No worries about messing up. >o>
It's just practicing, hehe~

And no problem, typing this stuff up is fun. XD
It's even giving me a bunch of gold (I hope). XDDD

Will edit in lesson three soon. X'D

I know and I can always go back but I tend to cringe when it goes wrong. XD
I'm going to try to practice more and try to understand how to use layers so that I'm not doing a lot of unnecessary work. ><; *I know I'm making it harder than it needs to be. XD*
XD It's fun? Well I guess it's kinda fun to teach others something new but I'm so thankful that you're willing to help me out. I even got a kinda crap how to photoshop/elements manga book hoping it'd explain layers and effects a little better...it doesn't. XD I understand you a lot better than the book.
Indeed! That last post definitely got you a lot and mkay. So far I've accomplished step 2 with the effect I was kinda going for.
Thank you!!!!!!!! <3

Hehe~ Glad to have helped. 8D

Lesson 3 was supposed to be on a whole drawing, like, lineart with shading. 83
(Like my sig banners. XD)

Let me know when you get comfortable with gradient lineart on want to move on to this. X'3

Question, and so for it able to work I have to create a new layer above the existing picture and then have them grouped? Just making sure so that I don't forget to create a new layer and screw up the picture. XD
Right now I think I have the basic concept of gradient and the different mediums for the shades. If you're ready to post up number three then I'm ready to learn. >w<

If you just want to have the gradient affect the lineart only, then yes, they need to be grouped. 83

If you want the gradient to affect the whole image (part 3), then there's a whoole bunch of ways to do it, and some ways you don't have to have a new layer grouped to anything. XD

Will edit in lesson 3 once I get some sushi. X'D


GRADIENT IMAGE
So, I'll need you to remember the basic layer pattern
lineart -> coloring -> background (usually white)
And we'll have to split it again, based on two parts, one for scanned lineart, second for lineart on transparent layer.

SCANNED LINEART
-- Preferably, do the shading/highlights of the pictures with the grayscale.
-- It doesn't matter how many layers you do the shading on. 83
Basically, after merging all the layers (Layer menu -> 'Flatten image')
Make a new layer, and *copy&pastes* 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~

DIGITAL LINEART
-- Again, preferably, do the shading with grayscale brushes.
-- (The way I do it) Since the shading and everything is on transparent layers, transparency means white.
*tricky part!* You can do the shading on separate layers by how dark, or saturated, you want them to look.
For example, you could have three separate layers for coloring/shading.
-- light gray // middle gray // dark gray
-- Order doesn't matter, and it's probably easiest to shade all of them in pure black.
The same could be said for colors.
-- pale pinkish // pinkish to light red // solid red
-- Again, order doesn't matter, and I find it easier to shade all of them in pure black.
Either before or after, it doesn't really matter, set the opacity of each layer to different values. (I usually go with something like 40% -> 60% -> 90%)
Now back to this image, looking at the small boxes next to the layers, click the little eye on the white background layer so that there's nothing there. The white background will go away and you'll see the checkered background to show transparency.
If you're worried about not being able to undo far back enough, make a duplicate of each layer (lineart and coloring) then click the eye on all the duplicates before going on.
Click on Merge visible from the Layer menu. (This combines all the layers into one, ready for grouping.)
Make new layer and group to the combined layer you just made.
You can make the white background visible by clicking where the eye was. 83
Oh! Also, if you wanted to know what something was, but I never mentioned it, hovering your mouse usually makes a text box pop up with what it is.
Mm.. I think here you can learn that you can actually group more than one layer to a main layer. Again, all the layers will only show up as much as the main layer. 83
The rest is pretty much the same as lesson 2 with the gradient. X'D


And now a question for you--
Do you know about locking layers? 8'3

*will respond to recent post later on*
Hey, I just wanted to tell you that my computer contracted a very weird and devastating virus that made me have to use my recovery disc software. Thing is I had to delete all my existing files *all downloads, pictures, photos, drawings, music, etc* so I've been a wreck. I wasn't able to save my newer drawings to photobucket *only about half were already there* so I was depressed. And then I'm not too happy about losing all my music and photos either *some of them I can't recover*
Anyway I'll be on later today to read and answer anything you need me to. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Thank you again for taking the time to help me. ^ ^

Aww.. That really sucks, Chiefy. T^T

The virus is cleaned out now, I'm guessing?
Do you use some kind of mp3 player so you could save some of the music you had? o^o
But being in a wreck is very understandable,
and I can always reteach the Elements stuff to you later. >.<o

Hope you can get back some of the stuff you lost somehow! >o<

Indeed and now I have some work to do in order to redraw some of the stuff I had. I'm so glad I uploaded a difficult commission the night before or I would've given up. ><;
Yeah, the virus is completely wiped out since when you use a recovery disc it deletes every single program and pixel of your computer until you put it back so that it can reset it with the original factory programs.
The mp3 player I have is so crappy that it can probably hold a number of 20 songs *it was my brother's and he gave it to me once he got a Zune* so I didn't bother. And without the flash drive 2/3rd of my pics had to be deleted too.
Oh well, the stuff I draw in my notebooks are much more important than what I do on the computer. I'll get to reading and doing the steps you instructed for step three soon. ^ ^

Well, it's good that some stuff was saved. >.<o

You just kind of reminded me that I've been doing a lot more digital work than traditional lately. XD;
Have fun with step three!

