Have a question about digital art?  Know a helpful tip or a neat trick?  We have so many wonderful artists here and many aspiring ones as well.  I figured we could all learn something from one another.  

Question:

I'm trying to get into coloring some manga scans I found, but I'm having trouble cleaning it up before I start coloring it.  Any tips on how to easily remove the shading and such from the original print and leave me with a crisp, clean, nonmessed up picture to play with?

#1, I would suggest using scans from miss dream, they are the cleanest I have found.

#2. I would try adjusting the sharpness by hand of the image if it's fuzzy.

Another method I try is going to Filter-->noise-->reduce noise--> Strength to 9/10 & preserve details 4%

Then I try adjusting the sharpness again.

Sounds great! Thanks Lady.

Also, Brit. Can you make a sticky or something for this post (or one you'd rather) so everyone can share their questions and nifty tricks they learn?

Sure. Perhaps change your original post to be about art and digital art in general?

Sweet. Thanks love.

Browsing through the SM manga I noticed a page that has a drawing error on it. What is the best way to edit this out and still preserve the same look of the lines of the manga?

Depends on lines I guess... I some time hand draw the mistakes after I've taken them out... could you provide an example? I could possibly explain better that way.

So, I have recently become really interested in coloring manga, making graphics, and other things like that. But I am really new at it... So, I was wondering if I could ask for your guys' help. I have a whole bunch of questions, and would love any and all input!(Oh, by the way, I use GIMP. I can't afford photoshop... I also have a drawing tablet.)
How do you make GIFs?
Any tips and trick to learning GIMP?
What are your favorite tools and how do you use them?
How can I make my things look more polished?
HIGhLIGHTS AND SHADOW (not using dodge and burn)

Here is an example of one of my most recent things

I know how to use layers in multiply mode, I've used the gradient tool (minimally), attempted to use dodge/burn, blur, and smudge, and can use the text, paintbrush, and fill tool with a average joe amount of skill.

ANY AND ALL TIPS ARE APPRECIATED!!!
Oh, and the original scan is from MissDream! ^-^

I don't know too much about coloring, but I'm actually pretty impressed with what you have for a first attempt o: I love GIMP but I've never been able to get it to work properly with my tablet (as far as pressure sensitivity and whatnot) so I usually use SAI. You're on your own for getting a free version though D: If you want to keep it legal GIMP's definitely the way to go.

My only real advice would be to use gradients and dodge/burn minimally if at all; it can be difficult but your colorings will end up a lot nicer if you learn to do shading yourself. Using gradients in the background like you've been doing looks pretty good though, kind of reminds me of the Archie comics or something xD

Anyway, imma leave the rest to our many members who are actually good with graphics. Might even watch the thread to pick up tips for myself

Thanks! hahahaha I wish this was a first attempt... I may post some more and ask for criticism, so I can learn, but I will probably do that in a different topic... SHADING AND HIGHLIGHTS!!! I SO NEED HELP WITH THOSE!!! *edits first post to ask for more help*

Hallo, love, we already have a thread similar to this kind of in-need-of-help: http://www.thegalaxycauldronforums.com/t847-questions-and-tutorials. Here all digital artists can post questions and offer answers and helpful tips. I'm going to merge this topic with that one.

Hey you photoshop savvy people! I was watching NQS the other day and noticed she was able to erase the (and I'm going to use my own terminology here) "dotty shading" that is originally on the manga page. I can't seem to figure out how to do this. If anyone wants to skype me I can share my screen with you and we can try to figure it out. Of if you know what I'm already talking about call me a dummy and tell me how to do it! Lol!

I know this may sound a little weird, but... Well, does anyone have tips on how to draw realistic rocks? I should be able to draw realistic looking rocks, stones, architecture, layers of dirt, etc. for archaeology and... I'm not entirely that great at it. Someone told me that adding contour lines makes them look more realistic, but that's the only tip I have so far.
By the way, this is more along the line of technical drawings. We take measurements and stuff.

Honestly, the only tip i can give is practice. Grab some rocks, lay down a white sheet, and put a light on them. Practice the shadows, shapes, shading, etc. I'm not really sure if there is a method for drawing for the sciences like archaeology. Sorry I'm not that much help.

Thanks, Small Lady. ^.^ One other question, if I upload a black and white drawing of these maps (completed in thin line black Sharpie), would I be able to add shading to the rocks in a photo editor program? I don't want to do the shading by hand if I can make the shading look more uniform and professional on a computer program.

You can, but i would maybe look up some tutorials as i don't know any specific techniques that might make it easier for you. The way i'd be doing it would basically be like drawing on the computer instead of paper... so um yeah.

I need a good chibi drawing tutorial. I am chibi impaired.