Braids
Alright, so, this is my first tutorial ever. It's also made on a more prep-y base than I normally use these days, so this technique is only an approximate. Still.
| This is the palette I'll be using. You can borrow it if you want, or make one of your own. It's really simple, really, just five shades of the same colour. |
|
The base I will be using is one of my own. Head over to the Bases-section to grab it for yourself if you want. Open the base of your choice in a new document, and make a new layer (you can of course use this tutorial in Paint or other program that doesn't support layers, too. A little tip if you do, though: if you have drawn other parts of the doll before, save the doll/make a copy of it before moving on). |
|
On the new layer, I start making the outline. I don't really know what advice to give here, apart from that you should follow the outline of the head pretty closely, as the hair on top of the head is pulled in a certain direction, and thus doesn't flow freely. |
| Fill the outline with the middle colour. I changed a few tiny pixels between this stage and the last - to be specific, I added the part in the hair and fixed the fringe a tiny bit. |
|
With the second darkest colour, fill in strands - along the part and the bottom of the fringe. For the braids, when working this small, it's rather hard to give any advice. Generally, I just enhance the braid-look I've already drawn - add another pixel in the way it's going anyway, or one where I think it should be darker. It is a bit hard to explain, because I go by feeling so much, these days. Don't be afraid to change things around, though! If a pixel just doesn't work in a certain place, take it away. Mess around with it and see what works on your doll. |
| Using the second lightest colour, I draw further strands. One important thing is to have light strands on top of the head, right around the part, because most of the time, light will shine from above, and this part will then be likely to catch light. Have a look at your own hair in a mirror if you don't believe me. |
| With the lightest colour, I fill in the highlights. These most often go over or next to the second lightest colour. |
| Now, it's looking quite good, so I'll just finish with some details. First, I lighten the outline of the hair a bit. To be specific, I use the second darkest and middle colours to lighten it a bit where the hair inside is pretty light. This makes it a bit less clearly outlined and cartoon-y. If you want a cartoon look to your dolls, you can skip this step. |
| Because this step can take a while to get right, I suggest working on a new layer, so you can work without worrying about ruining the rest of the hair. Using the second lightest colour, I draw a few loose strands along the shape of the hair and the braids. This is to make the hair look - well, a bit more natural. Most people don't have perfect hair where every single strand is in the right position, after all. |
|
And with that, I'm done. Yay me. |
Guestbook
Name: Blu
Time: Saturday, 2012-02-25, 18:15:51
Message: Happy birthday, love! <3
Name: christine (Email)
Time: Wednesday, 2012-01-25, 01:48:14
Message: cute dolls
Name: Sofia
Time: Thursday, 2011-05-19, 09:58:29
Message: Hej! Trevlig sida det här :D
Name: Blu
Time: Sunday, 2010-11-21, 18:16:09
Message: Hey you. <3
Name: uxjwbfmt (Email)
Time: Friday, 2010-07-30, 05:37:02
Message: nymrutbc [URL=http://zisnmbnz.com]cavbddnf[/URL] vgwsmyha http://gctgddst.com xdehaapa yahrokkj
Name: zknabago (Email)
Time: Tuesday, 2010-07-27, 13:51:53
Message: [URL=http://fsbfoefb.com]pctrehec[/URL] kqvjzbaz http://qqzyftes.com ntviuilj szcaqspj rcjopqax
Name: Blu
Time: Saturday, 2010-04-10, 23:11:10
Message: You really, really like pageants, don't you sis? ;)
Name: Char
Time: Tuesday, 2010-03-30, 22:06:32
Message: I just found this site. Amazing dolls and bases! ^__^
Name: Patti
Time: Tuesday, 2010-03-30, 12:53:18
Message: Thanks for the tag!