Originally Posted by Lura Crane

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

I went to my first one in AX. Also, it was my first year there.

I really had fun there and I cannot wait to go back next year.

I went inside the panel room before the Gaia panel. That way, I could have a set and do not have to fight over seats.

I have been practicing on my layerings now.

Check out my dA:

http://pikachika.deviantart.com/

*still rereading steps* I'm sure it'll be fun soon but should be more of a learning experience. XD
Indeed, for a while I didn't do anything in my notebooks and when I looked through everything looked old and kinda crappy. XD Oddly enough I still draw better on paper than I do on the computer but probably because the tablet frustrates me more and I have less control of it sometimes. ><; *it still goes weird and the pencil skips around*

Sakura - ! I'm like, incredibly amazed at how you managed to get in before the panel. o.o
Or did you stay in from whatever event was right before the Gaia panel or something? @[email protected]

Your recent drawings look really nice~
The lines are very clean-looking, hehe. X'D

Chiefy - Everything is a learning experience! >83
XD

Ha~ That's what I think everytime I look through my old sketchbooks. XD;
I think I still draw better on paper, too, but because then I have.. direct control of the pencil/pen/whatever and a clear idea of what will happen if I angle the tool this way or add more pressure in these places. o^o But I'll admit I like painting digitally more than traditionally *never been much of a painting fan*. XD; My pen hasn't been doing the flicking thing anymore, but sometimes, the computer just won't respond to the pen touching the tablet, and then I have to restart. x.x

^^ Hey Lura, is been a while since I've seen you! When's this thing opening? =D

Hii~ It has, hasn't it. 8'D

Probably sometime next week, haha~
This week's all moving in business. XD;

*rushes off for dinner* >O>

Yes yes, tis true Sensei. *bow*
Oo! I agree on painting via computer being a lot easier and more fun. I like traditional painting but at home it's way too messy and I don't have all the room really required for that sort of thing. *school it wasn't a problem* And I've never been a big fan of coloring/painting as well. Not entirely sure why except that colored pencils really don't cut it anymore. ><; My pen still flicks and mine does the "no motion" thing as well...I guess that's a normal thing for tablets? Sucks. ><;
By the way anything new?

Ahh~ Very understandable. Same for me too, and I actually very recently accidentally got some black acrylic paint on one of the dining room chair cushions. >.<;;; Purely accidental though! I was trying to open a very tightly screwed cap, and the paint ended up squirting out the other end from the pressure.. *sigh* Got all over my shirt initially, but at least it wasn't like, a prized possession (the shirt), and I was able to get almost all of the paint off with bleach. So now I know why painters' aprons go so far up. @^@

And yeah.. I think I should.. eventually.. start practicing some one layer digital painting, and maybe that'll help with traditional painting. >.<

New stuff would be school starting for me tomorrow, and 'finally' being settled in my new apartment (with internet!). X'D

Are things better on your side? 8'O

Alright, I guess I'm opening two headshot slots.
But I don't know when I'll finish them, so I'll need patient people. XD
I'm guessing since Labor Day weekend is coming up, I'll have more time? 8<

«§¨ I WANT TO ORDER LURA ART!¨§»
§ Username.] Iroase Delschatten
§ Head/Single/Couple.] Headshot
§ Avatar/OC.] Pick an OC?
§ Color(s).] Up to you, depending on the OC. =D
§ Name included.] -
§ Extra.] Ask if you have any questions regarding my OCs. ^_^

And I am very patient when it comes to waiting for art. So no worries. xD

xD Noo. I wanted to see if I could get both HS slots for a normal. *shot*

There is still one, though, anna? xD

*back from shower*
XDD

Thank you for your order, Iro!
*goes to hunt for an OC* >w>

Mm.. Would you like to go for a testing slot then, Anna?
If no one claims the second HS slot in about ten minutes? XD
OC/Avi is up to you, but then style will be up to me (lineart, painted, cell-shaded..). XDD

xD Nah, I have too many headshots for Ha-chan's fourth outfit.

EDIT:

@ Lura - Sure!

Oh, the testing slot doesn't have to be headshot.
In fact, I'd most likely go with bust or more because it's a testing slot. XD

Iro - Methinks I shall go with Hazariyu/Kidezt? >o>
Would you like his name (whichever?) on the finished picture or no?
And if anything comes up, I'll probably PM you questions, or ask you on your profile, or something.. XD

That will be good, Lura.
Ooh~ Testing slot, that sounds nice. xD

And no, please, for the name. I would like the image as it is. =D

Do I send a trade with the payment now? ^_^

@ Lura - How much will it be, and what will it probably turn out as?