[Visual] My first drawing colored in Photoshop

[HowlingWinds]

I spent about an hour, almost two, on this just trying to learn the ropes of photoshop and how to color pictures in it (and using layers). I had to outline my pencil sketch using my mouse because I lack a tablet and my mouse randomly switchs sensitivity on me. For my first drawing in photoshop I think it came out decent, though I did have difficulty with coloring the skin, and I still think it looks off  Pretty much just used layers, brush and blur options. The drawing is of Mihli from my game~

pencil

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Colored

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[Leventhan]

Well the first thing I noticed was squiggly lines :<
And the eyes might need some spicing up

[HowlingWinds]

Is there any program/tool used to convert pencil lines to an outline? Because with a mouse thats the best I could do . Also I saved the file in PS form so I can go back and edit the eyes

[Holkeye]

Use Illustrator, and watch a few Pen Tool tutorials.

[garygill]

If you do a good job inking on paper, then scan it in, you won't have to worry about redrawing the lines.  Playing with the brightness/contrast and a few other tricks such as selection smoothing would suffice.  If you choose to go this route and want a more in depth explanation, just let me know. =)

[:)]

http://psdtuts.com/tutorials/tools-tips/photoshops-pen-tool-the-comprehensive-guide/

good sites:
http://vectortuts.com/
http://psdtuts.com/
http://vectips.com/
http://www.tutorial9.net/

[Kebin]

Use Illustrator, and watch a few Pen Tool tutorials.

Photoshop also has a pen tool, although Illustrator's is probably better for that type of thing. idk though never used illustrator lol.

[Holkeye]

Yeah, since Illustrator is vector-based, the pen tool is capable of creating much better outlines.

[tSwitch]

I usually ink my work before scanning it, so I usually don't have to re-do outlines.

that being said, her eyes need pupils.
they look kinda blank, like she's possessed.

also, keep in mind that a face isn't flat.
there should be some shine and shadow more than just where the hair reaches over the forehead.
and there'd be more shine on areas of the hair as well.
I'd look into shine and shading tutorials (lol I should too sometime)

lastly I'd suggest the smudge tool for mixing shades, rather than the blur tool.
You can set it to a solid or an airbrush-like pen tool to get different mixing effects.

[Leventhan]

Photoshop Pen Tool does an equally fine job if you don't need a vector.
As long as it's a high enough res/dpi it'll look fine.

[HowlingWinds]

Thanks everyone for all the advice  This really means a lot to me since I just started using PS, and I really want to get better at it. I downloaded the trial for Illustrator so I'll mess around with that, and thanks Nouman for those guides/websites. Also, the next drawing I'll do I'll make sure to add in the pupils .-. To be honest, just up to recently most the eyes I've drawn haven't had pupils.

This is a picture I'm still working on at school (Picture taken with phone, not scanned) (I havent touched up on the coloring which is why it looks sketchy)
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As this is what I did last year in my art class, which, they don't have pupils =x

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But again, thank you all for your advice