I won't have access to a scanner until Monday, so I can't upload any new sketches/whatnot yet....so I thought I might as well upload this tutorial. o_o; A lot of people ask me constantly how I color hair, so I thought I should be nice and post a tutorial on it. Hopefully this is remotely helpful. @_@


How to Color Hair like Marie does:

1) Here's the template for the picture that I'm going to use for this tutorial--> [link] . Warning! The image is huge. o_o; Sorry, but I wanted it to be accurate as far as the brush sizes used were concerned. Open this image in Photoshop (I used 7.0, but anything 5.0+ should be fairly similar). *Tip: Keep the sample image on 50% size when viewing it...otherwise it's much too hard to try coloring in.

(View the screen capture of Step 1: [link] )

2) Go to Layer-->New-->Layer, and select 'Multiply' under the 'Mode' option. Name the layer "Hair" or something. The mutiply option lets your outlines show through. You will be staying on this layer for the rest of the tutorial. Double-click on the little color square on the tools window (or simply select the color from the 'colors' window). For this picture, I used the color "C69C6D", which is a light brown. Click on the Brush tool and fill in all the spaces of hair. Be sure you're doing this on your "Hair" layer.

(View the screen capture of Step 2: [link] )

3) Alright, time for shading. 8D Click on the Burn tool (right beneath the paint bucket...select the little hand option). I used a brush size of 45 here, for 'Range' I selected 'Midtones', and for 'Exposure' I selected 34%. Add some noticeable dark shades to the appropriate parts of the hair--and don't worry about making it smooth just yet. We'll take care of that later.

The screen capture explains a little better than I can, so...

(View the screen capture of Step 3: [link] )

4) Now select the Dodge tool (it's the same button as the Burn tool, but a different option under it...the Dodge tool icon looks like a lollipop). Select a brush size of 35 and the range 'Midtones' again, w/ Exposure on 25%. Do the same as you did with the Burn tool by adding some significant highlights to appropriate areas.

(View the screen capture of Step 4: [link] )

5) Now for some more burning--but of a different kind. Select the Burn tool again, but make the brush size tiny (I used a size 9 soft brush). Keep the range on 'Midtones' and change the 'Exposure' to something high (I set mine on 68%). Now, "stroke" on the burn tool so that it leaves what looks like strands, wherever you think they look best. Again, don't worry about making anything smooth yet...the smudge tool will take care of that later on.

(View the screen capture of Step 5: [link] )

6) Repeat the same process, except with the Dodge tool. 1 important difference: set the Dodge tool's range on 'Highlights'. This will give that characteristically bright/shiny effect. (I used a size 9 soft brush, range on 'Highlights' and exposure on 61%.) It finally looks like hair!

(View the screen capture of Step 6: [link] )

7) Now for the Smudge tool to touch up. The Smudge tool is a fingerpointing icon right next to the Burn/dodge tool option. Set the brush size really small (I used size 13), the mode on 'Normal', and the strength on 77%. Now, use this to smooth out any areas that look shaky/wobbly/crooked. This takes a little practice, since you need to make quick smooth strokes.

(View the screen capture of Step 7: [link] )
(Here's a close-up view of what I'm trying to describe: [link] )

And that's all there is to it. ^__^ Sorry I'm not a better teacher....I've never been. o_o; But hopefully this helps you out, if you're someone who wanted to know how I color hair. ^^;