Hello everyone,

Do you as an artist want to give your characters unforgettable looks?

 

Mastering the art of creating hairstyles is key to creating compelling and memorable characters. In this guide we will explore various techniques and approaches to designing hairstyles that perfectly complement your character's personality, setting, and overall aesthetic.

 

In today's tutorial article titled:

Learn ways to create unique hairstyles for your characters

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We'll delve into understanding hair flow, sectioning techniques, and how to translate different hair types and styles into visually striking designs.

 

Get ready to unlock your creativity and bring your characters' hair to life!

◾ Basic breakdown study of character overall hairs structuring process

This approach involves analyzing the character's hair by examining its overall volume, shape, and foundational structure. By focusing on these elements, one can better understand the hair's visual impact and how it contributes to the character's design.

 

 

• Use of 3D head model to construct the head

Clip Studio Paint has a variety of features that have come in handy over the years, but the most effective one of them all, which I believe you can agree with me, is that of the 3D model figures. I have used it to help me construct characters of different sorts, and in today's tutorial, we will be using it to structure the head of our character.

 

Now, let's look at the process or way to which we import the 3D model, be it a 3D drawing figure or three views (front, 3/4, and side) of a stylized 3D head model, is by doing the following:

 

Go to window dashboard page, enable the material dashboard,

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With that done, select the 3D head model and drag it onto the canva in order to import it onto the canva.

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The 3D model serves as a perfect reference for drawing a 2D character. Artists can use the model to ensure accurate proportions and perspective, especially when drawing from different angles. The hand-drawn character heads featured prominently in the below image greatly explain this process.

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In essence, the below moving image illustrates a practical workflow for character creation in Clip Studio Paint, leveraging the CSP software's 3D capabilities to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of 2D illustration.

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If you want to know more about how to work the 3D model I do advice watching through this below set of articles which shows how you as an artist can make use of the 3d model.

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• The layout of the different head sections

This aspect simply demonstrates a method for dividing the head into sections for drawing hair. It uses a simplified, stylized head to illustrate three main areas which was drawn using the [CSP 3D head model]:

 

• Frontal Head:

This section (shown in pink/red) covers the front of the head, from the forehead to roughly the crown. It's the area most visible in a front view.

 

• Side Head:

This section (shown in light blue/cyan) represents the sides of the head, extending from the temples down to the back. These areas are prominent in side and 3/4 views.

 

• Back Head:

This section (shown in green) covers the back of the head, from the crown to the nape of the neck. It's primarily visible in the back and 3/4 views.

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By simply dividing the head in this way, artists can more easily plan and draw hairstyles. Each section can be treated as a separate area with its own volume, shape, and flow of hair. This approach helps to create more realistic and believable hairstyles, especially when dealing with complex styles or different viewpoints, which we will likely consider in one of the upcoming aspects as this tutorial goes on.

• Method to drawing bundles of hair using the various head sections

In this particular aspect of the tutorial, we will be looking at the step-by-step process for drawing hair, building upon the head division method shown in the previous image. It uses the same three sections (frontal, side, and back) to demonstrate how hair flows and is drawn in each area.

 

The process is as follows:

 

• Frontal Hair (Red):

The image starts by illustrating how hair might grow and fall from the frontal head section. The red arrows indicate the general direction of the hair's flow, often downwards and slightly outwards.

 

• Side Hair (Blue):

Next, the side hair (blue arrows) is shown flowing from the side head sections. The direction is typically downwards and towards the front or back, depending on the hairstyle.

 

•Back Hair (Green):

The back hair (green arrows) is depicted flowing from the back head section. The direction is usually downwards and may curve slightly depending on the length and style.

 

• Combined Hair:

Finally, the image shows the combined effect of all three sections, creating a complete hairstyle. This demonstrates how the individual sections' hair flows contribute to the overall look and shape of the hair.

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• use of ribbon shape and tilting brushes to represent the bundled hair

The below image illustration shows a step-by-step process of converting a ribbon into a representation of hair. It begins with a reference image of a red ribbon in three different states: straight, slightly curved, and coiled.

 

The next section, which is the "Practical reference," I provides simplified grayscale sketches of the ribbon in similar shapes, showing the basic forms to which bundles of hair do take.

 

The final section, "Step by step conversion of ribbon to hair”. In this aspect of the illustration, I am trying to demonstrates the transformation process of ribbon to the bundles of hairs. I start by drawing a grayscale sketch of a ribbon forming a curve, similar to the practical reference. This is then refined by adding a checkered pattern information of an axis lines, suggesting proportion and volume. Finally, the checkered pattern is replaced with a more realistic depiction of hair strands, showing the final transformation from ribbon to hair. The process visually demonstrates how a simple ribbon can be used as a base to create a more complex and semi-realistic representation of hair.

