Wow! Such pretty art!

The one site that I am right now, I have been doing alright so far.

I feel somewhat rich there because I got some of the first Cash Shop Monthly Items.

Also, the first event has passed and got some wonderful items.

I cosplayed as my Gaia avatar at Anime Expo.

What do you think of the artwork on my siggy?

Thank you~ X'3

Hehe, always good investment~

Cool, cosplaying your Gaia avi~
I've wanted to cosplay mine before, but it never happened, haha.
In fact, I've yet to cosplay anything. XD;
Did you manage to get into the Gaia panel as well? 8O

Siggy art is pretty~ I like the rough strokes look. ^ ^
Did you draw it, Sakura?

Yes I went to the Gaia Panel and in the Gaia Gathering. I really had a great time there. Meeting some new people from Gaia.

Yes, I drew that and it was my first time using layers on it. *celebrates*

Awesome. 83
I haven't managed to go to a Gaia panel yet, but I can't even make it to AX because my summer's are usually busy. >.<;

I've seen the long lines waiting for the panels before, and I'm just not willing to waste a day of other stuff for that. 8D;;
Glad to hear you had fun at both events though!

Oh? You've never drawn using layers before this one? 8'O

One day I'm gonna make it back to AX and you better be there too Lura. <3
Sorry to bust in just thought I'd give this thread a little lovin bump. >w<
Now I'm off to do....things. XD

I shall try for that one day. XD

Feel free to bust in any time, haha~
This thread might have more life once I open my slots again. XD;

Indeed you better. <3

Yay! I have busting permission! >:3
How far are you on your slots because it's true you'll probably have more attention when "slot open!" is in teh title. >w< I should probably do that to my thread so that I look bored. XD

Ahaha~ I saw a .10 added to my stars and spent about 3 seconds wondering why that happened. I've been used to it going up by .25 the whole event so far, hehe. X'D

Oh, my slots are already finished. >w>;
I'm just waiting for a period of time when I'll know for certain I have time to do commissions. 8D;

Haha~ You should just do it anyway~
I see that you've got some nice art comments in your thread since the event started. >w>

Oh yeah! Because this is your thread I'm giving you an extra boost without thinking. >w> Unless it only goes for event but I doubt that.
They are!? I see so you just need a break is all. And it is wise to wait when you know you'll have time to do it since making customers wait always makes me feel bad. ><;
I probably should and I think it's because I've been sticking around the event forum and talking to newer people. It feels pretty good to have a stranger say they like what they see. ^///^ Hopefully they're not just trying to make me feel better. XD

Yup, same same, I don't like feeling like I'm making people wait for such a long time.. XD;

! XD
But your art really does look nice. ^w^
Events are such good fun for Menewsha~ >w<

Indeed but it's great when they understand if you can't get something done right away.
Eh, my art is mediocre and I've been meaning to ask you a couple things but I'll ask later. XD
I love these events since sometimes you have to interact to get anywhere. On Gaia you can complete an event without speaking a word to another person. ><;

Yesh~ I feel great relief when they let me know so too! X3

Feel free to ask me anytime~ 8'D

And it's nice to get to talk to new people here~
But I think that if Gaia did have an event where you had to talk to people, I'd feel really discouraged and not talk to anyone (except friends if they're participating) because I feel like I'd be easily annoyed or something. >.<;; I think it's nice though, that they try to make it up by dividing us into teams, but then the competition gets kind of out of hand sometimes. x.x;

We've been blessed to have great customers eh? >w<
Mkay, I think I'm able to phrase it right now. XD How do you make the image go from darkest to lightest? Like it fades away once it goes to the bottom because I'm not sure what feature that is but I find it cool. And then I've seen ones that go from one color to another *chronologically*.
If you don't know that's ok but I've seen the signature you did for Sirroco and I was hoping to know how to do that. ><
Well there was a time when gaia made it fun to have a team and talk to people but since there's so many preteens on there everything has gotten dumbed down. ><; I know that there were trolls and the illiterate newb back in the day but it's worse now. I guess I wouldn't want to get out on gaia and talk unless it was with friends too but at least make an effort.
Some people forget it's just an online event and take it too seriously. ><;

Ohh that~ 8'D

Mm.. let's see, do you know about grouping layers?
And would you want to know specifically how to do it with the lineart? or the whole image?
It's actually easy to explain for both, but I'd rather not confuse you by talking about both at the same time. XD

Ahh, but I feel like those threads are so hard to find now. >.< Like, I remember, I think it was the Anniversary event, with the ballrooms and such in the Gambino mansion? There it seemed easier to find a thread with nice people to chat with. 83

Well...I might know what that means but if you don't mind explaining that'd be awesome. ^ ^;
May we start with line art since that's probably what I'd use it on?...not sure how it would look with a colored picture.
Oh yeah! I really like how they did that and it did make things easier. I know it's probably hard to sift through the feedback for some great ideas but I wouldn't mind them doing threads like they did for the anniversary.

