>[!card|hero dark] > ##### How I use gradient maps to colour black and white drawings. > ## How To Colour With Gradient Maps > This site is *non-profit*! You can support this website my donating to my *Ko-Fi* > >[[About]] [[Contact Me]] [Ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/E1E1VOW9) >[!grid] >>[!question|tag] **[[Home]]** > >>[!question|tag] **[[Tutorials]]** >[!infobox] Brushes Used > >- CSP Default G-Pen >- [[Monomania]] >- [[KolorMarc]] > [!question|query] > >_From Tumblr_ >**mandysannte** > > 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. # <span class='at-mark'>Painting in Greyscale</span> > [!columns] > > [!col|w6] >> 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. > > > [!col|w4] > > >[!warning|stencil] > > >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]]**. ### Preparation > [!columns|ruled] > >[!col|w6] > > > >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. > > >[!col|w4] > >>[!fig|blueprint] **Brushes used:** _[[Monomania]]_ (Lineart), _CSP Default G-Pen_ (Colouring) > >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769919166988.webp]] > [!columns|ruled] > >[!col|w6] > >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. > > > >>[!tip] > >>**The Munsell Colour Tree** 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. > > >[!col|w4] > >>[!fig|blueprint] The Munsell Colour Tree > >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769919649889.webp]] ### Layer Hierarchy > [!columns|ruled] > >[!col|w6] > >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 a bit later. > > > >### 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. > > >[!col|w4] >> >>> [!columns] >>>>[!col] > > > >>[!fig|blueprint] Layer Hierarchy > > >> >![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769921053777.webp]] > > > > > >>[!col] > > >> >[!fig|blueprint] Layer Hierarchy 2 > > >> >![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769921465177.webp]] ### Colour to Greyscale >[!columns] >> [!col|w2] >>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 are specific to *Clip Studio Paint*. > >> [!col|w8] >>> [!grid] > >> >[!card|section] > > >>>[!fig|blueprint] *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]] > > > > >> >[!card|section] > > >>>[!fig|blueprint] *iii.* **Select 'Gray'** > > >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769922759173.webp]] > > > > > >>[!card|section] > > >>>[!fig|blueprint] *iv.* **Select 'Apply expression color of preview'** > > >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769923112125.webp]] > >> > >>>[!card|section] > > >>>[!fig|blueprint] *v.* **Select the 'Gray' drop down menu in the 'Layer Expression' box** > > >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769923255243.webp]] ### Rendering >[!columns|ruled] >>[!col|w6] >>At this stage, I lock the transparency of the greyscale layer, and I start rendering *underneath* the line art. >> >>Here 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. > >>[!col|w4] >>>[!fig|blueprint] **Brushes used:** _[[Monomania]]_ (Lineart), _[[KolorMarc]]_ (Rendering) >>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769923465318.webp]] ### Greyscale to Colour > [!columns|ruled] > >[!col] > >Once I finished rendering, I start selecting the areas I want to colour, and applying _Gradient Maps_ to my liking. > > > >>[!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. > > >[!col] > >>[!fig|blueprint] **Brushes used:** _[[Monomania]]_ (Lineart), _[[KolorMarc]]_ (Rendering), _[[Meru Skintone Gradient]]_ (Gradient Set) > >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769924631658.webp]] ### Gradient Map Menu > [!columns|ruled] > > [!col|w6] > > 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_. >> > >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. > > > [!col|w4] > > >[!fig|blueprint] Screenshot > > >![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769924276265.webp]] > [!grid] > >[!card|section] > >>[!fig|blueprint] &nbsp; > >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769925182643.webp]] > >##### Blending Mode > >### Normal > > > >The default; leaves the colours unchanged. > > >[!card|section] > >>[!fig|blueprint] &nbsp; > >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769925223265.webp]] > >##### Blending Mode > >### Overlay > >Blends both dark & light colours with a smooth transition. > > >[!card|section] > >>[!fig|blueprint] &nbsp; > >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769925248809.webp]] > >##### Blending Mode > >### Soft Light > >A much softer version of 'overlay'. Good if you want more details showing through, and the colour to be less impactful. > > >[!card|section] > >>[!fig|blueprint] &nbsp; > >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769925278164.webp]] > >##### Blending Mode > >### Color > >Changes the brightness of the colours to match the greyscale underneath, without changing the colours themselves. > >>[!card|dark] ☟ >>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*. > [!columns|ruled] > >[!col|w6] > >>[!tip] > >>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 ☞ > > >[!col|w4] > >>[!fig|blueprint] &nbsp; > >>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769926020060.webp]] ### Colour Folder > [!columns|ruled] > > [!col|w6] > > 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. > > > [!col|w4] > > >[!fig|blueprint] &nbsp; > > >![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769926380074.webp]] ### Final Touches > [!columns|ruled] > >[!col|w3] > >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 > > > >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. > > >[!col|w7] > >>[!columns] > >>>[!col] > >>>>[!fig|blueprint] **Without** Adjustments > >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769926782447.webp|banner+tall]] > >> > >>>[!col] > >>>>[!fig|blueprint] **With** Adjustments > >>>>![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769926748267.webp|banner+tall]] ### Final > [!columns|ruled] > > [!col] > > #### 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) > > > > >[!tip] > > >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). > > > [!col] > > >[!fig|blueprint] **Texture Overlays Used:** _[[CMYK Print-ify]]_, _[[KolorMarc]]_ > > >![[How To Colour With Gradient Maps-1769927080498.webp]]