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The below image illustration demonstrates a method for designing and conceptualizing hair, specifically using a ribbon as a foundational element. For better understanding I will be breaking down this aspect into two parts:

 

• Part 1: Ribbon to Hair Strand Transformation (Top Image):

This section shows the process of transforming a simple ribbon into a more complex hair strand. It starts with a reference image of a red ribbon in various shapes (straight, curved, coiled). This is simplified into grayscale sketches to focus on form. Then, a step-by-step process shows how a curved ribbon is first given a checkered texture to imply volume, and finally refined into a realistic-looking strand of hair. This section focuses on the fundamental technique of using ribbon shapes as a base for hair.

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Now,

Applying the Technique to a Character's Hairstyle (Bottom Image):

This section applies the technique from Part 1 to create a hairstyle on a female character. Three views of the character's head are shown (front, 3/4, and side), showcasing a short, reddish hairstyle. Below, a simplified diagram shows how sections of the head are conceptually wrapped with ribbon-like forms, which are then transformed into hair strands, similar to the process in Part 1. The final image shows the ribbon-like forms being applied to the character's head, resulting in the hairstyle seen in the three views above.

 

The text

"Rap the various set of Ribbon around the head of The character on each of The head sections in form of an arc"

further clarifies the process.

 

 

• Part 2:

How to draw your character with a wavy hair, using a ribbon as a reference. This process begins with a drawing of a character with loose, straight hair (left side). The goal is to transform this into a wavy hairstyle (right side).

 

The bottom half of the image provides visual aids. On the left, a straight red ribbon is shown. This ribbon is then used as a reference to illustrate how the hair should be styled. The middle section shows a bald head with the ribbon placed on top, demonstrating how the wavy hair should be arranged. The ribbon is then shown in a wavy configuration on the right, mirroring the final wavy hairstyle. The final drawing on the right shows the character with the wavy hair, mimicking the curves and folds of the ribbon.

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This overall process uses the ribbon as a physical model to understand and replicate the form of wavy hair.

In another instance, take the image displaying below with another set of two main hairstyles: a "normal" hairstyle and a hairstyle where the front hair is tied to the back.

 

• Normal Hairstyle: This shows a character with short, bob-length hair. The hair is styled simply, without any obvious tying or braiding.

 

• Front Hair Tied to the Back Hairstyle: This shows the same character, but with the front section of their hair tied up and incorporated into a hairstyle at the back of their head.

 

Next, the image uses color-coding to illustrate the division:

 

~ Front Hair (with red): The section of hair that is tied back.

 

~ Back Hair (with blue): The section of hair that remains in the back, and to which the front hair is added.

 

~ Side Hair (with green): The hair on either side of the head, which remains relatively untouched.

The Hair Division Line: An imaginary line separating the front hair from the back hair.

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The above image effectively demonstrates how a simple change in hair styling can create a different look. The division line visually separates the front and back sections, making the styling process clear.

In another reference, take this below image for example which shows a variations of hairstyles which we can give our character base of the utilization of the various head sections. The core concept is separating the front, back, and side hair sections. Different hairstyles are created by manipulating how the front hair is styled and incorporated into the back hair, resulting in several distinct looks for our characters.

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Artists use varying brush strokes and color intensities to depict different textures and styles of hair, from short and straight to longer styles with buns or more textured looks. The watercolor brushes allow for a soft, blended look, mimicking the natural transitions of color and shading in real watercolor painting. These examples below demonstrate how different brush techniques can achieve a variety of hairstyles and effects.

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To use the watercolor brush in Clip Studio Paint, for color the hair of our characters. Enable the watercolor feature and select the various below settings allow for customization of the final effect, enabling the artist to achieve different levels of softness, granularity, and color blending.

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Afterwards, users can then start by creating the base hair shape and then use the [Corner Blender 3] with the watercolor edge enabled to add the textured, blended watercolor look.

In essence, the illustration provides a visual tutorial on how to use the simple form of a ribbon to plan and create complex hairstyles, emphasizing volume and flow.

• Understanding Hair Flow and Direction in Character hair Design

The study of hair flow and direction expression delves into how the movement and orientation of hair can convey emotions and personality traits of the character. This analysis enhances the overall characterization by adding depth and realism to the visual representation.

 

 

There are two types of ways to which we as artists can draw the hair flow and the direction of our characters, it when the hair of our character is either affected by an external Force (a relaxed or normal hair representation) or when the hair is not affected by an external Force (a moving or motion hair).

