Hi there game dev community ! I'm new here and this is my first post.

I'm here to get some help because I am soon going to have to design a game using advanced digital arts such as Photoshop etc. My current software is Corel Painter 12.

I'm fine with sketching, ok at designing, but I'm a noob when it comes to knowing which brush to use and coloring tools etc.

The style I'm looking forward to practice will look a lot like the 2D manga-style games such as Muramasa and Odin Sphere.

Here is my question for you better experienced digital artists :

Say, if the artist from the image I'm adding here (Kisuke from Muramasa game and Velvet from Odin Sphere) was using Corel Painter like I am. Would you be able to tell me which brushes, brush settings, and tools you think would be the most correct for this kind of artwork ?

Thanks a giant bunch for your thoughts :-)

-Dominic

this is my work:

I use Sai instead of Corel

Turn the opacity down to 80~90%, a 10~15% of color blending, that brush would handle most of it.

Along with a 90~95% soft end eraser would do.

lso paint in 200~300% size canvas of what is meant to be seen.

this is my work:

I use Sai instead of Corel

Turn the opacity down to 80~90%, a 10~15% of color blending, that brush would handle most of it.

Along with a 90~95% soft end eraser would do.

lso paint in 200~300% size canvas of what is meant to be seen.

Thanks ! Lovely work on your youtube. I went to see a colored drawing in one of you videos and you're doing great.
So the type of brush is personal taste only ? I sense that most digital artists don't use hairy brushes configs. I see mostly Basic round, custom smeary round, to have a clean round strike with some bleed, without bristles.
I see you always start by coloring the whole thing with a brown for the first color layer, then move on with some lighting with a beige, and then you go for the other palettes in detail. What is your reason for that ? It gives you a lighting suggestion for when you're going to add the colors ?

Thanks ! Lovely work on your youtube. I went to see a colored drawing in one of you videos and you're doing great.
So the type of brush is personal taste only ? I sense that most digital artists don't use hairy brushes configs. I see mostly Basic round, custom smeary round, to have a clean round strike with some bleed, without bristles.
I see you always start by coloring the whole thing with a brown for the first color layer, then move on with some lighting with a beige, and then you go for the other palettes in detail. What is your reason for that ? It gives you a lighting suggestion for when you're going to add the colors ?

I use pretty basic brushes, round with some soft edge but not too soft. I'm not sure how others do, i'm sure some pros develop a set of customized for universal purposes, but basic should get you through the beginner ~ mediocre stage.

Most artists I learned from start with dull and dark color and then work their way to the other end of the contrast. i find it easier that way to capture the feeling as I go. I usually have some idea what the part is going to be like before I start moving my pen, but half way though it always turns out different (since i'm not skilled enough yet), but then on the spot I capture a feeling how it would turn out in 3D (including volume and texture), then I continue to explore whatever is there. So you're right, it sorta give me a lighting suggestion.

You should look at deviant, there are plenty of free brush's. The most important ones depend on the type of work you are doing. Do you have a pen pad? are you working with a mouse? Keep in mind that if you work is done with a mouse ( like myself ) you will have 5 strokes for every 1 stroke of a draw pad, possibly more depending on the style of line you want. With that said here is a list of some of the ones I use on a regular basis

http://feohria.deviantart.com/art/Chalk-Brush-Blending-Brush-PS-brush-333411725

http://danluvisiart.deviantart.com/art/My-Brush-Pack-118954791

http://sandara.deviantart.com/art/My-brushes-351007003

http://feohria.deviantart.com/art/Winter-2012-brushes-Happy-New-Year-345316587

And for a list of them all ( for you to look through )

http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/applications/psbrushes/?order=9&offset=24

You should look at deviant, there are plenty of free brush's. The most important ones depend on the type of work you are doing. Do you have a pen pad? are you working with a mouse? Keep in mind that if you work is done with a mouse ( like myself ) you will have 5 strokes for every 1 stroke of a draw pad, possibly more depending on the style of line you want. With that said here is a list of some of the ones I use on a regular basis

http://feohria.deviantart.com/art/Chalk-Brush-Blending-Brush-PS-brush-333411725

http://danluvisiart.deviantart.com/art/My-Brush-Pack-118954791

http://sandara.deviantart.com/art/My-brushes-351007003

http://feohria.deviantart.com/art/Winter-2012-brushes-Happy-New-Year-345316587

And for a list of them all ( for you to look through )

http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/applications/psbrushes/?order=9&offset=24

This is so nice, thank you ! :)
Yes I am using a tablet. I have a hard time believing you can draw with a mouse ! hehe I've done it in the past but as I was before then a non-digital artist, I quickly found myself to be a lot more comfy with a little wacom when I entered the digital world. The difference in stability was highly noticeable. You must have a special mouse with pressure / velocity thingy ?
Anyways, I will definitely check these brushes links, I entered these forums especially to make contacts with helpful people like you guys. ^^ <3

I use a mouse, and trust me it takes me hours to do things that I could do in minutes with a tablet. I lack the funds to get the Cintiq right now so I am waiting. Once I save up the HD24touch will be mine! I have a very steady hand and have become skilled at mastering the stroke system! With all that said, I dare not attempt master works of art at this point as I know it would take me weeks to get anything near what I would desire. I simply doodle enough to get my game going and to show people how art works.

I bought issue #31 from Corel Painter Magazine. It had an article by artist ReiQ (Reinaldo Quintero) where he paints an anime style character like the one you're asking for reference.

He made a Youtube video of it: http://icandevents.blogspot.com/2012/03/youtube-goodies-corel-painter-paint.html

The kind of brush used by these artists is a very simple round "oil" brush, without texture. It's simply an easier way to place color and blend.