I hope your MDI entry still gets the love it deserves in the *new* voting poll ;)
Name: Emma
Time: Friday, 2010-03-26, 08:11:26
Message: Hehe, ja, Slytherin betyder allt för mig. <3 :3
Name: Angela
Time: Friday, 2010-03-26, 00:59:43
Message: I don't know why this didn't work last time I tried to post here, but I just want to say you kick ass :)
Name: Emma
Time: Thursday, 2010-03-25, 15:20:03
Message: Tackar. :D :3
Mm, jag hade ingen aning om att du var svensk förens en kompis sa det. x33 Jag avstår dessvärre ofta från att t.ex skriva i andra dollers gästböcker och så, eftersom jag känner mig så osäker på engelska. ._. Måste tillägga att jag älskar kjolen på dollen i layouten. <3
Name: Emma
Time: Monday, 2010-03-22, 16:20:02
Message: Hej hej. :33
Dina bidrag till MDE är jättefina! :D Jag är sjukt imponerad över att du lyckades komma på två så vackra och olika outfits till round 2. :3 Själv hade jag knappt inspiration nog till en. x3
Name: Niki (Email)
Time: Thursday, 2010-03-18, 14:54:09
Message: Love the new layout! :)
Name: Daenelia
Time: Tuesday, 2010-03-16, 16:47:08
Message: Great layout :) *goes looking for a link button to link back with*
Name: Ninique
Time: Saturday, 2010-03-13, 21:39:15
Message: Hey! Thanks for the comment on my tagboard. I put the dollmaker project on hold for the moment because of school and stuff. There are some major bugs in Internet Explorer and I want to have a better system for people to post their pieces. Until those things are fixed, I don't want to advertise the dollmaker too much, since I know I'll be getting complaints and it would cause problems, so the link is quietly sitting in my news archive. When I have time to fix it (sometime in May), I'll put a more prominent banner on my home page. You're still welcome to add stuff to it if you want though.
Name: Vanilla
Time: Sunday, 2010-02-14, 23:19:02
Message: Haha, I didn't even think about it, seeing how that layout is (supposed to be) temporary! xD Thank you, thought. Your dolls are very pretty~
Name: Blu
Time: Tuesday, 2010-01-05, 17:43:46
Message: Hey. <3 Miss you.
Name: Rob Miller (Email)
Time: Monday, 2009-12-14, 12:21:36
Message: I liked your site.
Name: Blu
Time: Sunday, 2009-09-27, 03:14:31
Message: Is your yim broken? D: I miss talking with you.
Name: Blu
Time: Tuesday, 2009-08-11, 03:40:11
Message: *Snuggles* Hi, Gaya-sis. :)
Name: Sera (Email)
Time: Sunday, 2009-08-02, 02:44:26
Message: Nice site you have here! Great dolls! Keep up the good work.
Name: Aiwendil
Time: Tuesday, 2009-06-23, 02:33:27
Message: I just saw your steampunk dolls on TG and I loved them. And then of course I had to look at the rest of your dolls. Your pixel shading is a wonder. :)
Name: Blu
Time: Friday, 2009-06-19, 17:01:09
Message: *Sneakytacklehugs*
Name: Hannah
Time: Wednesday, 2009-06-17, 08:03:06
Message: Amazing website! It's very cute and you're a heck of a doller ;) Just a note, your dollmaker works in FireFox, although you stated it doesn't... Just an FYI :)
Name: Ophelia
Time: Sunday, 2009-06-07, 12:40:33
Message: Gaya! Thank you so much for your lovely tag. I am in love with your dolls, you're incredibly talented and that hair is incredible - keep it up!
Name: Calypso
Time: Tuesday, 2009-05-19, 00:33:38
Message: Thanks so much for your tag I love the hair on your pageant entry.
Name: Calypso
Time: Monday, 2009-05-18, 19:51:23
Message: Hi your bases are great and the dolls are really nice.
Name: guenever (Email)
Time: Sunday, 2009-05-17, 22:27:44
Message: just popping in to tell you how much i love your work. your style is so awesome and unique. you are a great artist. exquisite bases. thanks for commenting my on doll. blessed be!