 

Take for example,

In the image below the left side shows ("normal" hair), illustrating its natural growth pattern and how it falls.

Meanwhile, the right side ("motion hair") shows how that same hair would move and flow if affected by an external force (like wind). The upward-pointing arrows emphasize the direction of the force acting upon the hair.

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• Use of geometry shape representation to structure the hair

This aspect helps show how we can use simplified, and almost geometric approach to break down the complex shapes or form of the hair for better understanding.

When we draw the structure of the hair we can simply use the following analogies:

1) The "Net" or "Basket" analogy:

The left side depicts a head enclosed within a wireframe structure resembling a net or basket. This structure is divided into colored sections representing different areas of the scalp. These sections help define the underlying structure that guides the hair's growth and flow. The lines of the net represent the axis lines along which the hair grows and the point where they converge at the top of the head is the hair root point.

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The arrow indicates the transition from the structured net to the actual hair. The hair on the right side demonstrates how the hair grows and flows, following the underlying structure defined by the “net/basket”. The hair strands follow the implied paths suggested by the net's structure. The "Flow Up" and "Flow Down" arrows on the right further clarify the overall direction of the hair.

2) The “Upside down gown” analogy:

On the left side of the image below,

a simplified, almost cage-like structure is overlaid on the head. This structure uses pink and light blue lines to suggest sections or volumes within the hair, acting as a guide for shaping and defining the flow of the hair. This structure resembles an upside-down gown.

 

The right side shows the same head of hair, but now flowing upwards, as if caught in an upward breeze. An arrow indicates this "Flow Up" direction and we can clearly notice that the root point where the hair grows in this particular aspect of the hair will not be visible, only the aspect of the hair called the hairline can see.

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The hair, when visualized using these axis lines (the structural guide on the left), takes on an "upside down gown-like appearance." The image essentially demonstrates a method for digitally creating realistic-looking hair movement by first defining its underlying structure.

this various images provides a simplified method for artists to conceptualize and draw hair, moving from a basic underlying structure to a more realistic representation of hair flow and direction.

◾ Ways to giving our character a unique and idea hairstyles

Creating Characters with different hairstyles can significantly alter a character's appearance and as well leave a lasting impression on the audience or viewers. By exploring various hair options, creators can further emphasize a character's unique traits and narrative role.

 

 

When we look are the below variety of hairstyles will notice that it offers a visual library for artists. It's particularly useful for young artists cause it shows some of the hair design and styles. Each hairstyle is clearly labeled (Long, Short, Tied, Braids, Smooth, Coily, Curvy, Afro, Knotting), making it easy to browse and find inspiration.

~ Reference for Digital Painting: The image serves as excellent reference material for digital painting hair in Clip Studio Paint. Artists can use these examples to study different hair textures, shapes, and styles. They can then recreate these styles or use them as a springboard for their own creations.

 

~ Brush Selection: The various hairstyles demonstrate the need for different brushes within Clip Studio Paint. For example, creating the "Smooth" hairstyle might require a smooth, hard brush, while the "Coily" hairstyle would benefit from a textured brush with varying opacity. The "Afro" hairstyle might necessitate a brush that creates a fluffy, voluminous effect.

~ Layer Management: Replicating these hairstyles in Clip Studio Paint likely involve using multiple layers. Separate layers could be used for different sections of hair (as shown in the previous images), allowing for easier editing and adjustments. This is a key aspect of efficient workflow in Clip Studio Paint.

 

~ Color Palette Inspiration: The image also provides inspiration for color palettes. Artists can analyze the color choices in each hairstyle and apply similar palettes in their own Clip Studio Paint projects.

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When I was a beginner, I often find drawing of hairs for my character a complicated aspect, but in the recent few years, I developed a sort of rule you may call it; which I named

 

The 3×3 sets of rules which is noted as follows;

 

Rule 1 ~ is the hairs of my character long, short or tied up hairstyle.

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Rule 2 ~ is the hair of my character Locs, smooth or coily hairstyle.

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Rule 3 ~ is the hair of my character curvy, afro or braid hairstyle.

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This various set of rules head guide my actions in order to give my character they are different unique hairstyles.

Bonus round 🥳✨ usefulness of the hairline and hair root

Now, the hairline is the border of hair growth on the scalp, typically found along the forehead. It determines the shape and position of your hair. The hairline varies from person to person, and can change over time due to genetics, aging, or hair loss.

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When we draw a character with their hairline appearing we should take note that the male and female characters often have different hairlines. Generally:

 

• Males tend to have a receding hairline, especially as they age.

