Star Wars #38 Step by Step Part 3 Color

Our variant cover for Star Wars #38 - out now from Marvel Comics - a chance to draw Luke and Leia and X-Wings and Jedha!

Check out how we made it.

PART 3

COLOR

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.

I try to adjust the colors to their medium value or imprimatura - I use this as the starting point for the piece. 

INITIAL COLOR (ROUGH IN)

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

I rough in quickly all the medium lights and darks on the figures and cast initial shadows.

Using the Pencil Tool (Hard Round pixel Brush) at 100% to to begin and then switch to lower 30-50% to get the right value of color for the next stages of rendering.

RIM LIGHT, GRADIENT, ROSY CHEEKS

On layers above the initial rough in -

LAYER 1 - Used the Gradient tool to fade out the background

LAYER 2 - I added Rosy cheeks to Leia and rounded out her face referencing photos from Empire 

Strikes Back

LAYER 3 - I added the yellow rim light to Luke using the Pencils tool at 100%

COLORING THE LINE ART

This is the icing on the cake step of the process.

I just started working on Luke here...

I colored a lot of the characters black lines, notice the lips, flesh outline and the rocks and clouds in the background.

Fun stuff!

ALMOST FINAL 

The colors I submitted to Marvel, editor Heather Antos had me light the background behind Luke...

FINAL COLOR 

Great suggestion, Heather!

PART 1

PENCILS

PART 2

LINE ART

TD

Wonder Woman 34 Justice League Variant Cover Step by Step Part 3 Color

The cover to Wonder Woman #34 by Rachel Dodson and me - ships this week!

Here's how we made the cover.

Part 3

COLOR

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.

I try to adjust the colors to their medium value or imprimatura - I use this as the starting point for the piece. 

Beginning slightly tweaking colors

INITIAL COLOR (ROUGH IN)

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

Using the GRADIENT Tool I put in the sky and using the Pencil Tool at 100% to rough in the clouds, as this background is kinda important to the FEEL of the piece.

Next....

I rough in quickly all the medium lights and darks on the figures and cast initial shadows.

Using the Pencil Tool at 100% to knock those in.

I also use the Pencil Tool at about 40% Yellow for the Rim Lighting on the left side of Diana

REFINING THE COLORS

Using a custom brush I added depth to the clouds and refining the shadow in the background using the LASSO tool for the shapes.

COLORING THE LINE ART

This is the icing on the cake step of the process.

I colored a lot of the characters black lines, notice the lips, flesh outline and the rocks and clouds in the background.

REFINING MORE...

You can see I pushed the color of the lineart...

more into the details and the rim light on Dianas hair...

FINAL COLOR

I turn Diana's eyes to brown and voila...

done!

Previously

PART 1

PENCILS

PART 2

LINE ART

TD

Bombshells United #1 featuring Wonder Woman Cover

Rachel Dodson and I doing covers for the new Bombshells United comic featuring Wonder Woman from DC Comics.

Here's a close up look at a Bombshells Wonder Woman image -

Colored in Photoshop CS3 with a Wacom Cintiq 22HD.

I'll post up a step by step making of this cover - including video of Rachel inking!

Bombshells United #1 by the Marguerites - Bennett et Sauvage - out in September from DC Comics!

TD

Wonder in Progress

Here's a look at a Bombshells Wonder Woman image I'm working on - inks by Rachel Dodson...

Coloring in Photoshop CS3 with a Wacom Cintiq 22HD.

Cover for Bombshells United #1 - out in September!

TD

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story #1 Cover Step by Step Part 3 Color

Our variant cover for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story #1 from Marvel Comics

Check out how we made it.

COLOR

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.

I try to adjust the colors to their medium value or imprimatura - I use this as the starting point for the piece. 

INITIAL COLOR (ROUGH IN)

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

Here I rough in quickly all the medium lights and darks on the figures and cast initial shadows.

Using the Pencil Tool at 100% to knock those in.

I also used the Gradient tool to give the light to dark orange glow.

And a Custom Cloud Brush to rough in shapes in the background.

ADDITIONAL ROUGH IN

I went on the rest of the figure and face and knocked the next lights and darks using the pencils tooling at 70-80%.

I go to the next level of darker darks and lighter lights

COLORING THE LINE ART

This is the icing on the cake step of the process.

I turn the black lines in select places to color line - note Jyn's face and the buildings in the background.

FINAL COLOR

And done!

And for PART 1

PENCILS

PART 2

LINE ART

TD

Inhumans Vs X-Men 1-4 Covers

Here's the first FOUR variants that we've done. 

Out in stores now from Marvel Comics!

See the Step by Step making of the covers below!

TD

Ms. Marvel Inhumans Vs X-Men #3 Cover Step by Step Part 3 Color

Inhumans Vs X-Men #3 Variant Covers featuring Ms. Marvel.

By Rachel Dodson and Me.

Out now from Marvel Comics.

Now for Part 3 of the Step by Step -

COLOR

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.

I try to adjust the colors to their medium value or imprimatura - I use this as the starting point for the piece. 

BACKGROUND

First thing I did was to get the background figured out - notice the right side is not completely done but the PATTERN is figured out.

INITIAL COLOR (ROUGH IN)

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

Here I rough in quickly all the medium lights and darks on the figures and cast initial shadows.

Using the Pencil Tool at 100% to knock those in.

RIM LIGHT

Next I come in at a variety  from 50- 100 % pencil hitting the medium lights and darks over the imprimatur color.

I add in the bright RIM lighting on a separate layer sometimes, so I can make sure the dark that meets is at it's maximum - the dark on the background layer, the bright light on the upper RIM layer.

COLORING LINE ART

This is the icing on the cake step of the process.

Starting to color the line art - mostly the face and some of the rim lighting.

FINAL COLOR

And to review-

 PART 1

PENCILS

PART 2

LINE ART

 TD