Coloring Grayscale Results In Dull Colors

#1

Hi, I’m new to digital painting. I’ve come across many tutorials that recommend setting down the values first in grayscale, & then painting in the colors over it through the use of different modes such as multiply, overlay, or color. However, for me, it always results in a dull/dirty color. So do you have any suggestions as to what I’m doing wrong? Thanks.

#2

Sometimes yes this can be beneficial. Using it as a method for developing final paintings is probably not so great as you have discovered (muddy appearance), although it does work for some people. The problem is that you can’t just add colour to a grey value and expect it to translate successfully into the equivalent value in colour because different hues inherently have different values themselves. Also the richness of the play of light across form means that a brute force approach of adding hue to a grey image does not capture important subtleties.

#3

I wanted to po t this before, but had a lot of trouble tracking it down. This tutorial is very, very useful:

http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/art_tut.htm

#4

JEALOUSY STEP-BY-STEP by Steven Stahlberg

http://en.367art.com/final.asp?id=93

http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2228515

#5

Thanks for your replies, Ian & Joseph.

Glad to know I’m not the only one experiencing this. Steven Stahlberg doesn’t seem to have the same problem though. :smiley: I think Steven & other artists have probably got the hang of which color would go well with a particular grayscale value to get the desired effect. Hence they are able to create fantastic art with this technique.

So the question now is, do I practise painting in grayscale, & then learn about colors a bit later? Or do I start by painting in colors, as is done in traditional painting? Please consider that I’m a beginner & pursue drawing & painting mainly as a hobby.

& Thanks for the links guys. Much appreciated.

#6

i’d recommend blocking in colors on a color or multiply layer, then duplicate it and run some test with other modes and finally start to work on the image
you can get some really nice results by mixing layer modes and since you can erase unwanted areas it’s even better

i hope this is of some help at all

quick example

ORIGINAL

MULTIPLY MODE

COLOR MODE

20% MULTIPLY MODE + COLOR MODE + SOFT LIGHT MODE

#7

Thanks Creeto. So you do recommend laying down values first for a beginner? Guess I’ll experiment some more & post some results. Just stay with me here on this one guys. Cos I guess once I choose a method it’ll probably stay with me for a while.

#8

i myself have only drawn digitally for a year so i’m far from the right person to ask, but…

…i’d recommend to try to establish what way would be the best for the sketch
afaik most pros begin by drawing a bunch of thumbnails. after choosing a thumbnail they are establishing the color palette and overall mood, but…

…for a beginner i wouldn’t recommend this due to the unsure way we draw. beginners are very often afraid of “destroying” something that looks pretty nice to their own eyes and therefor they/we worry too much about well looking details etc

first of all, i think you should draw as much and as often as possible to get rid of the “scary” feelings. throw away lots of stuff, erase a lot etc. otherwise you’ll get stuck all the time instead of making progress. test A LOT. look at peoples techniques, look at speedpainting and tutorials on youtube etc. test, test, test. most important, don’t be afraid. that was my biggest problem…i see that now. digital art is cheap. it doesn’t cost anything to try, try and try again :wink:

skip the fine line works. instead try to block in and refine. use referance, squint and try to reproduce

as i already mentioned, i haven’t drawn digitally very long but i’m talking out of my own expirience. i spent waaayyy too much time on trying making details look good instead of just chilling and try reproducing the foundations eg. composition, depth, values, perspectives etc etc. which are the same as in the traditional painting

just my 2 cent :slight_smile:

#9

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