Computer Art Questions

[ForteTeppo]

Okay, I more then often draw... a lot. I'd like to imagine I am a fairly decent artist. Now tho I draw a lot, I would like to color them on the computer. The current program I am using now is, Marcomedia Fireworks. I do enjoy using it because I am somewhat familiar with it.

Several small kinks here an there when using it though, sometimes looks very... amateurish rather then a professional I strive so hard to go for.

Good or Not, I wish to do better, seeming this is the extent of using the Fireworks program.

Now the Question, what would "You" recommend, (hoping you have experience with art and the coloring program in question) to make it look, very professional. I wish to make a online comic and wish it to be top notch. Any help would be welcomed, Veteran advice is well wanted.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Enlenne]

I dunno much about how Fireworks works...
And I'm not a great digital-colorer...

But a really good and professional program out there is Photoshop~ It's great for things like this. (Paint Shop Pro, too, I haven't used that in ages, though...I dunno which is argueably better anymore, but I'd go with Photoshop >.> )
And use Layers....Layers and the Selecting Tool (<3 Magic Wand) I use those tools the most...Makes things soooo breezy.

I dunno where I'm going with this, other than Photoshop is a good program to use >.>
Yeah

 

[Klank]

As Enlenne said, Photoshop is one of the best programs you could use if you want clean lines and a wide variety of tools.

If you want to go a more simple route, and it's the route I go, I would suggest picking up a copy of Macromedia Flash. I've not used Fireworks before, but I imagine you will find a bit of similarity between it and Flash. With my method, I usually sketch my picture out with the pencil tool set to "Ink" so that all my lines will come out the same as if I opened up MS Paint and started drawing. After that, I convert the sketch to a symbol and set its Alpha to about 30% so it's fairly faded. Then, in a new layer above the layer with the sketch, I set my pencil to "Smooth" so that it automatically curves the lines I draw. Even if your line becomes shaky at some point, you can switch to the pointer tool and reshape the line itself.
As for colouring, if you do so in Flash, you'll want to simply use Flood Fill. Since I'm assuming you'll probably want a cel-shaded style, the best way is to draw the lines that separate colours in a different colour than your line art. This means, if you drew everything in black, make the lines to divide colour red or blue, so that when you go to delete them you can double-click to highlight and delete all red lines that connect to it without leaving any evidence that they were even there.

Whipped this up real quick, just to show you how it might look using my described method.

Also, the guy in blue, black and red looks pretty badass. Kind of reminds me of a pimped out Rockman without his helmet.

 

[Isollde]

Line art is really awesome. I would go with Photoshop or OpenCanvas, both really good programs to look into. Also some tutorials you can find on the web about cell shading and coloring wouldn't hurt. I'll look some up and pm to you, when I get home from work today.

 

[Xalioniaf]

If you want to be dirt cheap, some amazing artists have done wonderful things in Paint. You can achieve amazing results such as this, but you have to work for it.

Seriously though, Illustrator is an amazing tool for drawing. Too bad it only saves in vectors, but I suppose you could open them in Photoshop and rasterize them there.
Of course, that's if you're willing to drop the moneh...

 

[Kelyon]

Fireworks is a program used mainly for Webdesign. It is not ment for graphic design at all. You would be better off using paint.
I HIGHLY recomend getting Photoshop CS2 or 3. If you cant get 2 or 3 CS 1 is still nice.

 

[ForteTeppo]

I'll probably start looking for Photo shop, only reason why I chose this program over paint is because it seem so much cleaner. I don't have my old contrast between the two, but it was quiet massive. I Guess my next question will be, "How to use Photoshop" :3

 

[Isollde]

I'll probably start looking for Photo shop, only reason why I chose this program over paint is because it seem so much cleaner. I don't have my old contrast between the two, but it was quiet massive. I Guess my next question will be, "How to use Photoshop" :3

[email protected] I'm on MSN most nights, if ya have any questions. it's pretty easy once you get used to everything. Download the trial version HERE.

 

[Tenkax]

I use PS, but I think hontesly I think Illustrator is the way to go. If you look at the way Illistrator works if you shrink or enlarge a pic you created in Illustrator, it keeps everything consistant. If you try and do the same thing with PS, everything gets pixalated and looks like crap. I guess it all depends on what you are more comfortable with and like to use.

There are a lot of online guides and books you can buy. But hands down bar none Lynda.com is the best tutorial site for all this. Unfortunately it's a pay site, but if your really serious in doing things and want to learn at your own pace, you can try getting a 1 month trial subscription.

In the end the more you mess with the programs the more you'll learn and get used to doing things. Good Luck.

 

[Arctyrael]

If I were you, I would seriously look into vectorizing your images in Fireworks. Fireworks can make incredible things. It does not look at all like you've even touched the possible features Fireworks offers you already =P.

 

[ForteTeppo]

I have no idea how to do any such things. I would love it if some people are willing to give me there AIM (no i don't want to bug people via looking at their profile), they could tell me and teach me how to work these things. =P I'm not the fastest learner so patients is well wanted.

I also recently got Photoshop, so yea. :3

 

[ForteTeppo]

alright, how bout some tutorials? I check some other websites, but they don't seem very helpful. How bout you guys, anyone here know what are some good websites that'll teach me how to use photoshop for anime like stuff?