I use Photoshop CS so I can give you a few pointers on using 7. There are a couple different ways to go about coloring without messing up you lines. The first thing you need to do is increase the contrast of you image so that your lines show up against the background a little better. What I then do is create a mask layer and select all the white area of the image with the magic wand. Then you need to go under Edit>Fill and fill the selection with black. This will make the white areas transparent and you can then create a layer below the original and color the image without interferring and messing up your lines. Another option without creating a mask is to create a layer overtop of the original and do your coloring there and then play with the blending modes (usually multiple, screen, or overlay) and see if you find a style that you like that way. The last resort (because it is such a pain and loses image quality) is to create a layer over the original and redraw the lines in photoshop.
A helpful hint for coloring, if you want precise lines and shapes is to use the selection tools to mark off areas that you wish to color without bleeding over into other areas.
Hope this helps and anyone else can offer insights, I'm only able to give hints based on how I was taught.
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Pero wrote:
Its front legs bother me as the perspective makes it look like he sort of only has three legs. Other than that, I really do think it does have beauty contest potential!
I have a suggestion for the front leg. If you draw the heel of the other leg behind the one that exists, you may solve the problem with the perspective.