[Basukesu]

Though honestly these tips apply to any software that allows you manipulate and control layers and gives you the ability to color.

Sketchbook Pro Work Flow and coloring/shading Tip:

For works of a final nature (not sketches) try the following:

Sketch your piece out in a light color.
Under the sketch add value using grays and near blacks (avoid pure black at this stage).
Under these values pick the base color of the figure and apply it so that it covers all the lines and even goes beyond the sketch lines.
Still under the sketch but above the value and color layers use a deeper gray or black and begin to define the shape of the figure with shadows.
Once that process is complete merge all layers under the sketch and clean up the overflow of colors.
Once clean up is done add a layer above the color and shading layers and add highlights using a color based off the light source or just tone the lighting with white or cool grays.
Once that is done add a layer over the highlights but still under the sketch layer and Ink the lines of the piece. You may want to lower the opacity on the sketch layer so you can see what you are doing more clearly. (usually people do this the other way around but for the work flow the sketch layer will be hidden entirely once we are done and you want the sketch over the final piece to make sure your initial vision and the final product line up more or less like you wanted.
Rinse and repeat for all the elements of your work.
This should help you flesh out with some success the various elements of your work and minimize the dependency on over blending or blending in a way that is unnatural.


Shading Tip for base colors:

Usually people try to tone out the coloring with colors along a same gradient or variations of one color with light and dark tones of it. Unless you have full control of color theory, or lighting behavior this may produce an even flatter result than just leaving the picture with base colors.
To help counter this on top of the colored layers create a new layer and set it to multiply. Use a gray 20% or another neutral color and begin to color over the picture such that you shade in areas that require shading or definition via shades.
This should produce a more natural shade of the color you want to deepen and gives you control over where you shade without having to further apply color to the actual color layer itself.
You can add highlights over the shaded areas better this way too if you prefer.


Using the “Add” effect on your layers

Add is useful but it is often misunderstood with screen layering. Add, “adds” multipliers of the selected color to the brightest possible gamut in that gradient. This means that it is ineffective with light colors are they will turn nearly pure white on you and the lighting using “add” can become rather unnatural
To balance this simply select the darkest gradient of the color then use Add. You will get a nice smooth radient effect of the color you really want to see this way.


Sample result can be seen here.

I hope this is helpful =) I will update the post with screen shots at every stage in the future.