Line Art and Coloring?

[Lad]

Ok, I've been trying to figure out how to have my line art stay while I color it. I have Corel Painter 8, everytime I make a sketch I want to color it but still have my line art imposed into the color. Instead I just end up painting over the line art. Is their a way to lock the line art so that it is always visible while I color in background. I've tryied to create separate layers and what not to no avail. Please help. Thanks

[Jin]

Hi,

Assuming your line art is black on a white background:

1. Open the line art image.

2. Use Ctrl/Command+A to select the entire Canvas.

3. Using the Layer Adjuster tool (F key), click inside the selection to lift the Canvas to a Layer and leave the Canvas blank. This is Layer 1.

4. If you want your line art Layer to have a more descriptive name, in the Layers palette list, double click Layer 1 to open the Layer Attributes dialog box. You'll see the current name of the Layer highlighted. Type a new name, something like "Line Art" and click the OK button.

5. To ensure your Line Art Layer won't move or be accidentaly altered while you're working, with your Line Art Layer highlighted in the Layers palette list, go to the top of the Layers palette and click the Lock icon.

6. With your Line Art Layer highlighted in the Layers palette list, go to the top of the Layers palette and click the left drop down list (Composite Method list) and choose Gel. This makes your Line Art Layer's white background transparent.

Now you can see through your Line Art Layer while painting on the Canvas or one or more Layers below the Line Art Layer.

7. To create a New Layer and place it below your Line Art Layer, use Ctrl/Command+Shift+N, highlight the New Layer in the Layers palette list and drag it below your Line Art Layer. Rename the New Layer using the method described in Step 4.

NOTE: Always keep your Line Art Layer at the top of the Layers palette list so the linework will be visible while you're painting, and always keep it locked as described in Step 5.

[Atomick]

Some alternate approaches:

01.
If you're working on a scan or flattened (layer-less) digital sketch, assuming it's dark ink on a white background: Create a new layer, set its Composite Method to "Multiply," and then paint on top of your line art.

02.
If you're painting from scratch, sketch directly into a new layer - NOT on the Canvas, and paint into a second layer, sandwitched between your top (original) sketch layer and the canvas.

HTH,
-Atomick

[Lad]

Wow, its working! Didn't get a chance to do it untill now and hopefully when I'm feeling a little better I can get to coloring. Thanks guys :D