Anime-Style Transformation: Turning Real-Life Reference into Digital Art

Hello, Sumine here! Today I’m transforming a real-life reference into an anime-style illustration.

Let’s dive right in!

Sketching Stage

As usual, I start with a rough sketch and then refine it with clean line art.

Rough sketch of anime-style character based on real-life reference
Rough sketch
Clean line art of anime-style character from real-life reference
Fine line art

Coloring Stage

Base Colors

Applying base colors to anime-style character
Base color

After finishing the line art, I start by applying the base colors.

Shadows

Adding first layer of shadows to anime-style character
Shadow layer 1

Next, I add the first layer of shadows.

The first shadow layer mostly covers areas where cast shadows occur, except for places where two surfaces meet closely, like lips or armpits.

This shadow layer is usually darker than the base color but not as dark as the shadows between two touching surfaces.

Highlights

Adding highlights to the hair of anime-style character
Highlights

Then, I add highlights, especially to the hair.

Video

Download Raw File

Download link

Info

Drawing Device: Samsung Tab S10 FE

Software: Clip Studio Paint v4.1.1

Date Created: 2025.09.14

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