It’s not really a proper tutorial! I’m still learning myself — just sharing how I handle greyscale and a few little tips ❤
A common struggle when using greyscale is that after coloring, the tones don’t match and the colors look muddy.
▶ This usually happens because the greyscale layer wasn’t adjusted before applying color. I often use blending modes to fix these issues:
Lighter Color: The brightness of the applied layer and the lower layers are compared, and the higher value is shown. So when we paint with color, it brightens the greyscale and shifts it into the hue we apply. My first step is usually to use this blending mode to change the overall base color.
Screen: It inverts the base colors and multiplies them with the blending layer, creating the opposite effect of Multiply. The result is brighter than the original. When Lighter Color isn’t enough, or when the greyscale layer is too dark after coloring, Screen can enhance brightness or soften overly deep details. I often use this for skin tones.
▶ For finer adjustments, I recommend Soft Light:
Its effect depends on the density of the applied color. Bright colors create a dodge-like brightening effect, while dark colors create a burn-like darkening effect. Any color placed above white areas will appear white.
▶ You can also think of it this way:
Applying lighter colors gives a Screen-like brightening, while darker colors act like Multiply, making tones richer and deeper. Soft Light is essentially a shortcut for handling contrast, making it convenient for adjusting the overall tone of the artwork.