My Sonic art - Drawing (56k)

[Master hunter]

The second layer - Shading

Highlight the next layer up and select the magic wand tool (1). Click the area you wish to shade to get the dotted lines (2). Still with the wand, hover the mouse of that sections and drag it away a bit leaving a space (3)



Now select a soft brush. Do this by choose the brush tool (1) and selecting the brush options button (2). Scroll down to something like the one labelled (3) and change the diameter using the scrollbar labbelled (4) to a decent size (see fourth picture for comparison).

Next use the eyedropper tool on the green.



Click (just once) the foreground colour to open that menu. Choose a darker tint. Note for Black/White it's best to keep the cursor right on the left hand edge.



Now the time consuming part. Brush along the outer dotted lines as above for every segment of that colour layer.

[Master hunter]

It should look like this for now since we have only done the one layer's Shading



Coming next Highlights and Shadow.

[Hallzy]

These are great Joz, keep 'em coming.

[Master hunter]

Thanks

Almost done now

The third layer - Highlights

A lot like the last one. Use the Magic wand tool to select the bit between your shading and your lines like this...



Now select a lighter tint brush (In some cases you may find it more effective to try another colour altogether. For example with Red it's best to use Orange), and brush along the inner dotted line with a smaller brush.

Do this for every part of that colour layer

[Master hunter]

The last Layer - Shadows

Take a soft Black brush and just draw over area where you think there should be shadows. I normally brush over edges that covered by something (such as behind the arms for example) and also the opposite sides of any shading/highlights (see the legs).

When you have finished drop the Opacity level to a level where you think it blends in nicely. Darker colours will likely need higher Opacity levels.

NOTE: You can also use this technique to blend your shading or highlight layers in better if you feel you've picked a tint that's too dark/light.

Also if the other two layers are getting in the way click their eyes to hide them (just like with the backing layer). The Magic wand tool is also quite useful here.



Delete your complications layer and repeat for every colour layer.



Note I have done nothing to the eyes yet. There are still some finishing touches that I'll cover later.

Barring some finishing touches we are almost finished. Here is the current result.



SOME ADDITIONAL POINTS WITH THE SHADING

Generally I think of it as a ring. Arms and Legs have their shading on opposing sides, both sticking out. Feet and Shoes has the shading along the bottom and the head has it along the top. Muzzles has it AT THE SIDES, it's a common mistake to have it along the top. In this case though I have defined the beak too.

When in doubt look at an official SA (Sonic Adventure) shaded picture. Manuals are good for this. For SA shading the two Adventure games, Rush and the Advance series are all useful. But not Battle as it's a different type of art, same with the upcoming Riders.

Coming soon: The finishing touches.

[Master hunter]

I finished it a few moments ago but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to get the finishing touches step. I don't really have to time to upload it all and go through it.

For now though you can see the finished result here. I've even made it a profile so you can read up more about the character I've been drawing.

Just a couple of people to thank for this. If it wasn't for these two and their wonderful tutorials I wouldn't be able to draw Sonic characters as competently as this.

First of The Virus (from Exterminatus Now not Sonic Hot Dimensions). He's a close real life friend of mine who not only taught me some of the basics for drawing Sonic, but his tutorial at his webcomic site was extremely useful. I recommend you browse through their comics, some are brilliant.

Tutorial at Exterminatus Now

Second Becky Moore / Puritylf4 / Becky the Hedgehog/porcupine. Her SA shading tutorial at Sonic Hot Dimensions is the basis for most of what you've seen so far.

Tutorial at Sonic Hot Dimensions

Hopefully now you guys will now know some techniques for drawing Sonic and will celebrate his 15th in June. Or is this just wishful thinking

[Master hunter]

finale - finishing touches

First thing that needs done for more pics are eye shine. I keep things very simple. A couple of soft brush white dots on the top of each eye with the layer opacity dropped a little. This layer goes ABOVE the lineart



If I was going sunglasses like with Joz I'd do a copy and paste job here. I'd draw the shades separately with the lenses opacity dropped a little. Then position them on top of the eyes.



Anyway onto the background shadow. You may recall me saying there are two reasons for the backing layer, and if I didn't I should have. Here we can copy that layer (1), drag it out (2) and drop it's Opacity (3) for a very simple shadow effect




The image is finished but the background is quite lame. Start a new file, I usually just go with bog standard 1024x768, and click the effects button (1). Now just play about with them 3 options "solid color", "Pattern", and "Gradient".

Solid color fills that layer with a solid colour of course

Pattern fills that layer with the pattern of your choice

Gradient allows you to blend multiple colours into on background, in certain shapes and stuff.

For this image I have used a Pattern (increased size) over a Diamond Gradiant (Green and Dark Green) and a different angle from default.

GO BACK to the Jade image and shrink it to a good size (Image > Image Size). In this case I changed it to 700 pixels high with the properties constrained.

BEFORE YOU COPY AND PASTE you need to merge the layers. Otherwise you will only copy a single layer. To merge the layers choose Layers > Merge Visible. This will merge everything into one layer. Press CTRL+A to select all and copy and paste it on top of your background.

With some text added and my watermark (which I made ages ago) we are now finished.

THE FINISHED IMAGE

[Kaitos]

That really is excellent. I wouldn't have clue how to use paintshop myself.

[Master hunter]

Well you can start by calling it PHOTOshop

Is there anything you want me to go into detail on? I thought I covered most of it explicitly.

There is one thing you may be wondering, why Jade?

Simply because I wanted a proper picture of her done and I wanted use a female character for this because of the added complications.

Could've gone official but because of the high standards I didn't think I would have the same effect.

[Cain]

You really do have a very good technique there MH, cool of you to document the process too - I'll be taking some pointers from you!