@ TJ

Not sure what you're asking about, exactly. Do you want to know the software/hardware needed, how to use digital programs etc?

yeah not sure what are asking about...
if u dont really have the skills on both medium,u gotta learn from the very basic...pencil and paper.

there's a few methods.

- draw on paper, scan, doing outlines and colors in photoshop/other graphic program
- input directly using tablet (eg. wacom bamboo, cintiq) and do the rest in graphics program

I start with first method before switch to second method after getting myself a tablet.

hehe
yup, using mouse. But of course you need time to get hang on it.

Well firstly you need to acquire the software (there are many varieties out there, ranging from expensive stuff like Photoshop to free-of-charge software like GIMP), and then learn how your particular choice of drawing software works, and after that you decide if you want to paint using the mouse or using the tablet. (continued below, related to Adam's post)

Using mouse to draw is not so advisable. Using mouse to colour is achievable but takes very long time as mentioned. I guess you get better when you practice painting often (then again, what doesn't?). That's why a lot of artists go for speedpaint. It's a form of practice for them.

Yeah, drawing tablets. Any tablet should do I guess. I would suggest you to get yourself a Wacom tablet. The smallest model will do good. It's around RM350-400 I think.

The painting is the same as traditional painting, TJ. It's just that digital painting is both always dry and never dry (i.e. you can change as you go, being flexible, and you don't have to wait hours/days/weeks for the "paint" to dry before you put down a new "layer"), and you can change your brush size/shape/texture on the fly.

This video here (http://youtu.be/Imd_tTl5WSg) is pretty similar to how I personally work, although my personal sketches tend to be more precise as seen here: http://dragonreine.deviantart.com/art/WIP-...sited-217469414

And here's a VERY informative blog that talks about the sort of peripherals/tablets that are out there on the market, their costs, and which is best for your personal skill level and/or budget: http://enliighten.com/blog/tools-of-the-tr...-peripherals-3/

(enliighten.com is a good site, btw, created by a very experienced digital artist, and he covers a lot of basics in that site, with useful video tutorials)

Also, I found the ImagineFX channel again (whee!) and there's a series of videos that shows how Mario Wibisono (the guy who paints with mouse) works on one of the covers (Part one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_wOjcg1Te0), and this is the video that inspired my "Wolf's Rain" painting, by Melanie Delon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-26j9iNeRL0

Note that my style (pencil sketch, semi-transparent layers of paint on top) is closer to the "traditional" way of working with paint than the other artists I'd featured here.

EDIT: Also, what vypur just said Here's a Wacom price list: http://www.wacom.asia/my/products-price

The cheapest model you can use for digital painting would be the Bamboo Pen, which costs RM299. If you can go to Lowyat Plaza in KL, you can check out the smaller shops and haggle for a lower price on that model

That said, if you're going to invest in a tablet, buy the best that you can afford.

actually when you have the outline you can already applying color on the outline.

now u want to paint right? its like how kids do coloring..since you have ur outline then just paint..which part u don understand?

just get a wacom and start painting with the basic paintbrush only.. eventually you'll learn to use more of the software features when you wanna improve it. thats how i did last time. if we suggest anything at this moment, you'd probably wont get it. so just a hint, use layers

@ T.J.

Check these tutorials: Anime soft-shading tutorial by *Mikeinel and Tutorial for soft cell shading by ~getty

Shows you practically every step in how to colour Both use slightly different methods, see which one suits your taste. The first one is better if you use a mouse, though; second one needs a pressure-sensitive tablet to get the best effect.