This tutorial is using PSP 7 

 

  I've been asked many times to explain how I shade hair. This is hard because my technique is constantly changing looking for new ways to get a different look. It also depends on the style of doll, whether I pixel, tool shade or do both.  There's so many fantastic hair tuts, it seems silly to repeat what's already been done many times over. So with that said, maybe I can add a slightly different twist to an old technique.

  I've chosen a wind blown tool shaded style for this tutorial. Even though I say tool shaded.. just remember you can never solely rely on your psp tools to shade. There will be times you'll have to go in and pixel the area, because tool shading brings in weird colors or leaves an area that lacks color at all.

Now lets begin =)................

 

For this tut we'll be using the psp retouch tools... LightenRGB and DarkenRGB... I prefer these over dodge and burn because they don't have such a harsh effect. This is personal preference. If you've been using dodge and burn and prefer the results from using those tools feel free to use those instead.

Open a new transparent raster layer (size according to your doll) and paste it to your doll. This is one of the rare occasions that I do ever step all on one layer.  Chose a medium dark base for your hair color and totally paint an area of hair giving it an outward sweeping effect as shown below. Notice that I've done no hairstyle outline..but again if your more comfortable using an outline feel free to do that.

 

 

Now pull up your retouch tool, darkenRGB size between 9 to 11 opacity 11 density 63 (play around with the settings, each color takes the depths of shading differently) and darken specific areas that would be underneath.. roots.. under the bangs ... some of the strands outwards. Lightly use your smudge tool to blend if needed, but don't over do it. See examples below.

 

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Next use your lightenRGB tool size 1 opacity 18 density 89 (again u may have to play with these settings) and highlight strands of hair on top and flowing outward. When satisfied, switch the lighten setting to size 2 and add a few wider highlighted strands to the crown. Be sure to give it a slight lift. See below.

 

 

Return to your darken tool size 9 opacity 11 density 63, and add more shading to your roots around the face, below the lift of your bangs, some the outer edges that would take a backward sweep. See below.

 

 

Back to the lighten tool size 1 opacity 40 density 97 lighten and give more definition to some of your strands. You may have to repeat over an area a couple times to get your desired look.

 

 

At this point, looking at the hair I've decided I want to add some length to the lowest  bang strand closest to the face, and add a more wind swept look to the left side of the head so it doesn't lay so flat. Using my push tool set at size 1 opacity 88 density 100, I choose a starting point and pull the strands to the direction I want the hair to sweep. The pixel you choose for your starting point is the color that will pull (or push). You'll most likely have to use this tool in combination with pixeling to get your desired look. Then change back to your lighten tool and add some highlight to your pulled strands. See below.

 

 

Change to your eraser and clean up the outer edges around  your hair. Take off as much or as little as you like. This is the step that will actually build the form to your hairstyle. Don't box it up, try to erase areas to give it a free flow. If you mess up back it up and start over. Leave some of your strand sections to fall at different intervals so it's not a completely chopped off even look. You may want to pixel or use your push tool again on some of your outer edges, and then darken some of them again. 

When you done with that take a look at the overall hair. There maybe areas that you need to blend or pixel. If it's very minuet you can use you clone brush and pick up a pixel and drop it, or use your smudge tool set to size 1 and smudge the color into the next pixel for an even blend. Any larger area you would need to pixel shade. 

Basicly your done. See below.

 

 

Want a more dramatic look? Add more light. Use your lighten tool set to size 9 opacity 32 density 68. (Important... notice below the key areas that were lightened. Do not lighten all the hair.)

 

 

Want a different color? An easy fun way to do this is using the color to target on your retouch tool list. You can adjust the settings to add as much or as little color change as you like. (Note that some colors work better than others using this tool.) You can also adjust your brightness and contrast after adding color, to give it a deeper, richer look if you prefer. See example below.

 

 

You can use this technique on basically any hairstyle. That's it, have fun designing hair. =)