I really like drawing people and editing on my computer(without photoshop:()...I don't really have a trouble with shading-_-... but lighting<_<... is hard:heh:...especially on hair:P...is there anyone who can give me any suggestions for that:sweat:?

It depends what kind of hair it is. Also, gender comes into effect sometimes, depending on the style and length. Girls with smooth-looking hair generally have a solid bar of light reflecting off of their heads, whereas most (anime) males will have spikier hairstyles, which require much more attention to the angle of the light, and how jagged the hair and reflection needs to look in order for everything to look natural.

Easier said than done, because I kind of have the same issue. XD

Yay! A reply(that was faster than I expected)! It really is easier said than done though... Another question...doesn't go with the topic(or somewhat does), but for males with spikey hair like Naruto or Ichigo, they usually don't have any reflection in the hair at all but a lot of shading...which is the only time I have a problem with shading...do you have any suggestions for that(not that I can draw that hairstyle...)?...This also doesn't go with the topic but I didn't feel like starting a new thread(not that there was a need to anyways), so...whenever I scan something the thing I scanned comes up with a reddish tint which makes harder to edit...is that a scanner problem or is there a way I can fix it?...

What kind of image manipulation program do you use? One that is raster based? or one that is Vector based?

For raster based image manipulation programs like the GIMP(http://www.gimp.org/), applying highlighting effects can be done numerous of ways. Ambient occlusion can be simulated through the combination of blur techniques with 1-dimensional lighting filters. If its anime/manga like character your like the draw, lighting can be approached differently depending what look you're going for.

With the manga like drawings, a vector based image manipulation program(Like Inkscape http://www.inkscape.org/) may be better, because mangas are typically black and white(some use grays but most are black and white only). With these programs you can quickly change then properties of areas an objects, switching between different hatching pallets and brush strokes until you find a combination which adequately illustrate the highlighting effects you're looking for.

With anime like characters, your illustration become much more complicated and will most likely require a combination of image manipulation programs and illustration techniques.

@_@whoa...I actually use paint and Graphics Scale because I can't afford any of those programs but the ones you mentioned are free and downloadable...hm... which one do you suggest I download? And while I'm here I might as well put this... When you draw a glass, picture frame, etc., I'm not too sure how to do the lighting/reflection for that either; any tips?

I'd say to use both programs. Inkscape and the GIMP are really completely different and its hard to compare the two. Its like comparing a spreadsheet editor to a database administration tool.

I was able to download Inkscape but I'm still a bit confused on how to download GIMP...which link do I go to? There are so many...

Never mind! I was able to download GIMP too :D

I draw an extremely light oval and circles and leave that white. You need to make the edges around the circle rough and colour over the top of them but make sure that whilst it still looks like a circle it isn't perfect. Geez, this is hard to explain!

GIMP is rubbish x_x I hated it anyway. Maybe I'm too used to photoshop, I'll give Gimpshop a try sometime soon... XD

@_@...I...totally don't get what you're saying:P(not that that's a good thing...)
I think I'm starting to get the hang of it...When I'm lighting on the computer anyways...



GIMP is rubbish x_x I hated it anyway. Maybe I'm too used to photoshop, I'll give Gimpshop a try sometime soon... XD

Lol, I think I like Paint the best...

there are alot of programs that are better then paint for that sort of thing that are free as well. but most of the time programs that you buy often are better I think it might be your scanner try going through the optiond menu.

You could try Paint.net, which is a free image editor which is kinda like an advanced version of paint.

there are alot of programs that are better then paint for that sort of thing that are free as well. but most of the time programs that you buy often are better I think it might be your scanner try going through the optiond menu.

...? My scanner?...

This thread seems to have gotten off-topic:heh:...