 

• Females usually have a more rounded or oval hairline.

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So when we create our character, it is advisable we put this concept into consideration, for hairlines helps define the appearance of the Bang (which referred to the front aspect of the hair).

Meanwhile, the hair root is refer to the point to which all the hair converge toward which can be located at the middle of the head, and also it gives off a sort of uniqueness to our character, as can be clearly see in the below image.

The below image illustrates a guide for drawing hair, specifically focusing on the hairline and hair root. The top row illustrates three stages of defining the hairline and hair root points.

 

Stage 1 (Far Left):

Shows a simplified representation of the hair root, with several points indicating the direction of hair growth. Arrows indicate the general flow of the hair from the root.

 

Stage 2 (Center Top):

This stage refines the hairline, showing a more defined curve connecting the hair root points. The arrows still indicate hair flow.

 

Stage 3 (Far Right):

This stage shows a more complex representation of the hair root and hairline, with multiple points and arrows indicating the varied directions of hair growth. This demonstrates the natural irregularity of hair growth.

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The bottom row shows three different hairstyles, all seemingly based on the principles demonstrated in the top row. This illustrates how understanding the hair root and hairline can lead to more realistic and varied hairstyles. The different hairstyles demonstrate how the same underlying principles can be used to create different looks.

Having this various aspects at the back of our mind whenever we want to create the hairs of our individual character will help guide us on what to do in order to give our various characters different but unique hairstyles.

◾ The way I use the csp feature to help me in the hair creation process

Clip Studio Paint (CSP) offers several features that significantly aid in the creation of hairstyles. Here's an ordered list focusing on their usefulness in this specific process, along with explanations:

 

 

1) Brushes:

This is arguably the most crucial feature. CSP provides a vast library of pre-set brushes, and the ability to create and customize your own is invaluable for hair. Different brushes are needed for different hair types and effects. For example:

 

 

• Hair-specific brushes: Many artists create and share custom brushes specifically designed for hair rendering, offering unique textures and styles.

Now,

Do you know that we can use the csp tools to create hairstyles for our character!

 

Utilizing CSP asset brushes allows for the creation of diverse and distinctive hairstyles that can reflect a character's individuality and story arc. This technique not only enhances visual appeal but also deepens audience engagement by making characters more relatable and memorable with less creative stress for the artists.

The image shown below demonstrates this with variety of different hair textures and styles, providing practical examples for Clip Studio Paint users. It focuses on three distinct hair types: Braids, Smooth, and Coily. The value for Clip Studio Paint users lies in the suggested brush techniques:

 

• Braids: In the below image, we can see a style of braids and directly recommendable brush called the "Loc Brush" (specifically, "Loc Brush 5") which can be used to achieving this look in the image with the aid of Clip Studio Paint. This highlights the importance of selecting appropriate brushes for specific textures of the hair.

 

• Smooth: For the smooth hairstyle, the image suggests using a "Milli pen" (specifically, "Milli pen 3"). This indicates the use of a fine, precise brush for creating clean, smooth lines and strands. This contrasts with the textured brush used for the braids.

 

• Coily: The coily hair texture is shown alongside a "WAVY_Loose" brush. This suggests using a brush designed to create wavy, loose curls, emphasizing the importance of finding brushes that mimic the desired hair texture.

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In Clip Studio Paint, decorative sub-tool brushes that utilize both the main and sub color sets are generally found within the "Decoration" selected sub tool group.

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These brushes allow for adding decorative elements like stamps, ribbons, and even hair brushes, with the ability to use both the main and sub colors for different aspects of the element, such as the main color for the outline and the sub color for the fill.

 

Take for example, a decorative "braided" brush might use the main color for the braid's outline and the sub color for the braid's fill, allowing for a more detailed and visually appealing decorative effect as clearly we did clearly in the above previous moving image.

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Another practical example of the usefulness of CSP asset brushes can be seen in the following hairstyles:

In the image below, demonstrates three different hairstyles created using Clip Studio Paint, showcasing its versatility in digital art and hair rendering. Each hairstyle utilizes different brushes and techniques:

 

• Curvy: This style features curly hair, likely achieved using a combination of the "Cherrybrush" (a custom brush, as indicated in the image) for the individual strands and potentially a textured brush for overall volume and shape. I used varying brush sizes and opacity to create depth and texture. The pink headband is a separate layer, easily added and manipulated within Clip Studio Paint.

 

• Afro: The Afro hairstyle is rendered with a downloaded decorative brush which I got from the Clip Studio Paint assets store which has a built-in brushes designed for creating fluffy, textured hair. I used varying brush strokes and pressure sensitivity to achieve the natural look of an Afro hairstyle. The bows are again on a separate layers, easily added and positioned.

