Character Illustration

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In this tutorial I will take you on a guide to illustrating a character (or a person, call it what you like). This tutorial will cover the very basics; some of my other illustration tutorials go into more detail on the different individual elements. If you find this tutorial useful a credit link will be appreciated, if you need any help on executing this tutorial then contact me.

To begin, open up Paint Shop Pro and create a new image that matches the size you want your illustration to be. My image is sized 176 x 341.

We're going to start off illustration the face and the neck. To do this select the Pen Tool (V) () (learn about the importance of the pen tool when illustrating here).

Next, cross out the first pallet and match the second pallet to any colour you want. I'm using the colour #C8825C. The image to the right is an example of my pallet.

Match your pen tool settings to those listed below:
Segment type: Point to point
Meter limit: 15
Create as vector
The line width is not important as the top pallet has been made transparent

Now we're going to trace the skin. In order to trace your shape with curve, click where you want the shape to begin, click at a different point and then drag the mouse (Example (from illustration guide tutorial). Use this to trace the face and the neck, when you want to draw a new shape (in this case the neck), made sure you right click the page and select "New Drawing Object". Once you are satisfied, right click the created vector layer and convert it to a raster layer. An example of my image at this point is seen in the image to the left.

Next we'll trace the hair, we're doing the basics now and adding in the extra details later. Again, the shape of the hair is something that is up to you; you could give your character spikey hair, short hair, or long curly locks - it's up to you. The mothod of creating it is the same as before: click where you want the shape to begin, click at a different point and then drag the mouse. I'm choosing the hair colour to be #68422E (this will now replace the skin colour in the second pallet.

The hair is created in two layers. To stop confusion between your layers, name them. To do this, simply right click the layer and select "rename". The layer of hair that goes over the top of your image will be on top of the layer pallet, the layer of hair that will go behind the face and neck, will be behind that layer. See my layer pallet at this moment.

The clothes are left up to your imagination. I am going to extend the neck and chest area slightly and then draw on my clothes. To regain your previous skin colour just use the Dropper Tool (E) (otherwise known as the colour picker). Again, as you go a long name the layer you are creating and organize them keeping in mind that those on top appear on top of the image.

Now onto the details! Starting off with the eyes, select the layer underneath the fringe layer and then select the Preset Shape Tool (P) (, choose the circle shape (again with only the second pallet visible and at the colour white - use this to draw the main eye shape.

When illustrating eyes, I usually do three layers of circles on the eye. The first layer is the layer we've just completed which is the white layer; I then use a light version of any colour of my choice. In this case I'm using #DFA789. I then go over that with a dark shade; in this case: #6C4936. After creating those 3 layers, I return back to my white colour, I put this at the corner of each eye and also sometimes (like now) at a smaller size and in a different place in each eye.

Right now the eyes still look very boring, to liven them up select the pen tool. Using similar settings to those used in the making of the hair/skin, draw a border on top of the eyes (an example can be seen to the right), also use the pen tool to draw bottom eyelashes. In order to draw the lashes the settings have to be slightly changed; first change the line width to 0.50, also make sure that this time round the first pallet is highlighted with your chosen eyelash colour whilst the second is made transparent.

You can use all that you've learned in this tutorial to create the eyes and mouth. You may choose to use a circle shape for the mouth, or to create it like you created the skin, or even to just have it as a single line. The same goes for the nose. I usually draw my nose as a line with a black colour, I then change that layer to soft light.

Once done, it's just time to touch up. Firstly, merge all of your layers visible - this keeps the transparent background but combines all of your layers into one. After, create a new layer - take the brush tool at a size of 15 (or bigger or small, depending on the size of your image), change the feather to 0, and using a pink or red colour put two dots on each cheek. The colour of your background will effect what you then set the layer to, in my case I've set it to Soft Light at 22%. Doing this just adds a bit more depth to the plain image.

Merge all of your layers visible again, then use the pen tool to draw streaks (optional) into the hair. Again, I usually draw my streaks in black before setting the layer to Soft Light. Add depth to the streaks by adjusting the opacity, duplicating the layer and rotating.

Merge your layers visible again. The last thing I'm going to do to add depth to the image is apply an inner bevel. Do this by duplicating your merged layer and going to Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel. Match your settings to mine below:
Smoothness: 55
Depth: 10
Ambience: 48
Shininess: 35
Elevation: 40
Intensity: 30
Angle: 53
Bevel: 2

Set that layer to normal at 20% then merge your layers visible for the last time. The difference this makes is very slight but effective.

And there you go! Add text, decorations or whatever else you want to your illustrated character.