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Hello!
I have a PS problem that i just can't find a solution for.. so, i hope some of you might know the answer.

I have a pencil drawing that i scan in (as greyscale image). I import it in Photoshop, where i want to make the white background (paper) transparent in such a way, that there wouldn't be any grey pixels, but instead, they would be transparent too (that means: lighter parts of line would be more transparent than dark ones).

To make it more clear where my problem is, i made 2 example pictures:



And here's what i would like to get:





A few years back someone already told me the solution to this problem (and very elegant too- with just a few clicks), but i forgot to write it down  All I know is, that it contained masks.

Anyway, thank you in advance for ANY pointers!

I knew salaries in my country are rediculously low compared to prices&expenses, that are about the same or sometimes even higher than in other EU countries.. but i always took such comparisons with a grain of salt.
However, reading this thread i realized how bad the state here actually is.

For example: high school teachers make only around 1000 eur a month! A starting salary for medical doctors is around 1500 eur (for dentist even less.. around 1100 eur)! Etc.

Working as freelance animator/illustrator, my average cut of yearly income is around 1000+ eur a month (it will probably get a bit better now.. but still..). My girlfriend still studies, so she can financialy help only occasionally.
The rent is 350 eur. The rest goes for bills and food that is also rediculously expensive!

So, heh, i have no idea, how we manage to get through a month..

There's a massive trade-union strike planed for the end of this year, for higher salaries that would actually follow inflation.. but i'm afraid not much will happen.

Hey Nikolas,
there's lots of programs for tv 2d animation. From high-end USAnimation (i think it was now renamed to Toon Boom Opus) and Animo (both are studio oriented)... to more affordable programs like Bauhaus Mirage or Toon Boom.

However combination of Flash&Photoshop&AfterEffects is becoming more and more popular. Personaly, i like it best.

Haha, that was awesome! 
Love the animation and story! Hysterical.

Sektor 13- amazing!
I'm not really that far into the game (solved a couple of puzzles) but so far i'm blown away! Great atmosphere, beautiful graphics and interesting story.
To be honest, it's the first adventure (be it amateur or commercial) in a long time, that really got my interest.. and i can't stop playing it.
Bravo

I love it!
Looking at it, maybe the background could use a bit more contrast.. not too much though (it's part of the style anyway).

Looking good!
The only problem i see are his legs and posture- too short and they look as he's just about to fall.
Here's a quick sloppy edit:

I have an idea for a short game (around 30 minutes of gameplay time) that i want to realize one day.. but so far didn't have the time to flesh it out, aside from a few concepts.
The story is on the serious side with graphics in "realistic" black&white comic style- lots of light&shadow play.

Hello Squinky,
first i really like the new direction you are taking your illos in to (though, i must admit i was quite fond of your "rough" underground style).

I like the shading, but i can see where the problems are.. What kind of markers are you using?
If you didn't already, i'd suggest to try out Pantone Markers. They are ideal for what you are trying to achive- clean shading. The great thing with them is, they also mix a little bit, so with some practice you can get great gradients and flows.
The only downside is, they are quite expensive.
Here are 2 quick simple examples of what can be done with them, shading-wise:

http://www.bugbrain.com/igor/testpantons1.jpg

Matt,
what a beautiful game! Graphics and animations are sooooo friging great.. It all just ozzes style and charm.
I'm a fan

Eggie, let me tell you that this looks absolutely fabulous! Great loose style.. kicking backgrounds and sprites. Very fresh and fun!

Great one Andail!
I think the last version is a great improvement over original.. except maybe for the look on monster's faces. Must say i prefer interesting spooky look, over "angry monsters from the lake" cliche.

Here's one caricature. It had to be done literary over night, so it's not quite as "polished" as i intended it to be.. but oh well..

I think it looks ok.
But as Andail mentioned, backgrounds look very meticulously done.. too meticulously actually. It's a matter of style choice, but the reason why Ali's (or WB's) backgrounds work better, is because they look more "spontaneous" and in general sports better design. In short, i don't mind the lines, but they could make BGs more interesting.
Still the demo rocks and i'll probably buy the game once it's out.

Ildu- thanks, but they are not really that good..

>>to look for updates, but there rarely are any<<
uh i know, i'm ready to update it with some new stuff..
About blog- i have registered one, but i have yet to publish something

>>posting on a thread at the Computer Arts forum<<
yes, i was there a couple of times

Ali- no of course not, not at all! It was interesting because i realized i almost didn't do background-only drawing in a 2 year period.
Don't get me wrong, i love to look at background designs, i just don't like to draw them myself.

MashPotato- haha, it's not backgrounds i find boring, but the process of drawing them

Oh, i see.. eee.. i don't do much landscapes. Sometimes yes, but i'm not very fond of drawing them. Everything i work on is usualy very character based (be it animations, illustrations or comics). I guess i find them the most fun to draw or something.. backgrounds on the other hand are a pain in the a**

Actually the only time i draw backgrounds is, when they are completely necessary (and there's no one else who would do them ).

I'd be interested to see how you'd bring character and energy to something like a still-life or a landscape.

As i said, i don't have much to show, but here's some in-game background work for an educational game i'm working on right now.
Quick sketch of swamp:



WIP of first layer (the background will be in 3 layers):


And a few scenes from Ignac intro animation:


(a few BGs from game are also on my web site).

Sektor 13- Zivjo it's for magazine called Beo-beo (first issue will be out in september- if i know correctly)

Nikolas- good ideas! Yeah, it could be better if i'd draw a few completely different fishes.

n3tgraph- no connection, but i'm also wondering where is Neole??

Ali- i'm not sure if i understood you correctly. Do you mean if i do backgrounds?

Thanks everyone, appreciate your comments!
Here's some more of my recent illos (for children mag):

animals on this illo are stickers:



mascot design:

I like it a lot! Great stylization and colors. I love how you rendered her body and leafes. Actually there's nothing i'd really change.. everything works as it is- maybe i'd only put a bit more work in her face. It looks a bit less defined than the rest of body.. but it's great otherwise!

Woo, thanks everyone for critics and suggestions and especially to Loom for his great edit!

Loominous: it's a pleasure to see your paint-over Really like what you did with her left leg (i'll fix it)!
About highlights- i deliberately decided to left them out. I had them on pic at first (almost exactly the same as on your edit), but found out i don't really want to go that way.. i decided for more "flat" look, with only a few subtle shadows and highlights.
As for her face.. it looks a lot prettier on your edit!.. but at the same time, in my opinion, a lot more generic too. I think version with make-up gives her more character and so makes her interesting.

MashPotato- great suggestion about trousers I'm not sure about them also, so i'll play some more with them! (don't want too clean and polished look either)

And some more doodling hehe

Telephone sketches (drawn while talking on phone):


Trying out pantone markers:


Summer sketching: