  They're eye catching but not too jailbaitish.  Did you draw and color them? 

 

I can only imagine what it's like to have naturally purple hair, lol!

 

Thank you and no I didn't draw them. I can't draw my way out of a paper bag lmao ((yeah so much for being in art club for my high school life )) But these are just different manga scans I found online ^^ I can't really color panels ((too much detail and my wrist would give out)) so I do the scans that introduce each chapter. Plus it also gives me room to add my own background And I only gave that girl the purple hair b/c in the actual cover she has light purple hair. I just made it a bit darker. As far as having natural purple hair yeah I can just image all the looks I'd get lol

 

RD

[Bohtty 1,775]

Some tips for you to consider:

 

1. Don't use pure black. Use similar colors such as dark brown or dark blue.
2. Use pure white sparingly. Use similar colors instead such as light blue or light yellow.
   1. Blue would portray a cool setting like the night while yellow portrays a warm setting like the sun.
3. Avoid the colors found on MS Paint's default palette. I'm talking about the saturated pinks and blues you used frequently
4. Never EVER use the grass brush in photoshop. It's like the Comic Sans of brushes.
   1. Ironically you are using this font. Let me explain what I mean. Comic Sans is one of the most hated fonts in the design world. The reason for this is because it was so over used and used incorrectly that now it is associated with 8th grader's projects. It doesn't read very well when compared to other fonts. You really shouldn't use it, especially if you're an artist. Now you know : ]
      1. I'd recommend sticking with the default Arial.
5. Only use the smudge or blur tool when editing photography. 
6. Increase the contrast on your skin shading. They look flat and an increase in contrast will add depth. 
7. Try adding some reds and oranges to the skin tone.
8. Unless you can replicate the style of the manga, I'd recommend not drawing a background landscape. Instead try things like well chosen solid colors, minimalistic patterns and occasionally simple gradients. 
9. If you do paint the scenery, keep in mind that lighter grass is rarely just a lighter green. It usually involved both an increase in the brightness of a color as well as a slight hue shift.
   1. Sun casts yellow light. Moon casts blue light. Keep in mind what kind of light is being cast.
10. Don't forget shadows if you do draw a landscape.
11. Use references. The instead of cat ears aren't really pink.
12. You used a lot of cool colors, maybe try some warm colors?
13. Don't mix photography with manga (or any cartoon really).

 

My favorite pieces is kimg001 because the colors worked pretty well together even with the pink hair. I'm also a fan of manga that utilizes extreme gradients as seen on her stockings.

 

Keep up the good work and don't let my long list discourage you. They are just suggestions.

 

EDIT: One last thing. JPG file format is for photographs. PNG file format is for everything that doesn't animate. GIF file format is for everything that does animate.

Edited January 28, 2013 by Bohtty

[RoseDust 20]

I'm glad you like them, and I thank you for your suggestions. They might be a little hard for me to follow as I learn by someone showing me step by step. I know how to use layers which I got from looking up coloring tuts on YouTube. However the person I used don't talk very often which is how I learn best. By someone telling how its done and showing it as well. I took what I did understood and worked with it. I never thought they looked flat and I have downloaded Photoshop brushes of all kinds ^^ Far as cool colors I like them XD Yeah I know I'm weird. I try not to use pure black or white unless I think it fits. That's why I left some of things white ((ie the girls sitting on the porch I think its called)) and just did her skirt. I was trying to get her outfit as close as I could to a Shrine Maiden. I'll try some warmer colors in others I find and see how those turn out. Again thank you for your input. ^^

 

RD

 

New! I worked a little harder than I have others in my past. I tired some of the input I was given above. I think it turned out rather nicely ^^

 

RD