Name: Leah
Time: Sunday, 2009-05-10, 22:30:40
Message: Amazing hair on your layout doll. And I'm planning on making a doll or two on your bases. They are very good!
Name: Beelzebjörn (Email)
Time: Wednesday, 2009-05-06, 02:55:39
Message: Out of curiosity, I decided to have a peek at your page. Interesting indeed. Browsing theough the writing, atm. We seem to share at least a few favorite writers ^^
Name: Gaya (Email)
Time: Monday, 2009-05-04, 19:20:16
Message: What forums would those be? Glam!, maybe? I know I saw Jo of ilck post bases there recently... but, yeah, tell me where and maybe I'll link there, too. :)
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2009-05-04, 03:53:29
Message: *Random* Neon Riots posts bases on forums, but not on her 'site anymore, for some reason. o_O
*Snuggles tight*
Name: Katrina (Email)
Time: Tuesday, 2009-04-28, 22:59:39
Message: Wow, you do some amazing hair! ^-^
Name: Viggo (Email)
Time: Friday, 2009-04-24, 01:46:15
Message: Hej stumpan!
Jättefin sida, jag har spanat runt lite och den är helt fantastisk! :D
*goos*
Name: Steph (Email)
Time: Saturday, 2009-04-18, 18:10:18
Message: Wow, you have an awesome site, and your bases look so good :D
Name: Blu
Time: Sunday, 2009-03-22, 04:06:22
Message: Gaaaaah, how could I have forgotten? I'm such a horrible sister! *clings* Happy belated birthday, Gaya, dear. *hugs tight*
Name: Floam
Time: Thursday, 2009-03-19, 19:43:27
Message: Why helloooooo! I like yourdolls toomuch to not visit your site, so Imleaving youa tag just to say you rule! (And thatmy spacebar only works50% of the time)
Name: PassionateStar
Time: Wednesday, 2009-02-18, 04:53:02
Message: I love your site! It's the only site I've seen that has very little broken links! Your dolls and bases are pretty win too~~
Name: kendi
Time: Tuesday, 2009-02-10, 21:07:30
Message: Good luck at Miss U! Glad i stopped by you have many good bases I'll have to tray out :) I love the faerie one
Name: Penty
Time: Sunday, 2009-01-18, 03:20:36
Message: You do awesome long hair, and I might have to use your bases sometime. :]
Name: Kenly (Email)
Time: Saturday, 2009-01-17, 23:51:01
Message: your sie is very cute. i love the dolls and the bases. i was tinkering with the dollmaker, too. too cute.
Name: X
Time: Wednesday, 2009-01-14, 00:39:13
Message: *hugs* I love the new dolls and bases.
Name: Pat Williams (Email)
Time: Thursday, 2009-01-08, 10:20:01
Message: I enjoyed your site.
Name: Blu
Time: Wednesday, 2009-01-07, 00:31:43
Message: *glomphugs*
Name: Kuroda
Time: Tuesday, 2008-06-10, 05:41:17
Message: Great site! Such unique bases and gorgeous dolls! The layout is clean and easy to navigate. I am so coming back! :D
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2008-05-26, 18:25:38
Message: *Snuggle*
Name: Aki (Email)
Time: Thursday, 2008-05-08, 23:57:00
Message: *snuggles* I'm here! I check the site! And... stuff. Yes.
*hugses*
Name: Aki
Time: Monday, 2008-01-28, 23:41:41
Message: Hallå! *kram*
(*is not showing off; why would you ever think that?!*)
Name: Aki
Time: Monday, 2007-12-17, 23:42:30
Message: Hello! I obey your command to leave a message. ::is obedient dollfan::
::glomps::
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2007-10-15, 04:44:32
Message: *Random huggle* Thankies again for the layout :3
Name: Book**Geek
Time: Saturday, 2007-06-23, 06:04:39
Message: Hey! Thought it was about time I posted something, since I've been coming here a while. You have some really cool bases. I'll have to use them.
