So sorry if I'm talking about SAI, but... I promise this will be the last... for now...

Uhm, you don't?

It's based on pixels.

Yeah, I don't think it's possible

It's kiiiinda possible in Photoshop though.

You can "kind of" vector on SAI with the linetool, but other than that it's not possible on SAI

Neitsuke said:
You can "kind of" vector on SAI with the linetool, but other than that it's not possible on SAI

Tokaido said:
Yeah, I don't think it's possible

See:
https://static1.e621.net/data/4d/15/4d15a003be811858bd78b5b22067072f.png
or
https://static1.e621.net/data/d1/3f/d13f3d2c2fe73b72a045e53eb04ac6be.png

paint tool sai does not support vectors. but the closest thing to vectors is the lineart tool.

If you're just talking about extremely hi-res pieces that can then be shrunk and plugged into other art: Create a massive canvas, make the piece, save.

If you're talking about making an actual vector file: SAI ain't the tool you're looking for.

• Open SAI

Do something
Close it without saving... or save if you took your time for that (or if you follow guides step by step)
Get, install and open Inkscape and draw there
Done.

You don't have to actually do this, though :3

Cutedementia said:
See:
https://static1.e621.net/data/4d/15/4d15a003be811858bd78b5b22067072f.png
or
https://static1.e621.net/data/d1/3f/d13f3d2c2fe73b72a045e53eb04ac6be.png

Hehe, no, if those were made in SAI or Photoshop those aren't vectors. They might have been created with the line tool, which is itself a vector tool, but doesn't actually create vector images. You can think of vector tools like the line or pen tool as kind of a template, or stencil. The stencil is a vector line, meaning you can zoom in indefinitely and the line never loses resolution. Problem is that when you paint in the stencil these programs can only paint with pixels, which DO have a finite resolution. That's because SAI (and Photoshop) render bitmap images instead of vector ones, so they can never truly create vector images .... though Photoshop CAN render polygons/3D images, but that's a whole nother discussion.

But, like Nyteshade said, if you want something that's close to vector images from these programs, you can just create them at ridiculously large resolutions, and you'll never be able to tell the difference.

The way I see it, if a program can save as an SVG (scalable vector graphics), then it's a vector program. If it does not, then it is not. Sai can't, even though it has a vector tool. If you need a true vector program you could use Inkscape or Serif Drawplus which can save files as SVG.

Does LInework count. If not, then what other purpose it has?

Ponynstuff320 said:
Does LInework count. If not, then what other purpose it has?

Complex selections or lines. But those selection and lines are still bitmaps, not vectors.

Ponynstuff320 said:
Does LInework count. If not, then what other purpose it has?

The Linework tool is a vector tool, but Sai can't export said vectors.

What is the best vector program to use instead?

I use Serif Drawplus, but you might prefer Inkscape.

Vectoring in general, at least for serious drawings, is not a good idea. The lines can't be dynamic as it can be on SAI with the linetool and even if lines look smooth no matter how big it is, I find the auto antialiasing pretty bad with vectors.

You should try to use the linetool on SAI instead and work with that. If you really have that need for vectors, Krita has a vector brush you can use

Does it work best to put layer underneath Linework for filling the colors?

Mutisija said:
paint tool sai does not support vectors. but the closest thing to vectors is the lineart tool.

Ponynstuff320 said:
Does it work best to put layer underneath Linework for filling the colors?

There are other ways to do it (I know a lot of artists use masking, but I never got the hang of it), but this is essentially how I do it usually.

I don't know what SAI calls it, but in Pixelmator you can save time by using the wand tool to select only parts of Layer A, then switch to Layer B to color it in in; it works kind of like a half-assed temporary mask. Alternatively you can select everything outside of an object, invert selection, and then switch layers, but it really depends on what you're trying to do.

parasprite said:
There are other ways to do it (I know a lot of artists use masking, but I never got the hang of it), but this is essentially how I do it usually.

I don't know what SAI calls it, but in Pixelmator you can save time by using the wand tool to select only parts of Layer A, then switch to Layer B to color it in in; it works kind of like a half-assed temporary mask. Alternatively you can select everything outside of an object, invert selection, and then switch layers, but it really depends on what you're trying to do.

Atryl does that. IIRC, haven't been on his streams in a while, he uses wand tool to select on the lineart layer and then "Increase selection" 3-5 times. Then, on another layer, he does the coloring. Same for shading and lighting.

I'm not sure where is that option, but maybe fiddling on the menubar you can find it. Guess it's on the second-to-last menu

Xch3l said:
Atryl does that. IIRC, haven't been on his streams in a while, he uses wand tool to select on the lineart layer and then "Increase selection" 3-5 times. Then, on another layer, he does the coloring. Same for shading and lighting.

I'm not sure where is that option, but maybe fiddling on the menubar you can find it. Guess it's on the second-to-last menu

Neat. I found a similar option for Pixelmator under "Refine selection". I had no idea that was there, thanks.

parasprite said:
Neat. I found a similar option for Pixelmator under "Refine selection". I had no idea that was there, thanks.

Do I need to shade underneath the layers? Or on the linework? Or what other strategic way?

Ponynstuff320 said:
Do I need to shade underneath the layers? Or on the linework? Or what other strategic way?

A simplified method:

Top layer: Linework
Middle layer: Shading
Bottom layer: Color - If you do the shading here instead, it's sometimes easier to use the burn/dodge tool in place of a regular brush

Try it out, see if it works for you. It may take a little bit of getting used to, but eventually you're likely to develop your own personal workflow different from this.

Parasprite's advice is not wrong, but of course different workflows are suitable for different styles.

For example:

• if you'd like colored outlines, then you will need to repaint the linework at some point (lock the alpha channel, then painting will just change the colors of the existing lines)
• shading on its own single layer is suitable for a simple style of shading. According to intended shading style,having multiple shading layers or just painting directly on the color layer may be necessary. In other cases, the color layer may instead be split into several layers based on basic color regions (eg. a layer for background, fur, eyes, clothes A B and C, accessories.). That might seem like a lot of work but it allows you to isolate the effects of your painting quite cleanly.

Also, this isn't doable in SAI alone, but after using it, I feel obligated to recommend GMIC's interactive lineart coloring tool (. David Revoy has a very good tutorial explaining it here . It is so much better for getting the color areas laid out basically correct than the traditional manual painting bullshit, that I kind of wonder how I didn't shoot myself before when coloring.

Ponynstuff320 said:
Do I need to shade underneath the layers? Or on the linework? Or what other strategic way?

depends on which you like more