CHAPTER 1: OUTLINING
This section will discuss on how to prepare your artworks for coloring by thickening the lines and stuff to make it compatible with the program and easier to color.
Step 1:
Change your scanned image to Grayscale by going to Image>>Mode>>Grayscale. Then,
re-convert it to RGB or full color by going to Image>>Mode>>RGB Color.
Tip:
When scanning, I suggest you scan it as a grayscale file. That way, you'll only
need to convert it to convert it to RGB once. Also, the bigger the image, the
better the quality so I suggest when scanning, go for 150%.
Step 2:
Make a copy of the background by going to Layer>>Duplicate Layer. Notice that now, in the Layers tab, that there are two layers: the Background and Background copy. Remember to select the Background copy, as seen in the image above, highlighted in blue at the Layers tab. We'll rename that later.
Step 3:
Now, we will need to adjust the image to make it easier to color. Go to Image>>Adjustments>>Brightness/Contrast. The best option would be for brightness: 25 and contrast:50. You can make your own adjustments of course but this is what I usually use.
Step 4:
After the adjustments, the lines will have become bolder. We will need to get rid of the white but remember to select the Background Copy Layer as said in step 2. Go to the channels tab and click on the leftmost circle of the tab. I have encircled that in red. Click it and you will find a marquee over the outline of the image. Press the delete key on your keyboard.
Step 5:
You'll notice that after deleting the white, the image becomes somewhat gray but the lines are bolder. We'll deal with that later but for now, go back to the layers tab and rename Background Copy to OUTLINE. It will be crucial to have this layer at the top at all times! Never delete this layer!
Step 6:
Here's a bit of my secret and it's really helpful. Remember to select the color black from the color swatches. Then, go to Filter>>Sketch>>Graphic Pen. The Graphic Pen pop-up will open (see image above) and select 15 for Stroke Length and 100 for Light/Dark Balance. Stroke direction can be set for anything but I suggest Right Diagonal.
Step 7:
Okay, we're back at the layers tab. Remember step 5 when we renamed the Background Copy to Outline? See the difference with the two pictures above? Well, first, you'll have to click at the drop down choice and change Normal to Multiply. See the difference now? Multiply makes the lines bolder and clean of any remaining white. Only the OUTLINE layer should be at Multiply option.