Add a limited palette
See this course’s project requirements
A complete six-panel comic page with editable artwork, a readable PNG and a panel-by-panel text companion.
Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.
What to include
- Six panels with a coherent original beginning, discovery and ending.
- A clear two-column reading path and visible gutters.
- Consistent characters and objects with readable lettering.
- A limited palette checked for meaning without color alone.
- Layered KRA, PNG, text companion and one documented revision.
Review and revise
Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.
- Each panel contributes an understandable action.
- Reading order and lettering work at the intended viewing size.
- Clues remain consistent across panels.
- Source, image and text companion agree.
Want more background?
The idea in everyday life
Open small-surprise-03.kra. Palette: pale blue shirt, pale yellow cards, muted gray furniture, dark outlines and white page.
Color can support meaning, but essential information should also be visible in shape and contrast.
Add a limited palette — guided practice
Use a few colors to guide attention while preserving dark outlines.
Open small-surprise-03.kra. Palette: pale blue shirt, pale yellow cards, muted gray furniture, dark outlines and white page.
1. Create color below ink
Add a paint layer named Color between Rough and Ink. Keep Rough hidden. Choose a broad opaque brush and paint the shirt pale blue inside its outline, staying away from lettering.
You should see: Color appears under the line art.
Layer order preserves the dark contours while colors are revised.
2. Repeat meaningful colors
Color the clue and reward cards pale yellow in panels 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 as applicable. Use the same shirt color whenever Nia appears. Leave gutters white.
You should see: Repeated objects have consistent colors and the gutters stay clear.
A small repeated palette reinforces continuity.
3. Check without color
Save the native file. Create a temporary copy with File > Create Copy From Current Image. On that copy use Image > Convert Image Color Space and choose a grayscale model if available, or temporarily inspect with a desaturation filter. Do not overwrite the color source.
You should see: The star, arrow, characters and messages remain distinguishable without hue.
Essential clues should not rely solely on a color difference.
4. Revise the source
Return to the color source. Darken or separate outlines where the grayscale check revealed a merge; keep message backgrounds pale. Save As small-surprise-04.kra and record one adjustment.
You should see: The limited palette supports a readable story in color and without color cues.
A targeted revision improves communication more than adding more effects.
What to finish
A limited palette, a contrast check and a documented revision.
Watch for this
Using color alone to identify an important clue.
How can I tell I understand it?
Explain the result, reproduce the procedure, and complete the changed-input check.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.
Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.
Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
Shading tutorial for comics using Krita - by David Revoy
From David Revoy - Webcomic Creator. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
Optional course overview. Follow the written steps below at your own pace.Tools, templates, and lesson sources
Tools and templates
Tools open in a new tab so you can keep your place here.
Sources and further reading
Explore the references behind this lesson.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Read original manual explanations of canvas, raster/vector, drawing tools, layer order, selections and native saving.
Access: Public reading without a paid account; reviewed September 12, 2026.
Reuse: Link only. Lessons and practice assets are original; free access does not grant permission to copy the provider's material.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Read layer management, drawing order, layer naming and separate color/line art.
Access: Public reading without a paid account; reviewed September 12, 2026.
Reuse: Link only. Lessons and practice assets are original; free access does not grant permission to copy the provider's material.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Read original creator description and chapter sequence for layer-based comic shading; no claim of watching the full tutorial.
Access: Public reading without a paid account; reviewed September 12, 2026.
Reuse: Creator labels this tutorial CC BY4.0. Link only; all course characters, script and artwork are original.
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