[Rem]

Originally Posted by Taiki

I start by making a sketch in Photoshop on a base of a pose, then on a new layer, using the pencil tool to make a pixel base, then making another layer above that one that is masked to do shading and adding more layers as needed. I use this color scheme as a guide. I use the middle grey as the base.

When you say 'another layer that's masked' what do you mean by that? What's mask and what does it do?

I've heard of people using mask for layers, for shading, but I honestly never ever have, I have -no- idea what it's for. I use multiple layers for shading but I always choose the shading colors myself and paint them directly on top of one another. I adjust the brush's settings for coloring but I've never touched a layer's own settings.