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Kurt Michael Russell

Advanced Digital Comic Coloring Concepts & Techniques is the follow-up to my course "A Pro's Guide to Comic Book Coloring." This course will teach you new skills and further expand on your knowledge of sequential comic book coloring in Photoshop, and is not designed for beginners to coloring.

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Advanced Digital Comic Coloring Concepts & Techniques is the follow-up to my course "A Pro's Guide to Comic Book Coloring." This course will teach you new skills and further expand on your knowledge of sequential comic book coloring in Photoshop, and is not designed for beginners to coloring.

My name is K. Michael Russell, and I've been published in over 70 comics as a colorist for companies like DC Comics, Image Comics, IDW, Top Cow, Oni Press, and more. I've taught thousands of students worldwide about how to think as a colorist. Coloring can be a fun hobby, a part-time side hustle, or even a career. It all depends on the work you put in.

This course covers a wealth a material on a variety of subjects with lots of practical examples. "There are as many ways to color as there are colorists," a colorist friend of mine said recently. Here, I'll show you a few different methods for layering, lighting and shading techniques, how to color different surfaces like glass, metal, hair, and skin.

I'll cover some of the quirks of color theory and color relativity and explain why color can be so scary. I'll teach you how to take advantage of Photoshop's adjustment layers, masks, and color modes to get a great final product.

Enroll, and you’ll gain instant access to the entire course. Each lesson is easy to follow, step by step, and in real-time. There are 1000's of tutorials out there, but most show different methods that aren't related. These lessons build on each other - a real coloring curriculum and the most comprehensive available anywhere.

Here’s what you get.

You’ll get access to over six hours of real-time, easy-to-follow video lessons on a wide variety of topics.

  • The course starts with going over a few different layering and rendering techniques. There are a lot of ways to color in Photoshop.

  • You'll learn about how to think in three dimensions instead of just two. I'll cover my techniques for coloring a variety of surfaces and special effects techniques.

  • We'll go in-depth on choosing colors, minimal palettes, color blending, and color psychology.

  • The basics of color theory are covered along with instructions for overcoming challenges unique to color in comics.

  • We'll cover more of the most important aspect of coloring - storytelling... along with lessons on why realism can be a bad thing.

  • I'll teach you my thought process on matching coloring styles with line art styles as well as more details on blending modes.

  • We'll go through rendering with adjustment layers - a new technique for this course, RGB vs CMYK, and color corrections.

  • I'll provide tips on getting faster and teach you lots of shortcuts and things that will save you time - which is crucial in a production environment like comics.

  • I'll also go over my thoughts on hardware and software, and industry FAQ on rates and professional expectations.

What else will you get?

  • Lifetime access to course materials

  • A deeper understanding of sequential coloring.

  • Downloadable Photoshop Tool Presets (CS6+ required), Photoshop Actions

  • A selection of professionally-drawn line art from some penciller friends of mine and projects I've worked on.

  • A big collection of pre-flatted pages from actual projects.

  • Full-issue breakdowns where I'll explain my thought process on coloring a project.

All of this... right here in one place. So stop wandering around the internet trying to figure this stuff out on your own. I hope to see you inside. :)

KMR

NOTE: This course is not a beginner course. If you do not have some familiarity with Photoshop tools and coloring basics, please check out my other coloring course - "A Pro's Guide to Digital Comic Book Coloring."

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Students will have a solid understanding of rendering different surfaces.
  • Student will understand how best to use blending modes and adjustment layers and masks.

