Here you will learn how to use the .psd's to create your own companions. All you need is a graphic-editing program such as GIMP and a place to upload your finished pictures. Nothing else.


1. Download the needed .psd file
At http://www.shumaki.kilu.de/psd you can download all the needed .psd files



2. Open the .psd in a graphic program


3. Look at the layers (Outline/Light/Shade/Base)
There are four different layers, Outline, Light, Shade and Base. You MUST NOT change the Outline, Light and Shade layer.
We normally won't except outline edits. You can try to submit them but mostly it's a "NO GO" because the pets changed to much from what we destined them to look like. There are excpetions though. You can read about them a little later.
But let's keep focused. No edits for the first, okay?
Our workspace is the Base/Color-layer. This is were the magic will happen.

4. Lock the Base-layer
First of all, lock the base layer. By that you can't draw in the transparent areas of the picture.


Here you see what happens if you lock (first) and if you don't lock (second) it:




5.a. COLOR!
After the locking you can go wild. Color your companion however you want. Just play around.


5.b. Edits (Advanced)
As already said, don't change any other layer. Advanced users may change the linearts a bit. Adding horns or little details don't hurt.
Line-art edits are only accepted if 1. the Open Canvas event clearly states that they are allowed 2. they match the standards that we want to keep on Shumaki 3. they are for a costum (if you have the needed item that allows edits)
Keep in mind, we might not accept it but you can still try and post your designs in your thread in the Painted Halls.

6. Saving
When finished, save your design with all the layers intact as .psd file and as .png file.
We might need the .psd too. If you only have the .png file there will be a lot of problems for us.
So ALWAYS save it both ways. The .psd files keep all the layers whiel .png files save them as one layer with transparen background.

.psd file (first) and .png file (second)




7. Uploading
Now all that's left is upoading. Use a server/host like Imageshack or photobucket for that and upload your .png file there.
The last step is easy. Open a thread for your designs in the Painted Halls and ink your designs in there.

Finished .png file for the upoad:


8. Wait for the admins to check you thread
We regularly check all the threads in the Painted Halls and if we see something that we like, we will let you know.
Mostly we edit your post and write our statement under your designs (with a little note who has written this) so don't worry.