[How can I get a bright and dark layer to cancel each other out?]

13 minutes ago, Ego Eram Reputo said:

I'm still guessing I'm afraid....Try changing the blend mode of the white/dark layers.

 

Color Burn darkens an image, treating White as transparent

Color Dodge brightens an image, treating black as transparent

I'll try this when I get home, but just to be clear, which layer is affected by blend modes? I've just been trying different blend modes without really understanding them

[How can I get a bright and dark layer to cancel each other out?]

9 minutes ago, Ego Eram Reputo said:

Hi ZeeDog, welcome to the forum

 

The advice you've been given seems odd, as it the technique you're using to create shadows.

 

How about we start from scratch? Post the image you're using and tell us where you want to shade. I'm sure one of the talented artists here will be more than willing to help you.

I can't access it right now, but what I did was this

 

White edges

White

Black edges

Black

Color

Lineart

 

Line art is a normal layer, color is multiply. The other layers are partially transparent, and are done with a big soft brush. I use selection to isolate each individual part to shade, then do each shading layer on that part. I use 2 layers for each type of shading so I can somewhat simulate pen pressure. I have to do it this way because all I have is a mouse, and can't do things with too much precision.

 

The problem is that sometimes the white and black layers touch, and it creates a gray that discolors the image. I want to see if there was a way I could do this so that when white and black meet, they just cancel each other out and just act as transparent, and do so porportionately 

[How can I get a bright and dark layer to cancel each other out?]

I've been trying a semi transparent black layer and semi transparent white layer on top of a color layer so I can shade easily. I expected the bright and dark to cancel each other out, but what happens is I get grey and the picture looks discolored where they meet. The advice I got was to just not let the bright and dark touch, but that is incredibly difficult for me. Is there any way around this?