Syllabus

Introduction
About the instructor
Double check your settings
Downloadable content
Read more
Rendering techniques
Lighting placement and rendering
Subtractive rendering
Two different layering methods
The trick to rendering hair
Making sense of faces - part 1
Making sense of faces - part 2
Subsurface scattering - a cool technique with a funny name
How to think about anatomy
How to create clouds (and when not to!)
How to create great glass!
Forging metal!
Conjuring lightning and energy bolts
Creating glinting reflections and glares
Color concepts
Choosing pleasing light and shadow colors
How to create minimal palettes that work
Methods of color blending
Why red is weird!
Color psychology
More storytelling concepts
Using value and contrast as a weapon
When realism is bad!
What color should this background be?
Using multiply mode effectively
Using overlay mode effectively
Matching color styles to line art styles
Leveling up with adjustment layers
Using solid color layers
Cleaning up your line art (new & improved method)
When to use vibrances over saturation
Tying the techniques together
A powerful rendering method
Final color correction
Coloring in RGB vs CMYK
Getting faster!
Hardware & software
Which tablet is best? (spoiler - it depends)
Photoshop & alternatives
The nerdy hardware part
Industry FAQ & conclusion
Bonus section!
GLITTERBOMB: THE FAME GAME #1
HACK/SLASH: RESURRECTION #1
Bonus content

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Advanced Digital Comic Coloring Concepts & Techniques with these activities:
Review Photoshop Fundamentals
Strengthen your understanding of Photoshop's core tools and interface to ensure a smooth learning experience in the advanced coloring techniques covered in the course.
Browse courses on Photoshop
Show steps
  • Review the Photoshop interface and commonly used panels.
  • Practice using basic tools like the brush, lasso, and gradient tools.
  • Familiarize yourself with layers, masks, and blending modes.
Read 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter' by James Gurney
Deepen your understanding of color theory and lighting principles to enhance your comic coloring skills.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters related to color mixing, light and shadow, and atmospheric perspective.
  • Take notes on key concepts and examples provided in the book.
  • Experiment with applying the principles learned to your own coloring projects.
Surface Rendering Practice
Hone your skills in rendering various surfaces like metal, glass, and skin, which are key topics covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Select a piece of line art featuring different materials.
  • Practice rendering each material using the techniques taught in the course.
  • Experiment with different blending modes and adjustment layers to achieve desired effects.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Read 'Dynamic Light and Shade' by Burne Hogarth
Study the principles of light and shadow to enhance the depth and realism of your comic coloring.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book, paying close attention to the illustrations and explanations of light and shadow effects.
  • Practice applying the principles learned to your own artwork.
  • Analyze the use of light and shadow in your favorite comics and try to replicate similar effects.
Create a Color Palette Study
Explore different color palettes and their emotional impact to improve your color choices in comic coloring.
Show steps
  • Choose a comic book page or panel.
  • Create three different color palettes for the same scene, each evoking a different mood.
  • Write a short explanation of why you chose each palette and the effect you were trying to achieve.
Color a Full Comic Page
Apply all the concepts and techniques learned in the course to color a complete comic page, solidifying your understanding and skills.
Show steps
  • Select a line art page from a comic book or create your own.
  • Plan your color palette and lighting scheme.
  • Color the entire page, paying attention to rendering, blending, and storytelling.
  • Review your work and make any necessary adjustments.
Portfolio Update
Showcase your improved coloring skills by updating your online portfolio with your best work from the course and related activities.
Show steps
  • Select your best colored comic pages or panels.
  • Prepare high-quality images for your portfolio.
  • Write descriptions highlighting the techniques you used and the challenges you overcame.
  • Share your updated portfolio on social media and relevant online communities.

Career center

Learners who complete Advanced Digital Comic Coloring Concepts & Techniques will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Advanced Digital Comic Coloring Concepts & Techniques.
Must-read for any artist looking to improve their understanding of color and light. It delves into the physics of light, color theory, and how these principles apply to creating realistic and believable images. While geared towards traditional painting, the concepts are directly transferable to digital coloring in comics, especially regarding rendering and creating depth. It provides a strong foundation for understanding the 'why' behind coloring choices.
Classic text on color theory, exploring the subjective and objective aspects of color. It covers topics such as color harmony, contrast, and the psychological effects of color. It's a valuable resource for understanding the principles of color theory and how to use color effectively in your artwork. It provides a deeper understanding of color relationships and their impact on the viewer.

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