Candycanesucker - Process (Patreon)

1. In Manga Studio, a very rough sketch with big fat pencils. The fat pencils force me to keep the sketch loose without getting too caught up in the details. I started with just the basic naked figure, a vague sketch for the clothing.

2. Final sketch. Using the rough sketch as a reference, I drew a new sketch layer with a finer pencil. I refined the face, hair, and clothes. I also added my 3D model for Sissy's collar.

3. Inking. I use a variable-width inking brush for the character and a constant-width brush for hard things (collar and candy cane) on vector layers. I use lots of different layers for different parts, which makes it easier to overdraw and erase as needed.

4. In Photoshop, I convert the imported lines to a folder with a mask and put a solid black layer in the folder. (CTRL-click RGB in the Channels tab, invert the selection, create a mask from the selection.) This will come in handy later when I color the linework. Then I create another folder and start creating the basic color blocking. Sticking with traditional colors for the Santa dress. I do love pink but it wouldn't be a proper Santa dress if it wasn't deep red with white fur.

5. Form shading. I create a dark green solid color layer (linear burn) and start painting in the basic form shading with a soft airbrush. Except for the hair, which gets its own dark green layer but with color burn blending for more richness. I'm going with green this time for a Christmasy color scheme. After shading the fur, I go back and use a smudging brush to smudge up the shading on the fur to create a sense of little fur hairs.

6. Turning off the form shading, I make a new dark green layer set to multiply and start painting in the cast shadows with soft brush, using a smaller brush in places where the object casting the shadow is closer to the thing the shadow is on. Then I smudge the fur shade.

7. Backlight. A bright pale pink solid color layer (screen). I turned one of the form shading layers back on, temporarily disabling the mask (shift-click on the mask), to make it easier to see where I'm painting. I used both a soft brush and a soft airbrush. When it's done right, it should look like real lighting from a different angle. And, again, smudge the fur backlight.

8. Combine them all and ta-dah! Looking good!

9. Shiny. Now add in the shinies. I used a solid white layer at for basic shine on lips, candycane, and collar, another solid white for shine in the eyes, and solid white set to overlay (which makes a richer shine) for the hair shine. Painting the hairshine, I use a variable width sharp brush, then go over it with an airbrush to give it a little glow.

10. Colored linework. Going back to the linework folder, I started adding new solid color layers, using the mask to paint the color of the linework. Since the new layers are inside a folder with a mask defining the linework, I don't have to be very precise when coloring the lines. I always add new color layers below the ones I already did so that I can be sloppy in the areas that are already covered by colored linework.

11. Character details. I add in a light red layer for blush, airbrushing just on in the same area as the skin. Blush goes on joints, palms, and face. Eyelashes are done with a folder containing a solid grey layer and a solid black layer. I use a variable width brush to paint in lashes on the folder mask. Then I paint in a few thin streaks on the grey layer mask to add depth to the lashes. Then I add a pink backlight and softly brush it on just around the edges. This is also a good time to point out how big I made the pupils here. Heavily dilated, blurry pupils are a good way to show arousal.

12. Slobber. This is a special effect I like to use to saliva, tears, falling water, etc. I duplicate the whole image and then blur it just a bit. Then add a mask. Add a layer effect with white inner glow set to 100% and a white color overlay set to mostly transparent. Then I use a variable width brush in the mask to paint in the shape of the slobber. After, I add a new white layer to paint in the shiny highlights on the slobber.

13. Background. I add a simple gradient to the background to draw attention to the center of action. Then add in a few white snowflakes that I made with the symmetry ruler in Manga Studio. And I'm done!