#tutorial-ish

[iamespecter]

Ziku, do you have any advice for the color technique? I really like how you apply shadows and lights.

My advice? start with grayscales.

using grayscales helps you distinguish the proper lighting without having to worry about the colors. It's also why I'm able to do the 1-hour pomnis: I could place the colors after I'm done with the lighting placement.

my process is this:

I first start off using airbrush, softly shading areas that don't get hit with light often.

I then proceed to roughly put of where should light hit with a light shade of gray, and how it affects the surrounding area with darker greys. The closer a solid object is to another, the harder the edges of the shadows are. I embrace the imperfection of my strokes, and do not perfect them at this stage since it would be a waste of time.

fun fact: you can make hard edges look more defined by placing a very light shade of gray. This is how I achieve the illusion of lighting hitting something on my art :)

once I'm done with the values, I move to coloring. I keep the strokes as loose as I did the lighting placements, because again. Imperfections HELPS. Glossy things like eyes, teeth and the apple are colored a bit darker, to make the shine pop later.

Apply a multiply layer above the colors between 15-30% depending (for this piece it's set to 26%), it's up to you if you want the multiply layer to be cooler colors, or warmer. I chose a saturated orange coloring for mine.

now this is my favorite part: glow dodge. Set to 100% and above every other layer except lineart, light dap it around using an airbrush where the light hits the most.

This part is mostly optional, since this is where I "clean up" the lineart by locking the layer, then color dropping the edges to "erase" most of the lines.

you don't have to do this, it's just easier for me for the rendering stage since it won't get in the way.

You can also go ahead and combine every layer (grayscales + colors + lineart and etc.) afterwards. This one is important.

all that's left to do now... is to render your painting.

and you render,

and you fucking trust the process even though Pomni looks like a stoned as fuck vampire with a receding hairline,

and you render. (and add more glow dodge for the glossy objects)

When I finish a painting, I actually apply a difference layer above it all to give it some flare,

to which after that I'll do a render noise, chromatic aberration, tone curve and posterization for final touches.

That is all :)

[ominouspuff]

Hey op. I really love your art and would love to learn more of your style

Do you perhaps stream or have tutorials? If not that's fine, I just wanna learn more about the breakdown of your pieces and such <3

Hi nom!

Thank you! I don’t do streams or tutorials, but I’m more than happy to share some here if you like. If you’ve got more specific questions, let me know.

In fair warning most of my work is based on intuition more than studies, so my ability to articulate any sort of process is limited.

Attempt to Articulate Process 1.0

1. I start with motion and shapes. My goal with this is to capture the tone and mood of the piece as a whole. (Since I nearly always feature a hyper-emphasized subject rather than multiple subjects or environment pieces, usually this part is shown in a person I am drawing and what they are doing/preoccupied with.)

Sometimes I use lines/line art to capture these, sometimes I just select parts of my canvas to block out in different colors or paint in broad, clean strokes.

Here’s an example of this in an old draft for @ddeck ‘s Jedi OC:

Breakdown: You can see I have used both lines (in the background skeleton you can still see traces of, as well as the face and shoulder of the clothes, defining finer details) and colors in blotted, blocky, or clean shapes (the majority of the subject). The motion lines are complimentary in opposing directions, shown in the blowing hair and growing vines. The gaze of the viewer is drawn by the perspective and focal points of finer details in the piece, complex shapes or lines (hands, face, seams in the clothes, etc.).

2. While finalizing my motions and shapes to build on, I pay attention to voids and contrasts for what’s being viewed/communicated to come through clearly at a glance:

The shape of a subject can be emphasized by rotating it or stylizing the shapes themselves to leave spaces where the background will come through (voids). I think of this a lot like carving clay, using perspective and paint/eraser alternating to get dramatic shapes. The colors used can be contrasted as well to emphasize depth of a subject. Here’s another example:

Breakdown: There are plenty of voids both large and small to carve out the shape of this OC creature from the background. Additionally, the color of the background and accents to the creature contrast strongly while emphasizing the motion in the piece, to carve that silhouette out even further. Fun-ish Fact: Sometimes I give the impression of lines without there being any, by leaving gaps in the base colors of the subject where line art would define the shape of, say, crossed arms or the contouring of a subject. Basically I use void lines instead of line art, sometimes.

