In my digital pieces, in order to create my desired effects in terms of vibrancy and lighting, I have used several different layering effects and techniques.
These techniques are used in a software named Clip Studio Paint, which is a software used to create illustrations, but has features that can be used to also create comics and (very limited) 2D animations.
Types of Layer
In Clip Studio Paint, there are two types of layers which have different purposes.
Raster Layer - A Raster layer is a layer that uses pixels to create marks on the canvas. This is the layer that is primarily used to create the illustrative painting, blending and colouring. However, due to how it creates the marks on the canvas when it is scaled up it has a frequency to pixelate.
Vector Layer - A Vector layer is a much more mathematically drawn layer that uses maths to create vectors on the canvas which is thickened depending on the brush used. Due to how the layer performs things automatically it can use more processing power. You also cannot use a fill tool on a vector layer. Therefore, these layers are primarily used for line art.
Digital Techniques
Colour Picker; Intermediate Colour - This colour chart uses 4 colours to create a palette that slowly transitions to each colour on each corner of the palette. This palette can help create different tones for lighting and blending without having to manually create the colour using a colour wheel. Because of this, it also helps the colour tones to be much more consistent.
Clipping - Clipping is used to allow you to draw within a certain shape on the below layer without going out of it. This can help if you want to use a layering effect to highlight a shape without altering the base shape.
Image (no clipping)
Image (Clipping)
Lock Transparency - This has the same purpose as a clipping layer, except the base shape is on the same layer. This helps if you want to blend lighting in the shape without altering the shape itself.
Selection Layer - A selection layer is a layer in your image that you can refer to using brush options. A selection layer is most commonly used on a line art layer, of which you can refer the brush tool to fill in certain parts of the line art to begin colouring your piece.
Symmetry Ruler - A symmetry rulers is used to create lines of symmetry in the canvas which will replicate lines drawn on one side of the line on the other. This can help create intricate symmetrical lines in pieces.
Layering Effects / Blending Modes
Base Image (No layering effects added)
Multiply - Combines both the base layer and the current layer and creates a darker version of the colour that was used to create the shadow. This is used to create much darker shadows in pieces.
Colour Burn - A setting that is similar to the 'burning' technique in Photography. It darkens the colour of the base layer which can be used to create contrast in pieces.
Subtract - Takes away the colour from the current layer on the bottom layer, which can help take away some of the vibrancy in a piece and create some duller shadows.
Lighten - Looks at both colours of the base layer and the current layer, and finds the brighter colour. This colour can then used to create more subtle highlights.
Colour Dodge - Takes the base layer's image and takes away some of the contrast and therefore takes away some of the sharpness of the colour.
Glow Dodge - Has a similar effect to Colour Dodge, however the light is stronger.
Add - Adds the current layers colour to the base layer which brightens the colour.
Add (Glow) - Has a stronger effect than Add, with an added glowing effect. Is used to create a much stronger highlight.
Overlay - Uses a combination of layering blending effects to make the dark areas darker and light areas lighter. It also changes the colour slightly depending on the colour on the current layer.
Hard Light - Depending on the colour and tone used, it will create effects differently. For example, darker colours will create an effect similar to Multiply while light colours create an effect similar to Lighten.
Pin Light - Replaces colour on the base layer based on the image of the colour to create a subtle colour difference.
Hue - Changes the hue but keeps the brightness and saturation of the base layer the same.
Colour - Applies the hue and saturation of the current layer, while keeping the brightness of the base layer the same.
Usually, only one blending option may not blend in correctly or give off the effect needed. Therefore, I usually use a combination of layering effects to complete my shading.
In this piece, I used Glow Dodge, Pin Light, Colour and Multiply to complete the shading.
Changing Opacity
However, while sometimes a blending effect may give the option needed it may also overpower the image too much. To fix this, I can change the opacity of the layer.
Changing the opacity will make the layer more or less opaque (100% being opaque, while 0% is completely invisible.)
Changing the opacity has many uses. For example, it can be used to make a sketch lighter to make line art easier to create. It can also be used to make some effects become more subtle.
For example, in this image the shadow and light are harsh, which could be good in some situations where a character is in a dark room with a harsh light. However, in this case I would like it more subtle, therefore I altered the opacity of some of the layering effects to make them less prominent in the piece. This made the lighting much less harsh and more even toned.
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