 

• Knotting: This style showcases a braided hairstyle. The braid itself was likely created using a custom brush labeled "Tail Braids" (as shown in the image). I used the brush repeatedly, adjusting the angle and position to create the braid's length and texture. The "a" and "b" annotations likely indicate the steps or direction of the brush strokes used to create the braid. The individual knots was created with another set of decorative brush I downloaded from the CSP asset store.

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The various set of software used can be gotten using the below link,

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Now before the next aspect,

Do Note🔹 that we can use this various set of brushes mentioned above can help us effortlessly create different hairstyles for a characters in our manga or webtoon genre, this in itself will help make our creation process more easier.

 

I would like for us to look at another csp setup brushes I love using in add line art details, it is called the PENCIL SUB TOOL BRUSH.

• Pencil sub tool brush: are brush which are very good for creating individual strands or adding other great details like hatching and so much more.

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In summary, this aspect of the tutorial highlights Clip Studio Paint's capabilities in creating diverse hairstyles through the use of custom and built-in brushes, layer management, and manipulation of brush settings (size, opacity, pressure sensitivity).

2) Layer Management: and use of border line to create hair

Essential for keeping your artwork organized and manageable. Over the years I've come to develop this habit of create separate layers for my:

 

 

• Base sketch: The initial firstly the rough sketching, inner line art and outer line art of the hair.

 

To achieve their above I simply start by using a light grey as the rough sketch (Layer 1), I then went on to added refines inner lines art with a darker grey on a new layer (Layer 2), and finally I will then round up the piece by adding a bold black outer lines on a third layer (Layer 3).

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Note 🔹 the last thing I do is that, I do add all my created layers within a folder layer for organization.

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• Use of border effects on the hair layer

 

 

We can easily create and edit the hairstyle of our character by enabling the "Layer Property" window highlights the use of a "Border Effect."

To achieve this imply do the following this which I break down into steps,

 

Step 1,

I started by creating and rendering just the head of the character showing the position to which the light will hit the skin surface of the character which in this case is from the left side of the character.

 

In Step 2,

adds the bangs as a separate layer, then go to the layer property which you will locate in the [Window] >[Layer property] >[enable border effects], if you are using a tablet device for the first time,

 

In step 3,

On a newly created layer enable the border effect, then the side hair is added as a new layer. This allows for independent manipulation of the side hair's color, style, and position without affecting the previously completed parts of the illustration (like the face and bangs).

 

Step 4,

On another layer enable the border effect, adds the back hair, also on a separate layer. This maintains the non-destructive editing workflow, allowing for individual adjustments to the back hair without impacting the side or front hair.

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The use of separate layers is key to flexibility and control in digital art.

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With that said and done, we will then move to the following aspect,

• The Individual hair sectioned in their different layers:

Adding these on separate layers allows for precise control over lighting and depth.

This adds a subtle outline to the hair strands, enhancing their definition and separation, contributing to a more realistic look. The use of multiple layers and folders within Deep Paint Studio allows for non-destructive editing; changes to individual strands can be made without affecting the overall composition. The final result (image 3) shows a significantly more detailed and realistic hairstyle compared to the initial base layer (image 1).

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• Accessories: Headbands, bows, etc., should be on their own layers for easy manipulation.

 

To add the accessory, I made use of the [CLIP STUDIO PAINT decorative sub tool brush] to add the accessories to the heads of the characters for for those using lip studio for the first time and do not know or have the select enabled on their dashboard four start by enabling it,

 

Go to the window dashboard,

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Next, Open the [Selected sub tool], then the [Milli pen Sub tool] and I then draw two blue stroke on the top side of the middle character hair which represent a hair packer object.

 

On another layer I then enable the [layer property] which can be seen on my right dashboard panel, I leave the setting at default, then I added some designs onto they already added helper object and for the others left and right characters, I then added some decorative objects,

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In the below image,

the top section shows three examples of hairstyles with added decorative elements. The bottom section displays the Clip Studio Paint Layer Properties panel, showing the settings used to create a border effect around these decorative elements. Specifically, I used the brush sub-tools ("sticker" and "bead chain") to create the accessories decorations on the head.

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This aspect of the tutorial focuses on the application of decorative elements to pre-existing hairstyles, rather than the creation of the hairstyles themselves.

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3) Distorting brush (Liquify):

The Liquify sub tool in Clip Studio Paint is a powerful tool for non-destructively warping and distorting images, particularly useful for manipulating shapes and creating organic-looking effects. It's not just for faces; it can be used on any element, including hair.

