How to color this?

mode7 · Tue 09/08/2011 12:07:53

I got sick of learning today and made this concept art for concurrence. Normally I already start with my color palette but this time I decided to make a volume study first like many people do it (saw it at theos work). My problem is now. I don't know how I should go about colouring this in. I heard most people use HSL adjustmendt layers but that doesn't seem to work that well for me.
Is there soem sort of trick involved?
Maybe someone has some advice

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Ghost · Tue 09/08/2011 12:25:12

One possible way (that I used to use a lot):
Put it on a new layer (in a paint prog that supports layers, obviously

), then set that layer to multiply. Maybe decrease the transparency to about 60 percent, too.
Then draw the colours on another layer UNDER your "volume" layer.
This will give you somewhat muted colours since you have the volume above it, but it's a start- either adjust your colours as you draw them, or play around with the transparency a bit.

Anian · Tue 09/08/2011 12:57:16

Quote from: Ghost on Tue 09/08/2011 12:25:12
One possible way (that I used to use a lot):
Put it on a new layer (in a paint prog that supports layers, obviously ), then set that layer to multiply. Maybe decrease the transparency to about 60 percent, too.
Then draw the colours on another layer UNDER your "volume" layer.
This will give you somewhat muted colours since you have the volume above it, but it's a start- either adjust your colours as you draw them, or play around with the transparency a bit.

Yeah, exactly, basically turned that lineart into a multiply layer and then draw in a layer under it. Also if you can add some contrast to the lineart layer and fix the exposition curves (or Curves if you're in Photoshop), go above it. You can get stuff like this (note: painted in a minute):

You'll of course be more detailed in color and edges and shading. The drawing is pretty cool btw.

Ali · Tue 09/08/2011 13:41:12

I've been wondering how Theo and the others who start in monochrome do it.

My approach would be painting on top with Color and Hue blending modes (Color when you want to alter the intensity of the colour underneath). It might help to apply a sky colour using multiply like anian's example first.

mode7 · Tue 09/08/2011 16:36:36

Thx for the feedback everybody

I tried alis method and got some quick and nice result. Basically I've been setting the original to multiply putting the sky gradient underneath and a color layer with variing opacities on top.
Still the result looks rather monochromatic

Here's the picture and the layer setup:

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Anian · Tue 09/08/2011 17:54:54

Well, you are basically using only 2 colors plus lineart, maybe drop in different hues for the "cobblestones", the door and the fence. But be warned, lines are pretty messy (as in not cleaned ups), so it's very hard to have clearely colored surfaces.

Ilyich · Tue 09/08/2011 19:09:24

I believe the trick is that you still have to go over the picture in a usual coloring manner (painting on top of everything with normal blending) after you've established the rough colours with the color layer. Only then it'll look like a finished digital artwork, and not like a colored b/w photo.

Also, your value study is a bit cluttered - to much detailing, not enough lighting. I might try to do a quick edit a bit later.
It's still a lovely and promising sketch, though.

Ilyich · Wed 10/08/2011 00:56:05

Okay, I've messed around with it a little, and I'll have to admit that i have no idea how this volume study system works.

Nevertheless, here are my results:

First I've tried to tighten the monochrome version a bit by adding some denser shadows. It might've lost some of it cobblestoney charm, but it should be more readable this way.

And now - the colored version. I used the 'color' layer on top of the b/w one, then painted a bit on top of that, did some colour adjustments with curves, threw a paper texture on it and ended up with this:

mode7 · Wed 10/08/2011 22:27:09

Thx a lot Ilych for the edit,

I'm afraid you're right. It probably needs a color layer on top, at least for the highlights. Well, I had some fun with cleaning up and detailing the bg tonite. Also did this color test,
here's the wip:

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Ryan Timothy B · Thu 11/08/2011 17:38:41

That definitely looks fantastic. Most of the edges are a little blurry and undefined, like the cobblestone and such, but perhaps it's only still a WIP.

mode7 · Sun 14/08/2011 21:14:45

OK finished this piece but coloring still seems very monochromatic....any ideas?

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Armageddon · Sun 14/08/2011 21:22:34

You don't really have a focal point of light. And the background is usually darker than the foreground. Just my 2 cents.

mode7 · Sun 14/08/2011 21:27:23

Just noticed, that the colors are completely messed up,
this is a little better but still bad

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@Armageddon: Hm I agree at the focal point thing, This piece wasn't planned out that well in the first place so the whole layout is rather chaotic
Well I disagree on the foreground background thing. The amount of haze makes the background apear brighter.

Dualnames · Sun 14/08/2011 21:59:13

This is getting better and better, I think perhaps it needs a bit more work here and there, perhaps a bit more white around some edges.

Ilyich · Sun 14/08/2011 22:27:33

I think it's turning out quite nicely. The colours are still a little messed up, especially in some of the over-saturated shadows, and the compositions leans heavily on the right, especially now that you've removed that round building in the far left corner, but it's still looks quite impressive.

As for the fact that the background is usually darker than the foreground - well, that's just not true, so you're in the clear here.

Also, 'monochromatic' is not bad. Sometimes working with 2-3 different hues is the best way to go, especially if you're drawing some relatively abstract bit of scenery. So, just keep going, i guess!

ThreeOhFour · Mon 15/08/2011 06:10:44

I'm a freak who likes super saturated colours

To that extent I often like to do a vignette effect where I've more light in the middle of an image than the outside.

Got far too carried away with this pic, but them's the breaks

InCreator · Mon 15/08/2011 08:46:00

Quote from: mode7 on Wed 10/08/2011 22:27:09
Thx a lot Ilych for the edit,

I'm afraid you're right. It probably needs a color layer on top, at least for the highlights. Well, I had some fun with cleaning up and detailing the bg tonite. Also did this color test,
here's the wip:

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This is most visually pleasant edit. I like the contrast very much and dislike lack of it on other edits. Right side of screen should be contrastier and lighter too.

Paper texture/monochromatic noise on one of the other edits isn't really bad idea, it helps to detail stones better, but there should be very carefully applied little amount of this, and none on totally black areas.

Dualnames · Mon 15/08/2011 12:51:14

I assumed those were lights, or at least, i wanted them to be lights. I used Ben's color scheme and added a new hue here and there.

Not sure if it's better.

AJA · Mon 15/08/2011 17:21:00

Oo, such a pretty picture. Couldn't resist doing a paintover. I'm no artist but I tried turning the foreground into the focus of the bg. And well, now it looks like an evening scene.

Blue · Fri 26/08/2011 16:07:37

I love the background! I wish I could do buildings just as well. I couldn't resist playing around with the coloring, so here's what I came up with.