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2007-02-26, 02:48:49
Message: Happy (belated, sorry :() birthday! *GLOMP*
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2007-02-05, 06:24:53
Message: Squee, guestbook working again! =D XD Okay, yes. :P I still love your 'site and your dolls, and thanks for the credit of ideas for Tae and Links. :D *bighug* *sets out plate of cookies for anyone else happening by*
Name: Gaya (Email)
Time: Monday, 2007-02-05, 05:16:14
Message: So, the guestbook is working again! Excellent, isn't it?
Name: SweetMisery (Email)
Time: Sunday, 2006-08-06, 03:19:50
Message: You have a lovely site :) i actually really like the layout. nice dolls too :D
Name: Shetani
Time: Monday, 2006-07-31, 18:32:40
Message: Spoons. O.O
Name: TheXPhial
Time: Saturday, 2006-07-29, 21:57:57
Message: This is excellent, especially considering you did it all yourself. Go you!!
Name: Gaya (Email)
Time: Saturday, 2006-07-29, 21:12:11
Message: So, here it is, my new guestbook. Isn't it cool? I wrote it myself, and considering I've only had a three-week course in php, I'm pretty proud of it. ^_^
Time: Saturday, 2012-02-25, 18:15:51
Message: Happy birthday, love! <3
Name: christine (Email)
Time: Wednesday, 2012-01-25, 01:48:14
Message: cute dolls
Name: Sofia
Time: Thursday, 2011-05-19, 09:58:29
Message: Hej! Trevlig sida det här :D
Name: Blu
Time: Sunday, 2010-11-21, 18:16:09
Message: Hey you. <3
Name: uxjwbfmt (Email)
Time: Friday, 2010-07-30, 05:37:02
Message: nymrutbc [URL=http://zisnmbnz.com]cavbddnf[/URL] vgwsmyha http://gctgddst.com xdehaapa yahrokkj
Name: zknabago (Email)
Time: Tuesday, 2010-07-27, 13:51:53
Message: [URL=http://fsbfoefb.com]pctrehec[/URL] kqvjzbaz http://qqzyftes.com ntviuilj szcaqspj rcjopqax
Name: Blu
Time: Saturday, 2010-04-10, 23:11:10
Message: You really, really like pageants, don't you sis? ;)
Name: Char
Time: Tuesday, 2010-03-30, 22:06:32
Message: I just found this site. Amazing dolls and bases! ^__^
Name: Patti
Time: Tuesday, 2010-03-30, 12:53:18
Message: Thanks for the tag!
I hope your MDI entry still gets the love it deserves in the *new* voting poll ;)
Name: Emma
Time: Friday, 2010-03-26, 08:11:26
Message: Hehe, ja, Slytherin betyder allt för mig. <3 :3
Name: Angela
Time: Friday, 2010-03-26, 00:59:43
Message: I don't know why this didn't work last time I tried to post here, but I just want to say you kick ass :)
Name: Emma
Time: Thursday, 2010-03-25, 15:20:03
Message: Tackar. :D :3
Mm, jag hade ingen aning om att du var svensk förens en kompis sa det. x33 Jag avstår dessvärre ofta från att t.ex skriva i andra dollers gästböcker och så, eftersom jag känner mig så osäker på engelska. ._. Måste tillägga att jag älskar kjolen på dollen i layouten. <3
Name: Emma
Time: Monday, 2010-03-22, 16:20:02
Message: Hej hej. :33
Dina bidrag till MDE är jättefina! :D Jag är sjukt imponerad över att du lyckades komma på två så vackra och olika outfits till round 2. :3 Själv hade jag knappt inspiration nog till en. x3
Name: Niki (Email)
Time: Thursday, 2010-03-18, 14:54:09
Message: Love the new layout! :)
Name: Daenelia
Time: Tuesday, 2010-03-16, 16:47:08
Message: Great layout :) *goes looking for a link button to link back with*
Name: Ninique
Time: Saturday, 2010-03-13, 21:39:15
Message: Hey! Thanks for the comment on my tagboard. I put the dollmaker project on hold for the moment because of school and stuff. There are some major bugs in Internet Explorer and I want to have a better system for people to post their pieces. Until those things are fixed, I don't want to advertise the dollmaker too much, since I know I'll be getting complaints and it would cause problems, so the link is quietly sitting in my news archive. When I have time to fix it (sometime in May), I'll put a more prominent banner on my home page. You're still welcome to add stuff to it if you want though.
