Drawing pale lines on dark

[MsHypothetical]

Hi, just started learning to use digital art, I got as far as layers and lightening, now the thing that's frustrating me is that I've lightened the lines on part of my picture to pale grey and I'd like to colour the background dark blue - but Paint.Net seems to be treating the grey as transparent. When I colour the blue layer underneath I'd like the grey to stand out, but it only darkens it. I have the opacity for both colours turned up all the way - what do?

[Cc4FuzzyHuggles]

It sounds like you want contrast. Have you tried going to Menu Bar > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and then lightening your line till it contrasts your dark background?
Have you changed any of the blending modes of any of your layers? I suggest you keep them on normal for now.

Is there a way you can share pictures of what you are working with, or trying to do, or the problem? Pictures can help us help you. You can learn about sharing pictures on the forums on the first and last pages of this thread: http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/12193-how-to-use-images-in-your-posts-signatures-and-avatars/

And although it is a little out of date (a new one is in the making), the Paint.net documentation might be something you want to check out, if you haven't already : http://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/index.html

Edited October 25, 2014 by Cc4FuzzyHuggles

[MsHypothetical]

I had a ook at the Paint.Net documentation, it doesn't seem to have what I'm looking for.

You see where there are pale grey chains on his belt and the jeans are blue? The grey is on the top layer and the blue is on the layer below, but every time I try and colour behind the chains, it darkens them instead of leaving them grey. Both layers are set to multiply so that I can see to colour, and I think the problem is that Paint.Net is reading anything that's not absolutely black as translucent, so I guess my question is, how can I get opaque, strong lines and still be able to see the layers below?

[Red ochre]

Hello MsHypothetical,

 

Are you sure the grey chains are at 100% opacity - not just black lines at 50% opacity over a white background?

The multiply blend mode darkens the layer below. So grey multiplied over white is grey BUT when over blue will make a very dark blue/black.

Try this:

1. Put the 'grey' chains on their own layer above the jeans, if not already. On a new transparent layer NOT a white layer. If it is on white layer you use the 'Grim colour reaper' plugin to remove the white.(see plugin index).
2. Make sure the layer opacity is 255 (100%) and Normal blend mode.
3. Now you will need to make the sure the individual pixels are mostly opaque.Note that you will probably want to leave the pixels on the very edges of the chain at a lower opacity (called anti-aliasing).
My AlphaThreshold plugin can help with that. (in my pack - link in sig).
4. If they have now changed to black (as I suspect) you can recolour them either with the built-in Contrast/Brightness adjustment or use my 'Object2Colour' plugin (also in my pack).
5. When your colouring is completed you can adjust the layer opacity values to make the outlines and chains more subtle.

Remember that pixel opacity, layer opacity, layer blend mode and order of the layers all affect the image.
('Opacity' is simply the opposite of transparency.)

I hope that makes sense and helps. Good luck!

[TechnoRobbo]

 

 

Both layers are set to multiply so that I can see to colour, 

That's your problem - set them to "normal" The grey is a value a 63 out of 100. When you choose mutliply it multiplies the color below by .63 therefore its 37% darker. "Normal" will not mix the colors and you will have your perception of brighter (that's your brain doing that)

 

 

Here's the proof of concept - note how grey darkens the blue when multiplied (this is a real layer blending at work)

[MsHypothetical]

If I set the layers to normal then I won't be able to see the lines in order to fill the colour in. I'm pretty sure it's an opacity issue because it's also doing this with colours other than grey. All of the colours are up to 255 opacity but I don't see a percentage bar anywhere.

 

Are you seriously telling me Paint.Net needs plugins just to let it draw pale lines on dark colours?

[TechnoRobbo]

 

 

If I set the layers to normal then I won't be able to see the lines in order to fill the colour in.

you should have drawn them on a transparent layer not a white background,

[Cc4FuzzyHuggles]

If your gray lines are not on a transparent layer, then that would be why you are having trouble. Do as Red Ochre suggested and use the plugin Grim Color reaper to help you remove the white from your gray lines layer. This will make it so the lines can stay 100% opaque while the rest of the layer will be transparent and not disrupt your visibility of the layer underneath.

If you don't already have the plugin you can find it here : http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/15595-grim-color-reaper-plugin/

[TechnoRobbo]

 

 

Are you seriously telling me Paint.Net needs plugins just to let it draw pale lines on dark colours?

Nope, not even close to what I said

 

I'm saying that you should be composing in this manner. All layers are normal BTW 

 

 

 

 

All of the colours are up to 255 opacity but I don't see a percentage bar anywhere.

That's in the color window as "value"

 

In a nutshell save "Multiply" for altering the layer below.

 

Post Edit:  And you should label layers better than I do.

[pdnnoob]

Guys, there is a much simpler solution to this problem.

You current method defines your top layer as strictly for outlines and the bottom layer for color. If you want gray chains, put gray color on the color layer.

Very nice drawing, by the way. Keep it up!

[MsHypothetical]

Oh, it's not my drawing, it's my friend's. But I'll tell her you said so!

 

Thanks for your advice, I think I've fixed it now. Ironically it turns out I'd made a truly stupid mistake that was messing up my entire perception of the picture - I was thinking of the bottom of the layer stack as the top - so that probably produced some communication issues. Probably see you when I find a new problem...