Colour Blending

[chris moore]

I've got the DC guide to colouring comics, and I've tried looking up various tutorials online. But one thing I really struggle with when doing lassoing and gradations after the flats is getting a natural look when doing (for instance) a bent leg, or an angled arm where the colour direction should clearly be different for the vertical lower leg compared to the more horizontal upper leg. I just can't seem to lasso at the right point or blend the area without using the smudge tool and it looking off.

What are the best in-detail books out there that discuss some of the specifics rather than just the stages of colouring?

 

[chris moore]

No one? Seems to be a million books out there on 'dynamic drawing' and anatomy and such (not that I mind them - got a couple myself). But they all follow a very very similar format (particularly the head section). And there are virtually none on colouring

 

[EdRyder]

There are hundreds of books on coloring and dvd's as well.Sorry I cant really recommend any because i dont own any.
As far as what you're talking about specifically theres two schools of thought :those who use gradients and those that dont.
If you're determined to use gradients in coloring and you're trying to avoid over use of the smudge tool ,try lassoing more parts...For instance on a leg ,.. lasso the leg above the ankle,then the calf, then the leg beneath the knee, then the knee itself,.then above the knee,. then the thigh etc etc etc.And so on and so forth . Each time readjusting the angle of the gradient slightly.