Harley Quinn #1 Variant Cover Step by Step Part 3 Color

How we made the new Harley Quinn #1 cover.

From DC Comics and Midtown Comics!

And now for the COLOR STAGE

FLATS

The first stage of color is called flats - flatting allows me to choose an area to color at any point throughout the coloring process.

Flats were done by Gilly Renk.

Detail

Initial Rough In

I colored this on my Cintiq 22 HD using Photoshop CS3 .

Detail

I did a lot of coloring at this stage - adding the  lights and darks on all areas of the art.

Adjusting the sky to a more DC Animated look I liked on my original Harley Run.

Used the Pencil tool at this point.

Intermediate Stage

Cleaned and smooth flesh using the Brush tool at low % and and then Lassoing and using the Gradient.

Photoshop Set Up

and 

Hair Reference

Coloring Harley's Hair 

I copied the hair I wanted to color and then used Hue/Saturation to change the blonde to pink and blue and merged layer down.

Coloring Line Art

At this point I like to color the line art... 

Line Art Detail

I begin coloring the Hair and Flesh Line Art

Then convert areas being hit by highlights.

Harley's hair properly colored... variations in the pink and blonde "lines"...

Final

Punched up/brightened Harley's red and WHITENED her skin a bit for the final.

More Detailed

Line Art on Costume and Background element is colored.

Super Detail!

And that's it!

TD

Part One

PENCILS

Part Two

LINE ART