Separate your Lineart

[Jasen Smith]

Video (http://jasenstation.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-separate-line-art.html)
In this video I show you how to separate your lineart into a layer.
There are different ways to do it but I prefer this way since I'm used to working in layers.
Another way is to put the lineart into a channel which I will discuss in another video when I have a chance.

You can also record these as an action in Photoshop so that way you don't have to keep doing this every time you begin a coloring piece.

[OZ!]

And now I am going to try this. I always created two layers of the line art after bolding them and then just did all my coloring in "Darken" mode. This involves three layers max but a ton of planning. And of course since I am know where near as good a colorist as you and many others I really appreciate the tips. Thanks for the thread.

[Jasen Smith]

Awe you're too kind.
I'm NOT a good colorist, I just know the technical stuff. I try to color but I'm still in the learning stage.

Don't forget to save it as an action...maybe I'll make a video on that as well :P

[L Jamal]

Since I use an action to underprint my blacks, I just set the line art to multiply and color (in CMYK) in layers under it. Color holds and special effects go above it.

Once I'm done I flatten the entire page and then run my underprint action. I got the steps to the underprint action a long time ago (2004) from Matt Webb via Ed Dukeshire. Mine is a little different, but the same basic idea.


UNDERPRINTING BLACK LINE ART is a very important step in comic book pre-press.
The Black Line Art must be backed up or bleed-through may occur from the colors that go "underneath" the black line.


To do this properly you must convert the RGB colors to CMYK before you apply the lineart. Unless of course you are already coloring in CMYK.

Once in CMYK click on the lineart channel to make that active. Go to the menu bar and choose "Load Selection." Once that's done select "Modify/Contract" (of course if you know the shortcut keyboard commands feel free...).
A small window will pop up asking you by how many pixels you wish to contract to. If you are coloring at 400 DPI contract by 4 if 600 DPI by 6 etc.

After the pixels are contracted return to the CMYK channels and fill the selection with C63%M52%Y51%.

Return to the black line art (Alpha) channel and reselect, this time DO NOT CONTRACT!!!
Fill this channel with 100%K, copy and paste into the "BLACK" channel. You can now delete the Line Art (Alpha) Channel.

That's it!

Most publishers use a paper saturation point of no more than 280% Sometimes I have heard of 300% but in the US it's mostly 260%.

To double check your saturation point just select the eyedropper tool and sample any solid black area on the page, it should read C63%M52%Y51%K100%.


John Rauch has an entirely different process for his pages (see his blog for the video).

Look through all the processes and find something that works for you.

[Jasen Smith]

You're correct LJ.
There are several ways to get your lineart separated from the white background.

I couldn't find John's video and currently he is busy with pages. I'll see if I can get a hold of him to use his process in this as well.

Here are a few actions I have already made for you to download (http://sites.google.com/site/jasensdownloads/downloads/JasensActions.atn?attredirects=0&d=1).

To install the ACTIONS into Photoshop simply download save to the location listed below.
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop
CS3\Presets\Actions
Open Photoshop and load these in your Actions Window.

[L Jamal]

http://eraserx.deviantart.com/art/Line-Hold-video-tutorial-96296201

[Jasen Smith]

^Woot^ Thanks LJ

[khoipham]

you guys rule. thanks! :thumbs:

[sketchkj]

Hey guys, thnx a lot for all your tips and tutorials. This is really a big help for me and i'm sure it is for a lot of other people. Please keep this going if you can, I'm trying to learn this as well and you guys are the biggest help. :banana: