Yo, Q about colouring

[J_Mizu]

So... I'm not the cleanest colourist out there.... But anyway, I saw this: http://www.deviantart.com/#/d3jnedp

HOW DO PEOPLE COLOUR THEIR SKINS?! Its so smooottthh argh.
Anyway, does anyone know how they colour so smoothly and yet have perfect gradients of shadow?
I've been trying to figure it out, but I can never do it.

[apples13]

it is probably because you don't understand the shading or you just can't see your shaded areas clearly enough. bluring is really useful but when you start using a lot of very light colors together you lose track and it does not blend well. to counter this use a black layer on saturation mode so you see the shading in black and white then you can blend the layer perfectly so the shading looks smooth

[Afrobit]

Here's a quick rundown on a way to color (in sai to be more exact. This was from my presentation for public speaking. Rough in a way.)


First rule in mind is to have layers for base, highlights and shading. Opacity lock is your best friend in some cases, and it will be need to be turned on or off at some points.
Using different tools to blend is another key.
(Highlights are better as separate layers.)

From what I can see from the example you posted:
-The artist adds texture.
-Notice how she keeps a small outline that is a color matching to its respective part. (Black can stand out.)
-Good use of light source gives the the more dimensional look.
-Not afraid to use contrast so it doesn't look too blurred.
-Not afraid of using different colors.

[Celestial-Fox]

This will probably help out a lot with the theory behind coloring:
http://navate.deviantart.com/gallery/11609382#/d2dwqgc

But anyway, to get smooth gradients, you can use the airbrush tool (which looks extremely unrealistic, and I try to avoid it), or just use a brush with the opacity set to toggle with pressure sensitivity. Then hold the Alt key on your keyboard (or whatever key in your program corresponds to the eyedropper tool) and use it in between every few strokes to ensure smooth transitions.

[Slurpee]

wow, thanks ceefy that was really explanatory.
most of those skin tutorials only say "this is how I did it"
not how you can actually apply it to your own work

[ram]

10% flow on brush... or 10% flow on eraser... just experiment in smudge tool and blur tool... (in photoshop)
well water tool would be sufficient paint tool sai..(although i'm not really experience in water tool myself)
i like what Ceefy posted

Edit: to make something like that of what you posted .. you have to have a very nice eyes to see the color differences... ADJUST THE BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR MONITOR SCREEN UNTIL YOUR EYES BURN OUT!!! just kidding... just telling for you to focus on color difference