 

To get the [liquify sub tool] simply go to the [window] > [sub tool] > [Liquify],

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Here's a breakdown of how I do use the liquify sub tool brush:

 

The Liquify sub tool works by manipulating pixels within a selected area. You don't directly paint or erase; instead, you push, pull, and distort the pixels to achieve the desired effect.

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The example shows how the tool can be used to adjust the shape and volume of the dreadlocks and the curly hair, creating different looks.

The top row shows the original images: a character with red dreadlocks and a character with black, curly hair. The bottom row shows the manipulated images after using the Liquify tool. The arrows indicate the transformation.

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The Liquify tool allows for the non-destructive warping and reshaping of the hair, changing its form and style without altering the underlying drawing.

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4) Selection Tools:

Useful for selecting and manipulating specific areas of the hair. The lasso, magic wand, and rectangular marquee tools are particularly helpful for isolating sections for adding highlights or position adjustment/shadows.

The provided below image shows a workflow using a selection tool (likely the lasso or marquee tool) within Clip Studio Paint to adjust highlights and shadows on a digital painting of a girl's head. Let's break down the process of the various images:

1: Adding Highlights

 

• Selection:

Using the lasso or marquee tool in Clip Studio Paint, carefully select the area where you want to add highlights (as shown in the top-left image). Ensure your selection is precise to avoid affecting unintended areas. The feathering option might be useful for softer highlights.

 

•New Layer:

Create a new layer above your base painting layer. This keeps the highlights separate and easily editable.

 

• Color Selection:

Choose a lighter shade of the existing hair color or a bright, almost white color for the highlights.

 

• Fill/Paint:

Fill the selected area with your highlight color using the paint bucket tool or carefully paint within the selection using a brush with a soft edge. Experiment with opacity and blending modes (like Overlay or Soft Light) to achieve the desired effect.

 

• Refine:

Adjust the highlight's opacity, size, and shape using the eraser tool or by modifying the selection.

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Also do you know that clips to the also have handy brushes which are suitable for adding highlight here are some examples which will later use in the tutorial.

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2: Position Adjustment

 

• Selection (Optional):

If you need to move the highlight area, you can re-select it using the selection tool.

 

• Move/Transform:

Use the move tool (usually a four-headed arrow icon) or the transform tool (usually a bounding box) to reposition the highlight area. This allows for precise placement.

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3: Adding Shadows:

 

Selection: Similar to the image 1, select the area where you want to add shadows using the lasso or marquee tool.

 

• New Layer:

Create a new layer (below the highlight layer, or above the base layer depending on your preference).

 

• Color Selection:

Choose a darker shade of the existing hair color or a dark brown/black for the shadows.

 

•Fill/Paint:

Fill the selected area with your shadow color, again using the paint bucket or brush tool. Experiment with opacity and blending modes (like Multiply or Linear Burn) for different shadow intensities.

 

To locate the blending mode in CLIP STUDIO PAINT, simply do the following:

 

If this feature is not enabled on your device, simply go to the window dashboard, click on the layers selection option to enable it, and once it's enabled, above the layer dashboard will see a battle with normal displaying on it. Click on it and various blending mode options will appear. We can then enable either the multiply or linear burn blending mode.

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• Refine:

Use the eraser tool or selection adjustments to refine the shadow's shape and intensity.

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By following these steps and utilizing Clip Studio Paint's features, you can effectively add highlights and shadows to your digital paintings, enhancing depth and realism.

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◾My techniques for coloring the hair of my characters

Involve a combination of digital tools and traditional methods to achieve a vibrant and semi-realistic look. By blending different shades and using layering techniques, I create depth and dimension in the hair.

 

 

#HAIR COLORING TECHNIQUE [1]

I. Planning & Preparation:

This stage is crucial as it allows me to determine the color palette and overall style before I begin the actual coloring process. Careful planning ensures that the final result aligns with my creative vision and enhances the character's personality.

 

 

• Reference Gathering:

 

Collect reference images of hair that matches the style and color you want to achieve. Pay attention to how light interacts with different hair types and textures.

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II. Adding of the Base Color:

Before I render the hair of my character time I first render the face of my character.

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And in this particular aspect of the tutorial, I am rendering both the curly and coily sets of hairstyles that are represented for the Black set of people, so in that aspect I first change the skin of my character, which I rendered fair at first, by adding a multiply layer and then filling that multiply layer with dark brown colors.

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Those various adjustments made to the skin of the character mean we now have our dark complexioned male and female characters.

