Simple Cartoons
 

When scanning in cartoons to colour it is important to make sure the original is good quality. This requires some tweaking in Photoshop.

 

     
1.

Draw you cartoon using a black fineliner.

Scan it using a high resolution such as 300dpi (dot per inch).

Advanced Tip: When you draw your cartoon make sure you 'close' all your lines so they are completely joined up. Otherwise when you fill in the colour is will bleed to the rest of the image.

2.

We now have to tidy up your scanned image, so it will fill properly.

Right click on the Background layer in the layer window and select 'duplicate layer'

Now make the 'background' layer invisible by clicking on the eye next to it, as seen in this picture.

 

3.

We now want to get rid of the white paper.

Select the magic wand tool.

At the top of the screen ensure that the Tolerance is about 20 and untick the 'Contiguous' box. This will mean that all of the white is selected when you use the magic wand.

Select the white with the magic wand and press delete.

 

4.

We now need to tidy up the lines.

Image > Adjustments > Desaturate

Image > Adjustments > Levels, then

In the levels popup window more the three arrow heads fully to the right.

This has made the lines in your drawing pure black rather than a shade of grey.

 

5.

Advanced Tip: Now is a good time to save your work.

 

 
6.

Now we can start filling the character.

Select the Paint Bucket Tool.

Double click on the colour palette to select a suitable colour.

7.

Add colour to a part of your drawing using the Paint Bucket Tool

Now we need to add the shading

Select the colour you have added to your cartoon with the magic wand tool. Hold down the Shift key to select more than one area.

Selecting the colour means you do not accidentally edit the rest of the image. You will only be able to edit things inside the selection.

 

8.

Select the burn tool.

This is sometimes not visible so you need to left click and hold the mouse button on the Dodge tool as seen here to get access to it.

Select a suitable brush size from across the top of the screen

9.

Using the Dodge tool add some shadows to your cartoon. Imagine where the shadows would be if the light was coming from the right.

Make sure your image is still selected with the magic wand tool

You may need to experiment with the 'Exposure' at the top of the screen if your picture goes too dark too quickly.

Advanced Tip: It is better to have a low exposure and build the shadows up slowly

10.

Now we need to add Highlights to your cartoon

Make sure your image is still selected with the magic wand tool.

Now select the Burn tool but clicking and holding down the mouse button on the Dodge tool.

Advanced Tip: Use a smaller brush for highlights and don't put too many on.

 

11.

Continue with the rest of your cartoon using this technique of Filling colour, selecting it with the magic wand tool and using the dodge and burn tools.

Good luck.

 

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