Here’s an example of steps 1 & 2 in a piece I’m currently working on:

3. After that it’s just lighting, detailing, and shading all the way. Here’s where it usually gets wild for me, because I rarely approach this the same way. The one thing I always do is add another layer to repaint over what I had before.

I either paint in simple, broad, low-opacity strokes after selecting the parts of the subject I want to be affected by the color and texture I’m using, or in tiny, boldly solid strokes that come together for an impression. Here’s an example of each:

Primarily broad strokes:

Primarily detailed strokes, ad nauseam:

Worth Noting: Backgrounds aren’t my forte. For them, I tend to use broad strokes and focus on setting a mood with the colors, shapes, motion, and textures, and using both to highlight the shape of the subject. Sometimes I will throw in a little spice of details in the background for accents or symbolism, but usually I prefer if they’re geometric thematic mood-setters or flat color shapes. You can see this in all of the above examples.

This isn’t comprehensive, and all this is for my digital art pieces that don’t take as much time to make, but I hope it’s helpful as a starting reference.

Thanks again for asking!

[the-minster]

So you want to make one of those neat little posts with the images and the texts that read like a poem and have an overarching theme, but you don't even know what they're called, let alone how to do them. This post is your sign from God (me) to make one because I love them so much and also some tips on what I do.

1. What are these things even called? these are called web weaves or web weavings and as far as I'm aware their pretty much only on tumblr rn.

2. What kind of things can I use? Literally anything. The more various your scources, the cooler. You can use peoms, books, lyrics. Paintings, Graphics, photos, stills. Messages, posts, asks, comments. I especially love to use posts or messages etc. that someone posted in a very mundane manner and elevating it with the web weave and acknowledging the poetry in our everyday life.

3. How do I put it together? I first gather all the material I want to use into one draft, then I rearrange over and over again and see what effect it has on me. The main method I use to judge whether I am satisfied with my web weave is if it has an effect on me. If not, then I rework it again and again.

4. But how do I even start my first one? So, I have a folder with close to 300pics of potential material for web weaves. My advice is to start gathering your own stuff, take screenshots of literally anything that makes you feel stuff. Keep your eyes open in the real world for graffiti or bathroom stall scribbles that make you feel something. Poetry is just words that mean more than just their content and that is present everywhere.

5. Should I title my webweave? I prefer to give my web weaves a title or short caption, because it makes it easier to understand the theme. Themes can be anything, from vague concepts like "love" or "guilt" to very specific things like "I wear headphones all the time because I was screamed at so much, I never want to be screamed at again, I need a voice screaming at me all the time." Art speaks for itself, but titles often still help your audience understand the register of your art to even know how to listen.

6. Sources. I'm really bad at this one. Try to take screenshots in which you include the source you got it from. It's good practice to list all the sources in order at the end of the webweave. But often I end up with webweaves of which there are at least half of the screenshots I don't even remember where I got from. The oy thing I think is absolutely inacceptable is using someone else's post or art without asking for permission and crediting them.

Ok, I can't think of anything else rn, but ask box is open (as always) and if anyone wants some pointers do not hesitate to message me either, I am crazy about web weaves and will absolutely support anyone who wants to try their own hand at one.

[specttral]

HOW I USUALLY EDIT PT. 1

someone asked for this so I thought I'd just make a little tutorial for the three people who are gonna see this 😐✌️

here's part two!

if you're gonna follow this it's best you start with a transparant image on picsart, you can find them if you scroll all the way down.

1. Pick the images you're gonna use. I usually pick two or one selfies from the same day and then a matching background.

2. Cut out the images and put them on the background. You can use the cut out tool for this, or just erase the backgrounds with the eraser, like me.

3. Decorate!! The most fun part!! Lots of people would call this drain but my drain-listening sister would get triggered so I just call it 'drain inspired'.

if you wanna look at my stickers you should go to my picsart!! Click on the symbol next to the three dots and you can see all of my saved stickers ✌️

4. Sparkles. Lots and lots of sparkles.

5. EFFECTS!!!1!!! I was lying when I said stickers were the most fun part 😤😤. Go to FX on picsart (close to stickers) and experiment a little bit. I used 'halftone dots'; 'pixelize'; 'motion blur' and 'blur' (it's best if you lower all of these a bit) I also use 'brightness' and 'smart blur' often.

6. As last I like to go into another regular photo editing app (snow or prequel for example) and change the colours a bit. I also added grain for extra flavour 🐷. Now it's done!!

if anyone uses this tag me so i can seeee 🦇🦇🤍

[ultyso]

Heyo, my friend would like to know how you do your colouring, they think it’s amazing ^^

Sure why not? Took snips of my process as I worked on my latest drawing :)

[miyukei]

Hi there! If it's alright, may I ask how did you create the twinkling background in the dnagraphic of Toujou Hideak? I'm trying to get a hang of gifs and all and yours are really lovely!

hi, this one right? i just  basically did this tutorial but the other way around? since it’s the image i overlayed on the gif and not the gifs being overlayed on the image. 

uh, i’m really bad at explaining things but if you want me explaining, 

1. get/dl your twinkling gif, here’s an example. the bigger the size, the better. if it’s smaller than your canvas like this, (let’s say you’re making 540 x 250) create multiple copies of its layers in your canvas, then paste it over the frames, and move the pasted layers on the empty spaces until it’s all covered, then save. do not try to stretch your gifs instead of copying and laying it on the canvas one by one. it’ll be ugly.

1.5. as you can see, the twinkling bg is white, to make it orange or to your preferred color, add another layer on the top, color it with your preferred color, then set its mode to color. (though you could try out the other blending modes since the heaviness of the color on the gif depends on it too)

2. get the image you wanted to be over on the twinkling bg, then make its layer on the top of your layers in ps. then set its mode to screen, (or lighten or soft light, depends on what you prefer/like)

3. then save as gif.

[specttral]

HOW I MADE ICONS LIKE THESE PT. 1

I go reeeaally in depth in this one but it's very well described!!

you can find the icons here! part 2 is here!

requested by @g0thyongs

hi! this is the first part of how i usually edit my icons :) im doing this in multiple parts because you can only attach ten images to a post so i can't fit them all in one 😓

this part is about the lia and chaeryeong icons, they're edited similarly!

I used picsart for the entire thing, it's best to start out with a transparant image (you can find it by scrolling down all the way and clicking the checkered-grey block), this isn't necessary.. it just makes it easier.

STEP 1. PICK N CUT

Pick out the pictures you want to use and add them, it's best to pick a picture of a headshot with a clear outline of the person you're editing. do what you want though im not your mom

you then either erase the background of the pic of the person you're editing or erase the background around the person you're editing. If it looks weird, you can try lowering the opacity of the top image just a little bit. It just looks a bit better that way.

Don't worry too much about it being perfect, it's not gonna be noticeable when you add the effects trust me.

STEP 2. STICKEERZZZZ

Just add the stickers you like (and fit with the image of course, unless you're going for the messy look, then go wild). I already picked a pretty busy background so i didn't add too much. If you want cool stickers you can go to my account on picsart (@/4ngelspit) and go through my saved ones (they’re nicely sorted  ( •̀ ̫•́ ))

Here are also some good keywords : drain, draincore, softcore, angelcore, sanriocore, hello kitty, ...

STEP. 3 KIRA!

Here you just add some sparkles, I usually use the same two, answered here. I also use the third more spiky sparkle to accentuate the eye highlight. When I’m feeling extra i’ll add some under the eyes becuz it looks cute  ₍ˆ‧  ̫‧ˆ₎ 

You can be very extra during this step, i was a bit minimal here but do what you like. again, im not your mom.

STEP. 4 FX N COLOURS

This is my fav step because you can see everything come together. The left picture is still in picsart. Click on fx and start playing around.

