Topic: How to draw, fill colour, AA in hi-res?

[iamlowlikeyou]

This is actually a pretty simple question, and may sound a little stupid, but how do you usually draw/paint and colour graphics in high-res, if you want it to be anti-aliased?
I'd like to be able to make black (or whatever color) outlines, and then colour inside the lines (fill) in an easy way.
Is there a shortcut to this in for example Photoshop, without using vector graphics, or do you have to colour it manually with a brush?
If I use the filler it either makes unwanted outlines or eats some of the black outline, if you know what I mean?
Sorry, I'm not really able to put it in a technical way, because I don't know the terms.
I have used photoshop a lot as well as drawn and painted all my life, but this one thing I've never understood.
How you for an example say they drew the graphics in games as Curse of Monkey Island?

EDIT: I know you can use layers, and make the fill color on a layer underneath the outlines, but still it takes a lot more time to avoid colouring outside the lines (like in a colouring book ), than it would to just fill the area...

[bicilotti]

I've used PS once or twice in my life but have you tried to:

1 - copy the outline into another layer
2 - sharpen it
3 - floodfill there

edit: or you benefit from the experience of someone more skilled than me: Ghost

http://tinyurl.com/autoeditsucks

Link via codebox tinyurl thanks to that ugly This post was automatically edited for txt-style spelling feature.

edit 2: a quicker way to get an answer is the ask something we can help thread (because many folks subscribed to it).

[iamlowlikeyou]

The thing is I want the outline to be antialiased to have a smooth look, so it's no good sharpening it

The link is broken, but I'll check out that blog and see if I can learn something, thanks!

[Anian]

I think, there's a misunderstanding with bicilotti's proces, after step 2, there's step 2.5 where you adjust the color of the line you now created, copy and moved to another layer and sharpened - then you need to change it's color to match the color of the fill.

I must admit I ran into that problem as well, and only solved it by vectoring the outline (that is path drawing in PS).

[iamlowlikeyou]

Ooooh, I get it now
Yeah, that WOULD actually work.

But also the pen tool could definitely work, I never actually knew what it was for...

[Scavenger]

Usually I:

1) Set the lineart layer to multiply. Make sure it's clean and ONLY has the black outlines on it.
2) Magic wand tool the parts you want a particular colour.
3) Make a new layer, and Expand the selection 2-3 pixels, depending on lineart thickness.
4) Flood fill the selection.

It's quick and easy.

[Calin Leafshade]

Scavengers method is how i've seen Gabe of penny arcade fame do it. PS allows you to make macros (i think PS calls them 'actions') so you can make a macro of the process so that its a single button affair.

[zabnat]

What about working with non-antialialised lines and double the resolution? Then resize to target resolution when finished?

[Unai]

I agree, Scavenger's method is the way to go. Keep the outline "multiplied" in the top layer, then use a layer for each color. That's how I've colored comicbook characters in the past.

[Anian]

What about working with non-antialialised lines and double the resolution? Then resize to target resolution when finished?

2 things - at least in PS, you can no longer make non-antialiased lines (except with pen tool, but it's annoying to set up), and resolution (don't know if you mean size or dpi) takes more RAM, especially if you make large drawings this might be a problem.

The method Scavenger mentioned seem quite usable.

[iamlowlikeyou]

How do you expand a selection, you have already made?

EDIT: Sorry, I found it via a quick Google search :
Thanks, Scavenger - I think I'll go with that method, it sounds effective!

[bicilotti]

The link is broken, but I'll check out that blog and see if I can learn something, thanks!

Link should work now (as my edit points out). Any good?

(link repost http://tinyurl.com/autoeditsucks )