Clean the page and darken all the lines you want to keep for emphasis.

You can use black ink if working on paper or black line tool if using a graphics program.

I use a black line tool. I have tried using the brush tool but always end up making wavy crooked lines.

You are now ready to begin coloring.

I use computer graphic software to do my coloring but you can use other mediums and then scan the finished artwork.

Think of a general color scheme, research authentic period clothing etc.

Select basic colors from your software color pallette and paint/fill the selected areas.

This is where the clean up is important. All areas must be closed by the black ink lining. If you have left an opening in the art, the color fill will spill out into other areas of the figure or onto the page itself.

Once you have the figure colored its time to start shading.

I always (to be consistent) shade with the assumption the bright light (lighting) is shining down from the upper left corner of the scene.

Color Pallette

Now you need to create a special color pallette for each of the general color you chose. Take samples of each of the general colors you have chosen and paste them on another layer near the areas that they apply to. (IE skin color near the face/hands etc.) I take the main color and separate it into 4 other color ranges 2 lighter and 2 darker than the original. On my graphics software I use the brightness/darkness function. The lightest is set to +30 and +15 while the darker is -15 and -30. Some graphics software allows you to automatically select color shade variations, which has the same results.

Begin applying your shading. Brighter colors to the left side (remember lighting position) and darker colors in hidden or overhanging areas. Use two bands to make it look like it blends into the basic color. You can use the brush or line tool depending on the area.

Try to stay close to the black outlining, don't worry if you cross over, you will go back in the clean up phase and redraw the black lines.

Note: After you have done shading a lot or if you are making a large variety of the same figure you should copy these new color pallettes and save them somewhere with info as to what they were for.

Another way to shade, is to apply color to a layer above the original artwork, then manipulate the entire layer's opacity/transparancy value.

Modifying/Positioning check.

If you are going to make a basic character and then modify its poses, you should consider how this will affect the shading/coloring you have already done.

Notice that the original figure does not have any body parts covering or crossing over the front of the character. This is something you should consider when designing/drawing the character to make it easier to color and modify in the future.

What if the pose was like this instead.

In this case the characters arm/hand is in front of the uniform.

This is where layering plays a large part.

If we wanted to make a different pose (say move the weapon arm), you can see what will happen. When we cut it out the arm/hand there is a hole in the uniform where the crossing arm/hand was. We want to restore/create this area, so we can use this primary figure for other poses. This requires a little drawing, more coloring and shading as well as layer use.

(A)Cut out the arm/hand and copy it to another layer.

(B)Color and shade the area that lied under the removed arm/hand. Remember to add black ink lines to close off the areas left open when color filling.

(C)Shade those special areas that cover other parts of the figure on a different layer.

This will allow you to easily remove it from the art when you modify/repose the figure.

Do all of this artwork on the same layer. This will allow you to cut and paste parts of your figure so everything will be viewable when you change the pose.

Try to keep this in mind when you start to draw your figure and you set their pose.

Note: Remember that if you position something in front/on top of the original object, it will create some shading on the original object behind/below.

Modifying/Position refit.

Any character parts that were removed are replaced on another layer.

If you are going to modify the shading do it on this layer so you do not ruin the original shaded work. Obviously if you change the pose, the shading should no longer be there so it would look wrong.

Clean up.

Since the hand is backwards we need to do a little more touch up art, redrawing coloring and shading the glove to make it appear correctly.

It's now time to retouch any crossed over lines, finalize shading and just make sure the final image looks good. Remove and save your color palettes for use later.

Place the copyright/credits/acknowledgments on your art.

Save in your preferred file format (.bmp, .jpg, .png etc.) If you do rescale/resize your work I recommend you add the text sz to the title/name of the file so you will know which size you are working with. Doing so also allows you to find the files faster when searching.

Upload your work on the internet for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.