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Next,

• Hair Style Definition:

 

Clearly define the hairstyle in your sketch or line art. Understanding the direction of hair strands is crucial for realistic shading.

First, start by locating the "Corner Blender 2" brush in the Sub Tool palette. It's under the "Marker" category. You may need to expand the marker category to see it. Once selected, adjust the brush settings in the Tool Property palette. Key settings to consider include:

 

• Brush Size: Adjust this to control the area affected by each stroke. Larger sizes are better for broader blending, while smaller sizes offer more precision. The example shows a size of 30.0.

• Opacity: This controls the transparency of the brush strokes. Lower opacity allows for gradual blending, preventing harsh color changes. The example uses 100% opacity, but experimenting with lower values might yield better results depending on your style.

 

Using the chosen settings, carefully blend the colors in the hair. Start with lighter strokes, gradually building up the desired effect. Pay attention to the direction of hair growth to create a natural look. The example shows how the brush is used to blend the hair of two different characters.

 

Hence, all these above mentioned processes are done on newly created layer different from the skin colored layer.

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Now, using the [color press curls: very wavy sub tool brush] located in the [selected sub tool] with it settings as being brush side 30.6%and opacity 100%, add details to the volume or shape of the hairs, you can either do it on the same previously mentioned layer, or you can simply create a new layer and do it in that layer.

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• Color Variation (this aspect is Optional):

 

Add subtle variations in color within the base layer to create depth even before adding highlights and shadows. This can be done using a soft brush like that of the airbrush sub tool to give the hair slightly different shades of colors at the top and bottom, basically a unique color appearance.

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• Add hairstyle detailing features

 

Using the chosen settings above for the sub tool brush “[color press curls: very wavy sub tool brush]”, carefully blend the colors in the hair. Start with lighter strokes, gradually building up the desired effect. Pay attention to the direction of hair growth to create a natural look. The example below shows how the brush is used to blend the hair of two different characters.

 

By using smaller brush sizes and varying opacity, finer details are added to the hair. This might include individual strands, flyaways, or subtle variations in color and texture.

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III. Adding Shadows:

First, choose shadow colors that are darker than the base color. The intensity of the shadows will depend on the lighting conditions. Identify areas where light doesn't reach. This usually includes areas underneath strands, areas facing away from the light source, and areas where hair overlaps.

 

Use a brush to apply shadows, similar to the highlight application process. Consider using different blending modes (like Multiply or Burn) to achieve the desired effect.

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Blend the shadows into the base color to avoid harsh lines. Use the smudge tool or a soft eraser to soften edges.

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IV. Adding Highlights:

Now, I Identify areas where light would naturally hit the hair. This usually includes the topmost strands, areas facing the light source, and any strands that curve away from the head.

Choose highlight colors that are lighter than the base color. The intensity of the highlights will depend on the lighting conditions.

 

Using the brush with varying opacity and hardness to apply highlights. Soft brushes create a smoother, more blended look, while harder brushes create sharper, more defined highlights. Consider using different blending modes (like Overlay or Add) to achieve the desired effect.

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V. Refinement & Detailing:

At this particular point, we can now make any final adjustments to the highlights, shadows, and overall color balance.

 

Using adjustment layers such as (Hue/Saturation/ brightness, Color Balance, Curves) we can can refine the illustration to fine-tune the overall color and contrast of the hair.

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Next, I create a new layer, set the blending mode to [color dodge], and I add a subtle shine to the hair by using a very light color and a small, soft brush. Place these highlights on the most prominent areas.

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And with that we now have ourselves the unique characters with Coily Locs and then afro coily hair.

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At this point I believe the work has reached a very detail appearance but I believe we can still take this a little bit further adding more exaggerated details.

 

To achieve that, simply duplicate the folder to which all your layers are in by doing the below following:

 

Go to the [Layer] panel. Long on the folder you want to duplicate a set of settings. We see among the options that we can see duplicate; click on it, and the folder will be duplicated.

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Next, convert that duplicated layer from a [folder layer] to a [raster layer] by doing the following:

 

Go to the Layer panel again, long press the duplicated layer a set of different options will appear on a mini dashboard. Click on Convert Layer, and another mini dashboard with different selection options will appear where we can now convert the layer by clicking on the [OK] button.

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And with all the layers now converted into a single layer, I can now move on to reducing the intensity of the colors using the color [tone curve] feature, which can be located by clicking on the [edit] button > [tone correction] > [tone curve], to which a new mini dashboard will appear where we can now adjust the color intensity of the illustration.

