How to Draw Digital Art Using a Mouse

[TheoAllen]

How to Draw Digital Art Using a Mouse
By: TheoAllen​

Creating custom art for your game is everyone's dream. Unfortunately, for some, it is impossible due to various reasons. One of them might be because you don't know how to make them and how to get started. This tutorial aims to solve that problem.

Some notes:

• We are going to use PaintTool SAI 2 for this tutorial. This isn't free software, so you have to pay to use it. You can try the trial version though. Also, the software is actually usable despite all of the warnings of being tech preview.
• This tutorial is aimed at technical uses. This means you are not going to find some art theories like how to draw the correct anatomy, color theory, and the like.
• Creating art is a very time-consuming activity. If you haven't made anything worthwhile to show in the first few hours, that is normal. Don't give up.

That said, let's get started.

The Godsend Vector Layer
Drawing using a mouse means you don't have the advantage of being a pen user. One of them is the line pressure. Which determines the line thickness. But worry not, the vector layer got you covered. Here's the preview



How to Create Vector Layer
Your canvas is going to be like this. To create the vector layer, follow the picture below


After Creating a new vector layer, what you need to use is the Curve or Line Tool.
Here is the difference.

But they are basically the same. You can switch between rounded and pointed nodes/control points anytime you like. We will get more of that later. Here is the basic operation of creating a vector:

• Left click = Create control point (CP) or create a new vector
• Double left click = Finish
• Right click = Undo

Now look at the edit tool, you will see this.

Memorizing these shortcuts will make your life easier. Here's a demonstration of each of these in case you're curious.

Spoiler

Move CP (CTRL) - Click on the node


Create CP (CTRL) - Click on the line


Delete CP (ALT) - Click on the node


Delete CP Connection (ALT) - Click on the line


Deform (Shift) - Click anywhere on the vector


Create/Delete Deform Anchor (Shift + ALT) - Click on the node


Move the entire vector (SHIFT + ALT) or (CTRL + ALT) - Click on the line


Duplicate Vector (Shift + CTRL) - Click on the line


Delete the entire vector (SHIFT + CTRL + ALT)


Connect CP (Shift + CTRL) -Click on the node


Rounded/Pointed (CTRL + ALT) - Click on the node


Select Multiple Operation
Using the left click to select while using the edit tool, allows you to do multiple operations at the same time

Tips:
You can use most of these shortcuts while using the curve/line tool. So you don't have to switch between the Edit tool and the Curve tool.

The Line Pressure
The most important feature is the pressure. The one I show it to you at the beginning of this tutorial
It is located here

The pressure tool allows you to specify the line thickness.
Here is the demonstration.

Pressure for Width


Pressure for Density


These are the important features to remember to get started to create at least the lineart of your drawing.
So, let's draw!

How to Coloring Your Drawing
Let's assume you have done your lineart drawing and this is what you have drawn

It is time to put some colors.
There are many ways to handle coloring, but In this section of the tutorial, I will be explaining how I personally handle coloring.

First, I always group the coloring layer into a folder. So, create a folder, and move below the linework layer.

Then create several normal layers (for buffers) inside the folder. So you don't need to click to create another layer when you need a new one. Complex drawings with more colors need more layers


Adding the base color is as simple as dropping the bucket tool into your drawing

You see, here I grouped the eye color layer together in a folder because eye coloring tends to have complex coloring.

The base color is anything but done. We need more elaborate colors such as shading and lighting. To do that, we need more layers. We are going to utilize the layer clipping.

Adding Shade/Lighting using Layer Clipping
What is layer clipping?
When the layer is set to "clipping group", whatever is on that layer won't show/stray from the base layer. It goes like this


Clipping is essential for shading/lightning. Let's get started.
Shading uses a darker color. However, picking the darker color manually can be a hassle. We utilize the layer blend mode. Before you ask, yes, we are using a vector layer for shading.

Here are the options for the blend modes

For lighting (usually soft light or filter), I usually only care about these four

• Shine
• Screen
• Lighten
• Soft Light

For highlight (high contrast lighting), I only use shine

For shading, I usually only care about these four:

• Multiply
• Shade
• Burn
• Darken

So pick one. But for this tutorial, we are going to use Shade.

Picking Color
For starter, you can use pitch black and set the layer opacity lower to lower the intensity. But personally, I tried to avoid pitch black whenever I could.
In this tutorial, I use dark purple for hair shading. Here is what it looks like.


Then do the shading using a vector layer but with a bigger brush size.
You can dynamically change the brush size by using the curve/line tool and press CTRL+ALT at the same time, then drag it on an empty space to change the size. Here is what it looks like in action.


Keep doing it and you will complete your drawing



I think that is all I need to say. The rest depends on your drawing style and what you want to draw. I hope this tutorial is useful for those who need it. Happy drawing!

I don't do this anymore since I own a pen display, but I've been doing this for years before I bought the pen and moved on from this technique. If anyone is curious what I've made using these, you can look into this spoiler

Spoiler

Bonus: Live Drawing

 

[Ganbarisa]

Oooh thank you so much for those tips! Struggling quite a lot with lightning, shading etc at the moment because I kinda have a hard time noticing what is too much.

 

[TheoAllen]

You can play around with the layer opacity to reduce the shading/lighting intensity until you feel it is right. And nothing stops you from adding an additional layer when one layer isn't enough, like this one

 

[Ganbarisa]

You can play around with the layer opacity to reduce the shading/lighting intensity until you feel it is right. And nothing stops you from adding an additional layer when one layer isn't enough, like this one
View attachment 277566

Amazing thanks for your reply! Managed to find out how to do it in clipstudio paint.

 

[Arrose]

It feels like when you draw, it’s as easy as sleeping.

 

[Ms Littlefish]

As someone who knows how to draw but has forever been effing around aimlessly with digital tools... saving. Thanks, Theo! I think this will be massively helpful for me.

 

[ShadowDragon]

while I cannot draw and alot is possible in photoshop, there are alot of features
which photoshop doesn't have.

I cannot create people as well, but it's a really nice tutorial for the peoples that
can draw and maybe this is even easier than most software out there because
of those features.

specially the "Pressure width" tool, and the color part to adjust it quickly.

I adore your drawings, they are really nice, so keep it up