Coloring

[killaking173]

I was wondering if any body knows what is the best thing to use to color a comic. I tried crayons but it just looks to kiddie like. (just joking) Any info will help. Thanks

[Madman!]

I moved this topic to the tips section and there's already a couple threads around here about coloring.

Also do you want to learn to color by natural mediums..paints, watercolors, etc or by computer?

If you want to work on the computer Photoshop is probably what most use or Painter, those are about the only two programs and they're what most comics are colored with. There are a few other programs, like Alias Sketchbook Pro, but I've never head of anyone coloring comics with it..mostly just Photoshop and Painter.

For coloring by hand with watercolors, oil paints, etc, I think the only person I've really heard coloring comics is Alex Ross and he uses Gouache paints and then airbrush. What brands of colors I don't know and there are so many of natural mediums, you could be listing them for days, anyways really none of them are used for comics. Though if you want to get good at coloring anything learning natural mediums is better than starting with digital.

[killaking173]

Thanks, i'll try that.

[killaking173]

What is the name of the Painter or Photoshop programe? I found a few but wich is the best?

[Madman!]

For Painter the newest version is Painter 9.5. Some people prefer different versions though. Each version has different features. There's Painter 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 9.5. Painter 6 is probably one of the most popular because it's watercolor feature was easier to use..people like Arnold Tsang use 6. Other versions have watercolor, but they changed how it is handled. 6 is also faster because there's not as many features as the newer versions. So you gain speed but lose out on a lot of newer tools. Painter 6 is also hard to find, your best bet is to get Painter 9 or 9.5(the one I linked to). I have version 7 on my computer but I'm trying to find 6. If you have recently bought a Wacom tablet you can enter your serial # and get 100$ off on the 9.5 version.

Photoshop it's the same story. Some people prefer different versions, there's 7, 8 and 9 have new names. 8 is called Photoshop CS and 9 is called Photoshop CS2, basicaly they are just the next versions 8 and 9 but with the new CS name, instead of the number. The newest version is Photoshop 9(CS2). I have Photoshop 8(CS) on my computer and it has great features but I wish I had 9(CS2) it has a lot of new interesting features.

For Painter or Photoshop make sure you get the FULL versions of each progam and not the upgrades, because they will not install unless you have a get full versions first. Once you have a full version you later can just get the upgrade versions..if you want to upgrade. Also make sure you get the right ones for your computer..MAC or Windows.

There is also some called student versions for Painter and Photoshop, which are cheaper but you're not suppose to use them if you want to sell stuff you created with it...though I think people do anyway..just stick with the Full versions.

Price for Painter or Photoshop on any of the versions vary a lot, so much so, you will just have to look around and make sure you get ones that are a good price and from a reliable source. Your best bet is too just save up and make sure you get a legit version from the official sites..the links I posted above for each are the official sites. They're a lot more exspenive, but you know you are getting a good program and not something that has been burnt onto a cd or wrong serial codes. If you haven't bought a Wacom yet either you can get a bundle deal with Painter that is an excellent deal..Wacom Painter bundle. There's different sized Wacoms and versions..Intuos3 is probably the best version and any size will work, I have a 9x12 one. The price if you get the bundle is about the same price if you just bought the program alone, so it's a good deal.

Just read a bunch of stuff on Photoshop and Painter before you buy something. Both work for coloring comics, but Photoshop has better layout and use of Layers. If you want to color stuff so it looks more like a painting then Painter is better..though both can do both styles. If you can afford both get both, a lot of people use both together..starting in Photoshop to lay in the flats and then switching to Painter to add texture and effects and then going back to Photoshop to color correct and edit for final touches.

[killaking173]

Madman you DA MAN! Thanks bro that really helps, Im computer stupid, so I was really confuised. Thanks I think I'll save up and get the Photoshop 9 CS2. I post my work once I get it and color it. THANKS!