> [!email]+ &nbsp; > > > [!note] From > > [mandysannte](https://turtle-brownie.tumblr.com/post/807330216404992000/when-you-paint-using-a-sort-of-grayscale-how-do) > > > [!note] To > > [Turtle-Brownie](https://turtle-brownie.tumblr.com/ask) > > > [!note|sep] Subject > > **Drawing Expressions** > >*Sent* _13/01/2026_ > > When you paint using a sort of grayscale, how do you then color in the desired color on top? Like. To go from black and white to color. --- >[!hint|noicon] &nbsp; > >## Painting in Greyscale >While this isn't a tutorial on painting in greyscale, there is a specific method I use in this stage of rendering that helps me out later down the line. > >_This part isn't necessary,_ and if you already have a fully rendered greyscale piece, it is possible to still do this part with a little finangling. This trick _works best if you render under line art,_ but not so much if you render without line art. It still works, though, you might just have to tweak a few things here and there. > > >[!warning]- > >This also only works if you use _a drawing program that supports gradient maps_ (ie. Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, Procreate). I am using **Clip Studio Paint.** > > > >To find gradient maps on Clip Studio Paint, you can go to the asset store and download some for free. > > > >The gradient maps I use will be listed throughout the tutorial, but can also be found in [[My Brushes]]. > >>[!cite]+ 1. Preparation >>>[!caption] **Brushes used:** _[[Monomania]]_ (Lineart), _CSP Default G-Pen_ (Colouring) >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769919166988.webp]] >> >>I like laying down my flat colours to start with, getting the very basic idea of where I want certain colours to be, the colour distribution, etc. Helps especially if you're drawing characters or pieces with _a set colour palette_, and if you have trouble differentiating what colours make what shades etc. >> >>I personally struggle a lot with perceiving and remembering how 'bright' or 'luminescent' certain colours are compared to others when in greyscale, so when starting in greyscale, I find I run into a common problem of guessing 'wrong' or misremembering the values of certain colours, and then the gradient map stage becomes a bit more muddled and difficult for me. >> >>>[!grid|col-2] >>>>[!seealso] The Munsell Colour Tree >>>>**The Munsell Colour Tree**, (right) is a good visual as to the spectrum of luminance each colour has. >>>> >>>>Or, more simply, what shade of grey each colour comes out as in greyscale. >>> >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769919649889.webp]] >> >>When you are laying down your flat colours, it is important to ensure that all of the layers you use for colouring are in _one folder_, and to also ensure that each coloured section _does not_ overlap with another. A useful idea is to have all of the same coloured items be on the same layer. The more layers you have, the more tedious future steps will be. >> >>--- >> >>>[!grid|col-3] >>>>[!seealso|span-2] Layer Hierarchy >>>>On the right, you can see how my layers are sorted, with each coloured section not going over the lines and bleeding into other sections. >>>> >>>>The purpose of this, is it will make it easier to select the areas you want to colour with a gradient map, without it leaking into other areas and ruining the colours there. >>>> >>>>Also note that the line art layer is separate from the colours. The line art layer is pretty much left alone until **step ?**, which goes on specifically what to do with the line art layer. >>> >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769921053777.webp]] >> >>--- >> >>>[!grid|col-3] >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769921465177.webp]] >>> >>>>[!seealso|span-2] Merging Layers >>>Once I've finished colouring, I duplicate the folder with all my colours, and then merge the folder together. >>>> >>>>On the _left_ is what it looks like once I've done this; the original folder with all the colours is still there, but I turn it off and turn my focus to the now merged layer, which is where I will be rendering. >>>> >>>>Again, note that the line art layer is left alone. It is currently set to _multiply_ so that I can see it easier, but this doesn't matter, and you can set it to whatever you like for now. >> >>--- >> >>>[!seealso]+ Colour to Greyscale >>>I select the merged colour layer, and set the layer to 'greyscale.' >>> >>>How this is done is different in every program, so the steps shown _below_ are specific to Clip Studio Paint. >>> >>>>[!caption] **i. Select the merged colour layer** <br>_ii. Select the 'Color' drop down menu in the 'Layer Expression' box_</br> >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769922189131.webp]] >>> >>>>[!caption] **iii. Select 'Gray'** >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769922759173.webp]] >>> >>>>[!caption] _iv. Select 'Apply expression color of preview'_ <br>**v. Select the 'Gray' drop down menu in the 'Layer Expression' box**</br> >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769923112125.webp]] >>> >>>>[!caption] **Done!