Spider-Man pages colored for fun

[darkwriter]

Wow has it really been 3 years since my last post on the Digital Webbing forums? Time sure does fly.

Anyway for the last few days, purely for fun I have been coloring some Spider-Man pages I found on Deviant Art and thought I would share them with you all here.

Now keep in mind I have had ZERO training in coloring other then watching a bunch of tutorials on the internet and this was done entirely for fun and not as portfolio pieces or anything.

That being said... here you go

Original line art





and

Original line art







so crit away but try not to be too mean

[darkwriter]

I know it is not Spider-Man but here is another picture I had a go at coloring

[darkwriter]

just finished up another one

Original Line Art



My Colored Version

[darkwriter]

ok like the Ghost Rider picture it isn't Spider-Man but I see no reason to start a new thread when ppl can just continue to ignore this one

[mattshults]

I think the shading of your pieces is fine... but using only white as a highlight colors seems to make your art look "powdery." Also, especially in the Batcave scene, It wouldn't be a bad idea to try some more abstract lighting. This is the kind of scene that you might see in an entirely blue or green pallet, for example.
Just my thoughts, as a penciller who frequently auditions colorists...

[darkwriter]

more blue and green huh? You mean like this?




also did one of my fave characters

original art by Alvin Lee and inked by James Lee Stone



my colors

[MBirkhofer]

The blue palette is definitely a step in the right direction for that page.

Its a unified palette. Setting lighting, mood, and location all together.

Other pages, you are just coloring things as things. With no consideration of light source, or making them all fit in the same room.


You are killing the lineart. What process are you using?
Mode>RGB.
Image size>400 dpi

(simple version: Works with inked art best. Undercolor might be visible under blacks, if blacks are not solid enough. 99% of the time good enough for practice/web. Making it printable is something you can worry about later)

Duplicate layer.
>multiply.

[darkwriter]

Thanks for the reply tho isn't saying I am killing the lineart a little harsh? lol, after all it is all just for fun.

By process do you mean how I am preparing the line art? If so I duplicate the line art, delete the original, go to color range and select highlights and clear the white. One of many ways of doing it have found and one I just happen to like using

Now are you saying I should be using RGB at 400 dpi or are you asking if that is what i do use?

[MBirkhofer]

yeah.

I was referring to the technical method you were using to separate the lineart. It is destroying the fidelity of the lines.
Its creating ugly alias jaggies.

Yes, that color range thing is completely wrong. don't do that.
Work in RGB color mode.
Color at 400ish DPI. 300 is doable. but not good, up to 600 is also possible. but thats more of a professional thing, and more for posters then normal comics/art.
Typically, 400-450 for 99% of Marvel, DC, indie work I do.

For your purposes, the most simple method of lineart separation will work.
Duplicate lineart layer. Set that layer to multiply.
erase/fill under layer to white.
and thats it.

This method does not work 100% for professional production. But at this point, that doesn't mean anything.

[darkwriter]

OK I redid one of my pics using RGB at 400 DPI with a duplicate of the lineart set to multiply and stuff (basically everything you said)

any better?

[MBirkhofer]

yeap. Much better. Lineart quality isn't distracting from the color anymore.


Lighting and palette has improved as well. Nice job.

For the technical side, you are posting a bit large too.

1000 height is usually the max I will go for showing on the web. Not the working file, the .jpg that I display.
Makes it so people won't have to scroll when looking on their monitor.

1600x1200, or 1920x1200 being normal. And giving 200 for tastbar, etc.

[darkwriter]

there ya go, smaller

oh and

[darkwriter]

[Miguel Marques]

Congratulations for disposal
Testing to make pages ...
Need to define more
the volume and character of light and shadow.
Select more shades of character and scenery.
Observe work of other colorist.


Thing that you have enough
can improve.
Buy a tablet.
Read the book;
DC Comics Guide to
Coloring & Lettering

[darkwriter]

actually I do have that book I just haven't got round to reading it but when I decide to take this coloring this super seriously I promise I will, but for now these are totally just for fun and not really any serious attempt at coloring.

Oh as for buying a tablet, I actually have one of those as well but I hate it. Using a tablet and pen just annoys me as I really really really hate the feel of using one

also what characters and scenery I color really depends on what images I can find