Name: Vanilla
Time: Sunday, 2010-02-14, 23:19:02
Message: Haha, I didn't even think about it, seeing how that layout is (supposed to be) temporary! xD Thank you, thought. Your dolls are very pretty~
Name: Blu
Time: Tuesday, 2010-01-05, 17:43:46
Message: Hey. <3 Miss you.
Name: Rob Miller (Email)
Time: Monday, 2009-12-14, 12:21:36
Message: I liked your site.
Name: Blu
Time: Sunday, 2009-09-27, 03:14:31
Message: Is your yim broken? D: I miss talking with you.
Name: Blu
Time: Tuesday, 2009-08-11, 03:40:11
Message: *Snuggles* Hi, Gaya-sis. :)
Name: Sera (Email)
Time: Sunday, 2009-08-02, 02:44:26
Message: Nice site you have here! Great dolls! Keep up the good work.
Name: Aiwendil
Time: Tuesday, 2009-06-23, 02:33:27
Message: I just saw your steampunk dolls on TG and I loved them. And then of course I had to look at the rest of your dolls. Your pixel shading is a wonder. :)
Name: Blu
Time: Friday, 2009-06-19, 17:01:09
Message: *Sneakytacklehugs*
Name: Hannah
Time: Wednesday, 2009-06-17, 08:03:06
Message: Amazing website! It's very cute and you're a heck of a doller ;) Just a note, your dollmaker works in FireFox, although you stated it doesn't... Just an FYI :)
Name: Ophelia
Time: Sunday, 2009-06-07, 12:40:33
Message: Gaya! Thank you so much for your lovely tag. I am in love with your dolls, you're incredibly talented and that hair is incredible - keep it up!
Name: Calypso
Time: Tuesday, 2009-05-19, 00:33:38
Message: Thanks so much for your tag I love the hair on your pageant entry.
Name: Calypso
Time: Monday, 2009-05-18, 19:51:23
Message: Hi your bases are great and the dolls are really nice.
Name: guenever (Email)
Time: Sunday, 2009-05-17, 22:27:44
Message: just popping in to tell you how much i love your work. your style is so awesome and unique. you are a great artist. exquisite bases. thanks for commenting my on doll. blessed be!
Name: Leah
Time: Sunday, 2009-05-10, 22:30:40
Message: Amazing hair on your layout doll. And I'm planning on making a doll or two on your bases. They are very good!
Name: Beelzebjörn (Email)
Time: Wednesday, 2009-05-06, 02:55:39
Message: Out of curiosity, I decided to have a peek at your page. Interesting indeed. Browsing theough the writing, atm. We seem to share at least a few favorite writers ^^
Name: Gaya (Email)
Time: Monday, 2009-05-04, 19:20:16
Message: What forums would those be? Glam!, maybe? I know I saw Jo of ilck post bases there recently... but, yeah, tell me where and maybe I'll link there, too. :)
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2009-05-04, 03:53:29
Message: *Random* Neon Riots posts bases on forums, but not on her 'site anymore, for some reason. o_O
*Snuggles tight*
Name: Katrina (Email)
Time: Tuesday, 2009-04-28, 22:59:39
Message: Wow, you do some amazing hair! ^-^
Name: Viggo (Email)
Time: Friday, 2009-04-24, 01:46:15
Message: Hej stumpan!
