Paint Tool Sai Coloring Tips to Save Time
If you're searching for good digital painting software, you've probably come across PaintTool SAI. This is a rather old digital painting and drawing program developed in 2004 for Windows.
It is widely used by anime and manga artists, but you can use PaintTool SAI for almost any kind of project.
PaintTool SAI is not a complicated program, but it does have a learning curve. Here are some tips to help you get started on your first project.
Creating a New Canvas
You can create a new canvas by selecting File > New. And when you do, the specifications you choose matter.
You should first specify the width and height of your canvas, which you can do in pixels, inches, centimeters, and millimeters.
Then, you need to make sure that your resolution is set to at least 350dpi—especially if you plan to print your work.
There will also be a couple of preset options that you can choose from. If you want, you can give your new canvas a different name. Alternatively, you can name it later when you save it.
Upon creating your new canvas, you should save your work immediately. You can do this by clicking on File > Save or holding Ctrl + S on your keyboard.
This way, as you start drawing and making progress, you can simply press Ctrl + S to save that progress.
Since PaintTool SAI was mainly created for artists who use a drawing pad, it offers the Stabilizer option.
When the stabilizer is at 0, it can be difficult to make straight lines. But, as soon as you set this higher, you can create smooth lines more easily.
Take your time and play around with this option to find the best stabilizer level for you.
Keep in mind that the higher you set your stabilizer, the higher the delay of your pen will be.
Setting Up Your Work Station
PaintTool SAI's default setup is to have everything on the left of the screen. This includes a column for your layers and a separate column for all the tools.
Some artists prefer to put one column on the left, and the other on the right. However, this is completely up to your personal preference.
Setting Up Your Preview Window
The Preview Window shows a zoomed-out version of your drawing. It is, by default, located above your layers. However, this can sometimes take up a lot of space from the layers—so it might be easier to separate it.
If you want to create a separated preview, click on View > New.
By clicking on the Maximize option, you are able to separate the two views. This way, you can simultaneously see your painting from a distance as you draw.
There are a couple of ways you can play with colors, depending on what you are most comfortable with.
- Color Wheel: Allows you to manually select the color you want on the wheel.
- RGB Slider: Lets you mix the basic colors to get the color you want.
- HSV Slider: The Hue and Saturation filter, which you can also use by clicking on Filter > Hue and Saturation.
- Color Mixer: Lets you mix up to four colors.
- Swatches: Allows you to save certain color shades to use later.
- Scratchpad: Similar to Swatches, but instead of having to right-click to save a shade, you can simply draw it yourself.
One of the most important things you need to get used to in PaintTool SAI is knowing how to use layers.
Drawing everything on just one layer will make it incredibly difficult for you to correct or erase any mistakes later. Instead, you should separate each segment of the drawing, such as color, shading, and highlights, into different layers.
To create new layers, you can simply click on the New Layer option. To delete the layer, select Delete Layer. The eye icon beside the layer allows you to hide or show it.
Layers allow you to draw on top of each other without affecting each of them. This means that if you draw on a different layer that is on top of your line art layer (or any other), you won't need to affect the entire drawing.
Make sure to give your layers a name, as you can easily get lost and confused if you have a lot of layers without proper names.
To rename a layer, simply double-click on it. A window will pop up, and you can give it a different name.
There are many different brushes that you can use. Which brush will suit your needs when drawing or painting depends on your personal style.
Keep in mind that your sketches will be messy, just like they are when you draw on paper. But instead of having to carefully outline your sketch and erase the imperfections on paper, you can use layers to do that with a couple of clicks.
Coloring Your Line Art
After you have created a clean line art, it's time to start coloring. The easiest way to do this is to start by coloring each segment in a different layer with a flat base color.
Once you set the base color, you need to figure out where the light is coming from. This will help to determine where you should shade and highlight your drawing.
Adding a Background
A painting doesn't always need to have a background, especially if you need an image with a transparent background.
In some cases, you might be on the fence about whether or not to add one. In these instances, it's a good idea to separate your art into layers. By doing this, you can see whether your drawing looks better with or without a background.
PaintTool SAI is an amazing painting and drawing program that allows you to create professional-looking art. But, there is a bit of a learning curve when starting with PaintTool SAI.
If you're already familiar with Photoshop and other similar programs, getting used to PaintTool SAI will be a piece of cake. And if you aren't, you can find plenty of online resources to help you out.
How to Get Started With PaintTool SAI
If you're new to digital art, PaintTool SAI is a great tool to get started with. It's free, easy to use, and comes with an array of features.
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Logan Tooker (31 Articles Published)
Logan tried many things before he fell in love with writing in 2011. MakeUseOf gives him a chance to share his knowledge and produce useful and fact-filled articles about productivity.
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Paint Tool Sai Coloring Tips to Save Time
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