Might I direct you to this image first, and have it to another tab or window. 8'3

I use Photoshop Elements, but I'm sure that after looking around a little bit, you'll find the things that I use. XD

So, GROUPING.
In the picture ref, you'd select Layer 6, then click on 'Group with Previous' (or ctrl+g) to group it with Layer 2. That means that whatever I do on Layer 6 only shows up as much (in opacity/transparency) as whatever shows up on Layer 2.
- I filled in all of Layer 6 so that all of the lighter brown was now turned into a desaturated tan kind of color. 83
- I didn't have to fill the whole of Layer 6 in, but it's just easier that way since I know I wanted it all of Layer 2 to be one solid color.
- Also, having it all filled, I could change/erase/add to Layer 2 without having to go back to Layer 6 and change/erase/add. 8D

Let me know if you understand the idea of grouping by now. 8'3

Yay! You and I have the same program.
Well...I'm trying to understand but since I don't use layers a lot this may be a tiny problem. ><; Or does it matter how many layers a picture has? *should be learning how to use layers anyway*
I'm going to mull it over and reread what you instructed a bit before I say I don't quite understand what you mean.

Oh! Totally forgot about the little program conversation we had that got me to your art thread in the first place. X'D

Layers are just more convenient. >w>
For the very basics, you could split a picture as lineart -> coloring -> background.
And grouping for me helps out with the lineart and/or coloring layer(s), mostly for coloring. 83

But for the 'fading' colors and 'dark-to-light' thing, it doesn't matter how many layers you have, because towards the end, you merge (combine) them all anyway. 8D

Eh? Well I didn't expect you to remember that though. XD
And I bet that layers are a lot more convenient and easier to use than just doing it all on one layer but I haven't figured everything out yet. ><;
And I'm still not quite sure how you get the fade effect this way but I'll keep rereading because sometimes I'll miss something or it won't click till a little later. Thank you for being so willing to help me out. ^ ^

Haha, I guess I just don't see many people using Elements, because they go for actual Photoshop or other higher art program. >w>

Just gotta find time to play with them. 83
It's not too bad once you get the hang of it, hehe~
And sometimes just messing with layer styles can bring out cool effects you wouldn't expect. X'D

Oh, no, I wasn't done yet. X'DD
I was just giving you lesson 1 out of 3,
to introduce you to layers and grouping, if you haven't used them before. 8D

Well I should've gotten regular photoshop *I thought I had* but the guy at Best Buy wasn't that helpful and this was my first time encountering computer tech like this. ><; *never got to take the course in high school* But it's pretty handy that you and I have the same program.
*scratches me head* Well for some reason I get anxious before trying things on Elements because I think I'll click something to make my comp. explode. ><; I'll be more daring like I should.
Oh! So that wasn't the-ok. XD I was hoping there was something more. Awesome, now I dun feel too stupid. >w<; Thank you again.

Aww, I think it's good that you started with Elements before going straight to Photoshop though. Might have blown you away with all the stuff they have on there. XD

XD Yes~ Be more daring, but watch out for the Create button. *hates it* DX;

Yeah, haha~
Are you ready for lesson 2? 8'3

That is true. Since I have no p.s experience I probably wouldn't be able to do anything with it but stare. XD Once Elements and I get more comfortable I may get a p.s program.
So far I've been able to avoid that button. What does it do? *never found out*
Yuss, continue with the lesson please. >w<

It opens up something that supposedly helps with making online photo albums and such stuff, but the main thing is it brings up all the stuff you've saved through Elements (included in Organizer or something) and that usually takes a while (at least for me XD), but I'd never use it anyway, and I always accidentally click on it. XD;;

On with the lesson! (Keep that picture handy. 83)
GRADIENT LINEART

So.. first I need to know how you do your lineart-- 2 ways, generally.
- one is a scanned picture, so it's black lineart (or pencil, same thing XD) on top of white background, on the same layer.
- second is black lineart (or whatever the brush/pen/pencil color is) on a transparent layer.

If the second, doing the gradient is much easier. If the first, you'll have to play with layer styles a bit. XD

Umm.. let's go with number one first then, haha.
After you've got a nice touched-up scan of your lineart, make a new layer above it.
-- Go to the menu Layer -> New -> Layer..
-- Or click this little circled icon.
Then group the new layer to the lineart layer (ctrl+g).
On the left side (or wherever your toolbar is), there's a tool right under the paint bucket tool, looks like a rectangle filled from white to black. The gradient tool, click it! 8D
You can change the colors for the gradient by changing your foreground and background colors (the two squares usually at the bottom of your toolbar).
Then click and drag from one side of your drawing to the other side. (Like from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner of a drawing, for example.)
-- That's pretty much it for basics on the gradient tool, there's a bunch of other settings and presets and stuff to play with. XD
After being mostly satisfied with the blend, go here where it says 'Lighten' (usually says 'Normal' sorry XD) and try changing it to one of those in red. Whatever gets your most wanted effect.
If it's not quite perfect, making sure the gradient layer is selected, hit ctrl+u on your keyboard to bring up 'Adjust Hue/Saturation'. (You can also get there from the Enhance menu. 83) And change the layer to your liking, hehe~

For number two, the beginning is all the same--
Make a new layer above the lineart, group the layer to the lineart layer.
Fill the new layer with a gradient, and you can stop there. Much easier~ X'D


And again, let me know when you're ready for lesson three. X'D

Oh yeah, that would be bothersome since I have a crapload of pictures as well. ><;
*reads through*
I see so I do need to use gradient but I guess I didn't exactly know how. ><; Of course I'll be rereading this so that I don't mess up but thank you for taking so much time to help me out. ><; I really hope I'm not bothering you by asking because you had to type a lot for this one and it's not even to lesson three yet! XD
Mkay, I shall continue on and if you want to put up step three while I'm figuring it out you can or if you want to give your hands a break that's great too. ^ ^