Here are my most used effects : motion blur, pixelize, brightness, blur (i used to use smart blur but i’ve become more of a normal blur person), halftone dots (i use this EVERY TIME IDK WHY IT DOESN’T EVEN DO THAT MUCH)

The right image is after I changed the colours in the SNOW app (🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮 Im sorry i don’t have another app like dis okay???) You can see how it’s a little more vibrant and glowy, i think it looks better. I basically just lowered the saturation, made the image cooler, made the image brighter, raised the contrast and voila ~~

[specttral]

HOW I MADE ICONS LIKE THESE PT. 2

you can find the icons here! part 1 is here!

again, requested by @g0thyongs 🤸

this is the second tutorial on how i edit my icons <3 part 1 covered the lia and chaeryeong icons

this part will be covering the lia + ryujin icon (top right), yeji icon and ryujin icon.

these were also done on picsart, it's best to start out with a transparant image (you can find these by scrolling all the way down and clicking the grey checkered block). 🕳️🚶‍♀️

STEP 1. PICK N CUT  ( ˙º̬˙ )و

Pick out the pictures you want to use and add them, like the yeji and ryujin icons i picked a picture where you can fully see the person’s silhouette. however, if you’re making an icon like the lia + ryujin one it doesn’t matter. as you can see in the three images above, i first added a white (faded) background, you don’t have to do this. the main reason i did that was so you’d see less of the original background and it would look more cohesive and brighter. (also, yes im aware i missed a spot in the left upper corner leave me alone 😭)

the third image shows how i added a pink glowy border. this is a sticker you can find on picsart, 👉 here is a link to helpful stickers 👈 to help you achieve this effect. they’re the exact stickers i used with these icons! 

STEP 2. ADD STICKERS  (ꆤ ﻌ ꆤ) !

Here i copied the yeji icon (i didn't feel like coming up with something new 🧍), i basically just added chains in both corners. you can achieve this ‘white’ effect by going to 'blend' (after clicking on the sticker) and scrolling all the way to the right, then clicking on ‘add’. i did the same with the hearts in her hair and the hearts on the side (it’s the same sticker i used on the ryujin icon). i then added some other stickers around it (look at image three).

if you want the hearts to look brighter you should go to ‘adjust’ (after clicking on the sticker) and raise ‘brightness’ and ‘clarity’ all the way. i did this with the hearts on the ryujin and lia icon, i then lowered the opacity and put them on their faces (it looks cute in my opinion 🙃).

if you look at the ryujin icon you’ll see the heart with her face in it. i basically just added the original image of her and cropped it into a heart (i believe it’s called ‘shape crop’ or smthn idk) and then added the burning heart like a border around it.

the yeji icon is pretty simple, if you want the exact stickers i used you can go to my picsart, @/4ngelspit , and go through my saved stickers.

STEP 2. FX, SPARKLES AND COLOURS  (๑മܫമ) <44

First i added sparkles, they’re quite minimal in this edit so it’s not a separate step. i answered which sparkles i use the most here, you can find them in brushes. i did the same as the lia + ryujin icon, two extra sparkles under luda’s eye and two on her eyelid. i almost always do this cuz it looks cool. 🧐

Click on FX and pick the effects you want to use. on all the previous icons i either used ‘smart blur’ or just ‘blur’. i specifically used ‘motion blur’ for the yeji and ryujin ones. 

on this icon i used ‘smart blur’, ‘halftone dots’ (just a liiitle bit because it kind of messes up the contrast and saturation) and ‘pixelize’. you can see the little pixelized bits, like on the top of luda’s hair. i also used ‘pixelize’ on the ryujin icon.

the left image is after i changed the colours in polarr (thanks, @hmcute ( ˈ ∘̬ ˈ ) ). as you can see the icon looks way cooler (as in cold lmao) and less orange than b4. i prefer them this way but i’ll still be posting both versions on my pinterest because im extra. 🌚

i basically went to adjust, lowered the exposure, raised the brightness. i lowered the temperature. then hsl, i lowered the red and orange hue. then i dehazed it a bit. (i also used fringing but i regret that now). 

N E WAYZ tutorial over (i spent way too much time doing this 😒)