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When scanning in cartoons to colour
it is important to make sure the original is good quality. This
requires some tweaking in Photoshop. |
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| 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. |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 5. |
Advanced Tip:
Now is a good time to save your work.
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| 6. |
Now we can start filling the character.
Select the Paint Bucket Tool.
Double click on the colour palette to select a suitable colour. |
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| 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.
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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.
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| 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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Email us in your final creations and we will
put them of the website.

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