Jättefin sida, jag har spanat runt lite och den är helt fantastisk! :D
*goos*
Name: Steph (Email)
Time: Saturday, 2009-04-18, 18:10:18
Message: Wow, you have an awesome site, and your bases look so good :D
Name: Blu
Time: Sunday, 2009-03-22, 04:06:22
Message: Gaaaaah, how could I have forgotten? I'm such a horrible sister! *clings* Happy belated birthday, Gaya, dear. *hugs tight*
Name: Floam
Time: Thursday, 2009-03-19, 19:43:27
Message: Why helloooooo! I like yourdolls toomuch to not visit your site, so Imleaving youa tag just to say you rule! (And thatmy spacebar only works50% of the time)
Name: PassionateStar
Time: Wednesday, 2009-02-18, 04:53:02
Message: I love your site! It's the only site I've seen that has very little broken links! Your dolls and bases are pretty win too~~
Name: kendi
Time: Tuesday, 2009-02-10, 21:07:30
Message: Good luck at Miss U! Glad i stopped by you have many good bases I'll have to tray out :) I love the faerie one
Name: Penty
Time: Sunday, 2009-01-18, 03:20:36
Message: You do awesome long hair, and I might have to use your bases sometime. :]
Name: Kenly (Email)
Time: Saturday, 2009-01-17, 23:51:01
Message: your sie is very cute. i love the dolls and the bases. i was tinkering with the dollmaker, too. too cute.
Name: X
Time: Wednesday, 2009-01-14, 00:39:13
Message: *hugs* I love the new dolls and bases.
Name: Pat Williams (Email)
Time: Thursday, 2009-01-08, 10:20:01
Message: I enjoyed your site.
Name: Blu
Time: Wednesday, 2009-01-07, 00:31:43
Message: *glomphugs*
Name: Kuroda
Time: Tuesday, 2008-06-10, 05:41:17
Message: Great site! Such unique bases and gorgeous dolls! The layout is clean and easy to navigate. I am so coming back! :D
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2008-05-26, 18:25:38
Message: *Snuggle*
Name: Aki (Email)
Time: Thursday, 2008-05-08, 23:57:00
Message: *snuggles* I'm here! I check the site! And... stuff. Yes.
*hugses*
Name: Aki
Time: Monday, 2008-01-28, 23:41:41
Message: Hallå! *kram*
(*is not showing off; why would you ever think that?!*)
Name: Aki
Time: Monday, 2007-12-17, 23:42:30
Message: Hello! I obey your command to leave a message. ::is obedient dollfan::
::glomps::
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2007-10-15, 04:44:32
Message: *Random huggle* Thankies again for the layout :3
Name: Book**Geek
Time: Saturday, 2007-06-23, 06:04:39
Message: Hey! Thought it was about time I posted something, since I've been coming here a while. You have some really cool bases. I'll have to use them.
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2007-02-26, 02:48:49
Message: Happy (belated, sorry :() birthday! *GLOMP*
Name: Blu
Time: Monday, 2007-02-05, 06:24:53
Message: Squee, guestbook working again! =D XD Okay, yes. :P I still love your 'site and your dolls, and thanks for the credit of ideas for Tae and Links. :D *bighug* *sets out plate of cookies for anyone else happening by*
Name: Gaya (Email)
Time: Monday, 2007-02-05, 05:16:14
Message: So, the guestbook is working again! Excellent, isn't it?
Name: SweetMisery (Email)
Time: Sunday, 2006-08-06, 03:19:50
Message: You have a lovely site :) i actually really like the layout. nice dolls too :D
Name: Shetani
Time: Monday, 2006-07-31, 18:32:40
Message: Spoons. O.O
Name: TheXPhial
Time: Saturday, 2006-07-29, 21:57:57
Message: This is excellent, especially considering you did it all yourself. Go you!!
Name: Gaya (Email)
Time: Saturday, 2006-07-29, 21:12:11
Message: So, here it is, my new guestbook. Isn't it cool? I wrote it myself, and considering I've only had a three-week course in php, I'm pretty proud of it. ^_^
