How I Did It: Mailbox Avvie

[edit 2 - o7 24 2oo8 th] LAST EDIT I PROMISE. >^> Sorry sorryyyyy~~~~

[edit - o7 22 2oo8 t] Changed minor stuff and the step-by-step things. And added some additional tips.

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O HO HO HO! *0*

I was too lazy to make a tutorial, so this is a little "How I Did It" thing for the Mailbox Avvie. xP
Just my own step-by-step crap.

Explanation time!

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1. Draw the lineart. :3 (I suggest gray or black, but any color's fine, really.)

2. Make the lineart clean! Remove all those corner things, If you know what I'm talking about.

3. Background, eheeheehee? 83;;;; ****

4. Color the objects in with its base color. DON'T use the default ones in MS Paint. They suck. Go make your own colors ('Define Custom Colors', then click on the color you want; I'm sure you know how?), and be sure to put one color in DIFFERENT boxes. Because it's important for the shading + highlighting part. And the lines.

5. Make the lines WAY darker than its base color. Go double-click the box with the base color, click on 'Define Custom Colors' and bring the arrow at the right WAY lower than the base. That'll be the color of your lines. :3

6. Shadowing! Remember the last step, with the base colors? Bring the higher, but not so high. That's your shadow. :3 Then set a light source (I usually do the upper-left) and the put some shadows etc~

7. MORE shadowing! Same as before, bring the arrow lower, then do some little shadowing touches. ****

8. Highlighting! Same as before, too, only you bring the arrow higher.

9. MORE highlighting! xDDD Just bring the arrow higher and then do some more little highlighting things. xD ****

10. Finishing touches: To make the highlighting and shadowing look pretty, make some alternate dots. I can't explain, but I'm sure the picture can explain enough? (Does it? x____x) ****

Additional info:

- You can interchange steps 4-9, because sometimes I do the lines first, then the shadow, then the base, then the highlights. C: Just go with what's easier for you.
- It's okay if you leave out step 10, because that's just to make the shades blend. C: So it's not /that/ needed, eheheheee.

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Omg it's past midnight. ;-; Good night~

PS: If there's a mistake/typo, please tell me. THANK YOU. 8D (I'm rushing; my mom will be back anytime soon. D:!)

Made in MS Paint and made transparent in iaza on July 21/22, 2008.

Legend:
**** = optional; things I wouldn't usually do