Learn shade pixel drawings in Microsoft Paint.
Draw an object using the free, basic graphic editing program, "Microsoft Paint" and add shadows to give it depth. Any small image or even a more complex drawing will look more realistic and three-dimensional by adding darker shades, but you need to follow the technique that all artists use to place the shaded areas correctly. The drawing and shading in "Paint" is all done by the pixel, which is the dot that all computerized images are made of.
Instructions
1. Open Microsoft Paint and select the "Pencil" drawing tool. Click on the color palette and choose black--you can change this later if you want. Draw the outline of the image you would like to shade, pixel by pixel. Zoom in on the image to make it easier to draw with pixels by going to "View" in the top menu and then "Zoom", "Custom", "400%". If you make a mistake, go to "Edit", "Undo" and fix it.
2. Click on the "Brush" tool and choose the largest size brush from the options below the tool box. Place the dot at an angle a small distance away from the object--this represents the imaginary light source that is shining on it to create the shadows. Use this dot as a guide to help you decide where to shade on the object.
3. Choose a color from the color palette for the main color of the object. Keep in mind you will be using two or three darker colors to shade the object, so make sure the main color isn't dark. For example, if the object is a rock, choose a light gray for the main fill color. Click on the "Fill with Color" tool and click inside the object to fill it in.
4. Double-click on the color in the color palette that you used to fill in the object. Select "Define Custom Colors" and slide the arrow on the right of the color chart down three notches to choose a darker shade of the fill color. Click "Add to Custom Colors". Slide the arrow down three more notches and repeat the process to give you three custom colors in three shades darker than the fill color. Hit "OK" and the custom colors you choose will show up in the color palette.
5. Click on the color that is three shades darker than the fill color and choose the "Pencil" tool. Carefully shade along the inside edge opposite the side where the imaginary light is shining. Shade the object about 2/3 of the way up toward the imaginary light. Keep in mind how the object curves and follow the curves with the shading.
6. Select the color three shades darker than the first shading color. Start shading from the inside bottom edge to about 2/3 of the way up the first shaded section. Do the same with the color that is three shades darker than the present color.
7. Select the eraser tool. Left click on the color that you used for the outline on the object and right click on the color that you want to change it to, which should be three shades darker than the darkest shading color. Right click and drag the mouse over the image and the eraser tool will change the existing outline color to the color you want it to be. Save the image.
Tags: darker than, shades darker, shades darker than, three shades, three shades darker, color palette, color that
