Step 7: Pre-coloring

1. Above the colored "panel 1" layer but below the "p1 ink" layer, create several new layers of things you're about to color. Make sure the layer order corresponds to the positions of those things in real life - for example, the layer "hair" is above the layer "skin".

2. I have another file called "color pallet" which is probably spelled wrong. In it I have little dots of color for Chris's hair color, Felix's skin color, Adrian's pants color, etc. It helps keep the coloring consistent throughout the comic. (Alt-click to select colors)

3. Hide the "panel 1" layer so you're working on a white background. This is so your color perception doesn't get messed up. For example, if you're drawing blue hair on a blue background, you may think the blue you're using to color is much lower in saturation than it actually is, because your eyes compare it to the already-blue background.

4. Set your brush to "Simple Water" in the Digital Watercolor category. Go to Window > Brush Controls > General. These are my settings:

I kept the Spacing - Liquid Ink default settings.

5. Keep your eraser the same one you used for inking.

Step 8: Start coloring

Yay! Be sure to work in the correct layer. Like don't color the jeans in the "jacket" layer, that can screw you up later on!

I use flat color on my comic, but sometimes I vary the pressure on my pen when I want to vary opacity and create some depth on things like hair.

Sometimes it's easier to use something you've drawn before as a color palette, instead of the color palette file. I use this for outfits that I doubt the characters will wear again, or outfits with a lot of color, so I don't clutter up colorpallet.bmp.