love_kink | Tutorial 003 (Reply)

A somewhat simplistic tutorial, but it results in some nice images, nya. ^__^

This tutorial translates well with most color schemes, but reds - especially if they're dark - may need some tweaking of the values in certain adjustment layers.

My usual tips before starting: don't sharpen your base until after following all the steps of the tutorial (you may not even need to), don't do everything on one layer (use adjustment layers, preferably within a layer set), and don't merge your layers (copy merged/paste, instead).

Here's the original scan I nabbed from moe.imouto.org (I downsized, since the original was fricking HUGE). Then a bit of cropping/resizing and we're ready to begin.

01

Let's start things off with a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer.
Brightness: +10
Contrast: +25

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02

That's kind blinding, yeah? Let's try a Selective Coloring adjustment layer.
Reds: -10, 0, 0, +30
Yellows: 0, 0, -10, +10
Cyans: +20, 0, 0, 0
Blues: +20, 0, 0, 0
Magentas: 0, +20, 0, -10
Neutrals: 0, 0, 0, -10
Blacks: 0, 0, 0, +20

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03

Color's better, but the girls are still too bright. So now add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.
Master: -5, +20, -3

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04

Now we've got a bit more definition and shadow. On to a Channel Mixer adjustment layer.
Red: +102, 0, 0, 0
Green: 0, +103, 0, 0
Blue: 0, 0, +103, 0

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05

Now we're bright again, in a good way this time. But... It got worse. Open up a Levels adjustment layer.
RGB: 3, 1.04, 245

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06

Ouch. But never fear! Here's where it actually gets better, for good this time. Copy your base and drag it above your other layers at Multiply 25%.

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07

Much nicer, yeah? Now make another base copy and drag it up top, only this time the settings are Luminosity 50%.

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08

*squeaks happily* So pretty~♥ For a bit more clarity, though, let's select all (ctrl+a), copy merged (shft+ctrl+c), and paste (ctrl+v). Now let's use the Sharpen filter, then set the layer to 25% opacity.

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