** >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769923255243.webp]] >> >>>[!seealso]+ Rendering >>>At this stage, I lock the transparency of the greyscale layer, and I start rending underneath the line art. >>> >>>_Below_ shows the before & after of rendering; you are welcome to use adjustment layers to adjust the brightness and contrast, as well as change the value of any of the greys you see fit. >>> >>>>[!caption] **Brushes used:** _[[Monomania]]_ (Lineart), _[[KolorMarc]]_ (Rendering) >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769923465318.webp]] > >>[!cite]+ 2. Greyscale to Colour >>Once I finished rendering, I start selecting the areas I want to colour, and applying _Gradient Maps_ to my liking. >> >>>[!caption] **Brushes used:** _[[Monomania]]_ (Lineart), _[[KolorMarc]]_ (Rendering), _[[Meru Skintone Gradient]]_ (Gradient Set) >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769924631658.webp]] >> >>>[!tip]- >>>This is where the folder of colour layers comes in handy. >>> >>>In _Clip Studio Paint,_ you can **right click** on a layer, click **'Selection from Layer'**, and then **'Create Selection'**. This creates a selection around everything in that layer. >>> >>>If you want to adjust your selection manually, you can use the _Lasso_ tool while holding the **shift** key. This allows you to add more to your selection, instead of starting anew. >> >>>[!grid|col-2] >>>>[!seealso] Gradient Map Menu >>>>Once you have selected the area you want to colour, **right click** the _Colours Merged_ layer, then click **New Correction Layer**, then click **Gradient Map**. >>>> >>>>Doing so should bring up a menu that looks the one on the _right_. >>> >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769924276265.webp]] >> >>Once you've got your **Gradient Map Menu** open, feel free to take your time and scroll through your options, trying out different gradients for whatever you're colouring. >> >>If you like a certain _Gradient Map_, but the colour's aren't quite right, you can use the _small arrows beneath the gradient spectrum_ on the top, to adjust the distribution of colours. You can also _add, remove, and change the colours_ to your preference. >> >>Once you've selected a _Gradient Map_, you can further play around with layer's opacity as well as the **Blending Modes,** to try out different effects. Some **Blending Modes** that I commonly use are listed below: >> >>> [!seealso]- Blending Modes >>> > >>|**Blending Mode**|**Effect**|**Example**| > >>|-|-|-| > >>|_Normal_|The default; leaves the colours unchanged.|![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769925182643.webp]]| > >>|_Overlay_|Blends both dark & light colours with a smooth transition.|![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769925223265.webp]]| > >>|_Soft Light_|A much softer version of 'overlay'. Good if you want more details showing through, and the colour to be less impactful.|![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769925248809.webp]]| > >>|_Color_|Changes the brightness of the colours to match the greyscale underneath, without changing the colours themselves.|![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769925278164.webp]]| > >> > >>If you want to know more about what each blending mode does, you can check out _[Blending Modes Explained](https://www.thivolan-art.com/post/blending-modes-explained)_ by **Thivolan**. >> >>If at any point you wish to change or adjust a gradient map you've already selected, you can **right click** the adjustment layer, then click _Layer Settings_, and then _Advanced Setting_ to bring back up the **Gradient Map Menu.** >> >>>[!tip]- >>>Another thing you can try is _stacking gradient maps_. >>> >>>I find by combining gradient maps this way, as well as adjusting their opacity and blending modes, I can get much nicer colours, and closer to the hues I am looking for. >> >>Once you're done, your art might turn out looking something like this: >> >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769926020060.webp]] >> >>>[!grid|col-2] >>>>[!seealso] Colour Folder >>>>After all that, I go back to the _Colour Layer Folder_ I had hidden at the beginning. This folder should be _above all the adjustment layers_, but also _below the line art layer._ >>>> >>>>I turn the folder back on, and change the **Blending Mode** (usually to _Color_, but you can pick whatever) so that the original, picked colours come through. I then adjust the opacity of this folder to my liking. >>> >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769926380074.webp]] > >>[!cite]+ 3. Final Touches >>After I've finished adjusting the _Gradient Maps_ to my liking, I go ahead and I add one or two more over the top of all of my adjustment layers, to make the overall piece a bit more cohesive >> >> >>>[!grid|col-2] >>>>[!caption] **Without Adjustments** >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769926782447.webp|banner+tall]] >>> >>>>[!caption] **With Adjustments** >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769926748267.webp|banner+tall]] >> >>For final touches, I then go in with texture overlays, adjust the colour of the line art, and maybe throw in more adjustment layers to tweak the hue, contrast, brightness or saturation a bit more. >> >>If you ever need to adjust the original merged colour layer, you can do so minimal worry. As long as the gradient map above it remains untouched, the colours should adjust just fine with any changes that you make. > >--- > >## Final > >>[!caption] **Texture Overlays Used:** _[[CMYK Print-ify (Auto Effect + Layer Template)]]_, _[[KolorMarc]]_ >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769927080498.webp]] > >>[!info] More >>If you want to try out playing with the _Gradient Maps_ for yourself, or just want to have a closer look, you can find the CSP file for this drawing for free [here on my Kofi](https://ko-fi.com/s/8622959e01). > >#### Gradient Sets Used: >- [[Meru Skintone Gradient]] >- [[Vintage Gradients]] >- [[Goretober Gradients Preset]] >- [[Kotono Hagrade 3]] >- [Metal Gradient Map](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/search?word=1798016) --- >[!todo|noicon] Have a question to ask? Check out the [[Contact Me]] page to see where you can ask :)