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To answer that, I would be showing below in the short moving picture how I apply the strands to the hair of my character using the [strimer sub tool], whereas after constructing and coloring the hair, I simply use the stem brush, which is the brush with lines looking like string, and then I add lines to the hair to create a kind of hair strand illusion.

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I do believe that as a beginner or maybe an old user, you may be wondering what sort of brush is used for the strands and also how I applied those strands to the hair.

 

The brush are uses named [strimer] sub tool and you can get that same brush from the asset store by using the link below

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After we have successfully added strands to the hair of our character, we can now move on to using the highlight brush to add highlights to the top of the hair, giving it that oil-like glow.

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Next, use the erasing soft to erase the sum of the edges of the highlight and the highlights at the middle to show that the light intensity around the middle of the hair is low, while around the edges it is high.

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With that said and done, we have now successfully create a short curly hair for our character with all its glow up and depth.

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If you want to try out the subtle material used you can use the link below to download them.

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#HAIR COLORING TECHNIQUES 2

• Step 1: Prepare the Line Art

 

Import your line art into Clip Studio Paint. Ensure it's on its own layer. This will be your "Line Art" layer.

 

• Step 2: Add the Base Color

 

Create a new layer below your "Line Art" layer. Name this layer "Base Color".

Using a fill tool (like the "Fill" tool or "Refer to other layers" option in the bucket tool), fill in the base color for your drawing. Choose a solid color that will serve as the foundation for your coloring. The example uses a light pinkish-red.

 

• Step 3: Add Shadows

 

Create a new layer above the "Base Color" layer. Name this layer "Shadows". Set the layer blending mode to "Multiply".

Using a brush with a soft edge, add shadows to the areas where light wouldn't naturally reach. Use darker shades of your base color. The example shows a darker pinkish-red.

 

• Step 4: Add Blush/Highlights

 

Create a new layer above the "Shadows" layer. Name this layer "Highlights/Blush". Set the layer blending mode to "Soft Light".

Using a brush with a soft edge, add highlights to areas where light would naturally hit. Use lighter shades of your base color. For blush, add a light pink to the cheeks.

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5. Halftone:

An airbrush is used to add a halftone effect on an "Overlay" layer.

 

6. Adding of half lines effects:

I create a new layer previous layer, then I draw some soft lines to the edges of the cast light and I set the blending mode to "Darken".

 

7. Hair Detail:

I use the "Strimer" brush to add hair details with dark and light colors on a "Normal" layer.

 

8. Highlights:

Using the "YYR" highlight brush on a "Screen" layer, I add highlights to the top parts of the characters hair.

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And with that, we have successfully finish this second coloring technique.

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• Hair determining characters personality

Also, do you know that hairstyles and it's colors tells different story or personality of the character? If you don't know before, I would like to tell you that they do, as hairstyles and colors can be a subtle clue about a character's personality, though it's not a strict rule. Different colors and hairstyles are often linked to certain traits, like take for example:

 

• Blonde:

Sometimes suggests innocence, beauty, or a more carefree nature.

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• Brunette:

Can imply intelligence, reliability, or a down-to-earth personality.

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• Red:

Often associated with passion, energy, and a strong will.

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• Black:

May hint at mystery, sophistication, or a more reserved demeanor.

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• Hair color affected by the environment

Environmental factors such as sun exposure, humidity, and seasons can alter the appearance of hair color, leading to changes in shade and brightness. These influences can result in fading or even unexpected color shifts over time.

In the below image are represented with the following:

 

• Section A: The character's hair and skin tones shift towards cooler tones when overlaid with a blue color set in multiply blending mode. This simulates a cool, possibly blue-sky environment.

 

• Section B: The character's hair and skin tones shift towards warmer tones when overlaid with a yellow color set in multiply blending mode. This simulates a warm, possibly sunny or golden-hour environment.

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In both cases, the "multiply" blending mode is used to help darkens the base colors, resulting in a more realistic interaction between the character and the environment's lighting. The arrows indicate the color shift from the neutral state to the atmospherically affected state.

 

Hence, with that said, I would like to point out that whenever you are drawing the hair of your character in an illustration or comic, for that matter, it is advisable that you take the environment in which the character will find itself in the scene into consideration

If you want to know more about how to color hair in a simple manner for your work too and advice going through this article.

Conclusion

Thanks to everyone who was able to read through this article, I just hope you all was able to achieve one or two things from this article.

 

For pointer, creating unique hairstyles for characters involves mastering various digital art techniques and tools. By understanding brush types, layer management, and features like Liquify, artists can achieve diverse and expressive hair styles, adding significant depth and personality to their character designs. Experimentation and practice are key to developing this skill.

 

Aidos signing out🔸🔸🔸 peace