Team Craig Only (unless by prior appointment the rest of you!)

I am sorry, my dude, but I don’t think there is an easy way out of shading. Also, are you asking me how to shade or just…techniques to add shading? If you’re asking for techniques I know of two:

The first shading method I know is the standard one. Y’know, using the paintbrush tool, picking the light source, and adding shading to wherever you think it goes (I don’t know dude). 

Add your shading on a separate layer and make sure that layer is clipped to the base color layer. This keeps the shading from going outside the area you want. Also by keeping the shading on another layer it makes it easy for you to fix mistakes or change the color! Wow shading sure is fun.

That’s it for the first method. I use that one most often.

The Second Shading Method -

is similar EXCEPT you’re using the ERASER TOOL!!! Yooooo. This method might be easier for some people so…HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

Color your entire character in with base colors, don’t do any shading yet. From here you can either: merge all your colors onto one layer OR keep them all in a folder. If you choose to keep the layers separately in a folder make sure the folder’s blending setting is in normal!!

Now, make another layer outside of the folder (if you chose that route)and above it. Fill in that layer with the paint bucket tool in whatever color you desire. Clip the layer onto your base color layer/folder and you’ll have something like this:

NOW MESS AROUND. Go through the different Blending options, change the opacity, change the color! Figure out the type of mood you want the picture to be or the type of setting your character is in (ex: if it’s sunset go for a warm color). This might take a while but it’s really fun! Here are the settings I chose:

Now the final step is similar to our first method but at the same time…opposite. Pick a light source. Equip the eraser tool. Now erase the areas in which you think the light would hit. Keep the brush tool with the color you chose ready in case you want to fix/refill any spots! Here’s what I got:

You can get the exact same results no matter what method you use! My second method only looks different because I chose to work with a purple color whereas my first method I shaded using a darker shade of the skin color. So keep in mind that the color you choose really makes a difference no matter how you shade!! (NEVER SHADE WITH BLACK THO DON’T DO IT)

Ah…I just realized the second method might have been easier to follow along in a video lmao sorry. If you ever need something explained via video you guys need to be specific! EITHER WAY I hope this was somewhat helpful for at least one person lmao HAVE FUN SHADING YA DOOFYS! ♥ ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )

Rainy Day, a pixel art postcard.

STEVE McKRACKEN, @SteveMcKrackenArt, “NONE HERE”.