What is CEL Shading?
In animation, cel shading is a common computer rendering method, notably for works inspired by Japanese manga and anime. This technique employs the use of computers to simulate the look of a hand-drawn picture, such as one could see in a classic comic book. To generate this mechanic effect, we manipulate the way light hits a 3D object. Traditional shading and gradients have been swapped out with flatter, more uniform blocks of color and shadow.
The result seems more sketched-in, less computer-generated. The term “cel shading” was first coined after the celluloid that was traditionally used to create animation drawings.
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HOW TO DO CEL SHADING?
- Start with the Colour: Select a solid color to use as a foundation for your 3D model. Block coloring an automobile, for instance, might be done in a variety of blues. To get the desired shading effect, you should use just one color.
- Lock in the Layer: Activate the layer you want to use as a base for shading by clicking the “Lock Transparent Pixels” button. This restricts your coloring to the area you’ve selected, keeping you from messing up the rest of the picture.
- Begin Brushing: Choose a hue that is several notches darker than the one you just used. When you’re ready to begin shading your character, use the hard brush tool. You should think about how the 3D character’s location and stance affects the way light and shadow look in the final picture. Drop shadow effects may be applied to the image’s darker regions.
- Lasso Tool: In contrast to freely sketching with the hard brush, you may use Photoshop’s lasso tool to isolate a specific area of your picture for colouring.
HISTORY OF CEL SHADING ANIMATION
Late in the 1990s, Japanese anime was the first to use this type of animation. Indeed, anime cels are the most common use of this method. The approach first gained traction in Japanese animation studios, but as the 1990s turned into the 2000s, its popularity rose and it began to be used in other contexts, such as video games. One reason for the success was the availability of better, cheaper 3D rendering technologies.
Animated cel shading has found a niche in video games in recent years. The first game to extensively use the method was Jet Set Radio, which came out in 2000 for the SEGA Dreamcast. At this year’s E3 Game Critics’ Awards, the acclaimed game won numerous honors, including “Excellence in Visual Arts.”
Popular video game series like Dragon Ball Z, Guilty Gear, and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker helped push the rendering technique into the public.
This technique is mostly seen as a visual style in video games. There is a heavy emphasis on style in this game, with 3D characters and visuals rendered to seem more like conventional 2D figures.
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EXAMPLES OF CEL SHADING
Cel shading has been employed to great success in some of the most aesthetically striking and lauded games of the last 20 years.
A few instances from history are listed below.
Jet Set Radio (2000)
This is the first video game to fully explore cel shading. Jet Set Radio, a game for the SEGA Dreamcast, featured in-game skateboarding around a cyberpunk metropolis set to a DJ-created music.
For the video game industry, Jet Set Radio was a watershed moment that paved the way for the widespread adoption and refinement of the cel shading method.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2003)
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, released in 2003, was the tenth installment in the series and featured a striking departure in visual design from that of prior games. The transition to cel shading and more cartoon-like character traits was met with criticism from many long-time gamers.
As time has passed, however, several of The Wind Waker’s successors and prequels have used the game’s innovative tactics for their own games. The game’s unusual graphical design has proved to be popular with players, and it currently ranks among the most beloved in The Legend of Zelda franchise.
No More Heroes (2007)
In 2007, No More Heroes was released on the Nintendo Wii. In this open-world game, you take control of Travis Touchdown, a would-be assassin on a mission to destroy his competitors.
Cel shading did a fantastic job at representing the game’s vast environment, and the game’s innovative gameplay won over many players and won the game widespread praise and interaction from Wii owners.
Okami (2006)
In 2006, Capcom released Okami for the PlayStation 2. The game is heavily influenced by classic Asian art styles since it is set in medieval Japan. Okami’s beautiful aesthetics, created with the help of cel shading animation methods, have earned it acclaim from gamers far and wide, and not only for its original and broad gameplay.
It’s worth noting that the game’s creators did not initially plan to use a cel-shaded aesthetic. Despite Clover Studio’s best efforts, the PS2’s hardware limitations prevented them from implementing their vision of more realistic graphics. Finally, they decided to use cel shading, and the rest is legend.
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