Basic Anime Eyes Tutorial Using
Photoshop
By Shinigami-san
Konnichiwa, minna-san!  I’m Shinigami-san and this is my first Instructables
for anime fans. This is a quick tutorial on how to draw anime eyes. I made this
slideshow for those who are completely new to Photoshop so if you already
know how to utilize each tool, please skip over steps. Also, please do not be
frightened by the amount of slides this PowerPoint has, it is mostly pictures and
large text font.
I hope you enjoy it! Please comment so I can figure out how to make my
instructions better. Arigatou gozaimasu~! (Thank you!)
~ Shinigami-san
Step 1: Creating a New Picture
Click on the Photoshop icon to open up
the program then wait for the program
to boot up first.
Move the cursor to the
upper-right hand corner:
“File>New” (or ctrl+N).
A screen will then pop up asking for the
dimensions of your canvas and name of
your drawing, fill in the data before
clicking “OK”.
Congrats, you should now have a white
canvas! 
Step 2: Using the Brush Tool
First select the brush tool (B) on the left side on
your tools palette. It may be in a different place
depending on which version of Photoshop you
have but don’t worry, it should look something
like this.
*Tip: Be sure to continuously save your work as you progress
through your drawing.
Look to the top right corner underneath
your “File” panel. This is where you can
change the size of the brush stroke as well
as the hardness, opacity, and flow of it.
Here, you may use a brush you have
downloaded, but I prefer a small brush
that was provided by Photoshop already.
You want to select the brush size
according to the dimensions of your
canvas so that it’ll be proportionate to the
picture (although you may always use the
Transform tool “ctrl+T” it will sometimes
affect the picture’s depth depending on
the resolution .)
Step 3: Managing Layers
Find your layers palette. It should be somewhere on
the right side unless you have deleted it. Notice how
there is an eye next to the “Background” layer. That
means you can see the layer on your canvas currently.
If you would like to create a different background
color you can do so whenever (just make sure you
have selected this layer so that it will not mess up
your entire picture).
Click “New Layer” and name
it whatever you would like if
not at all. Labels are helpful
because they allow you to
easily recognize which layer
you are editing currently.
I named this layer “Circle” but
you do not have to name it
that and may sketch on only
one layer through the
drawing, it depends on your
style of drawing (I’m creating
different layers for the
purpose of this tutorial).
*Tip: Create layers so that you can correct errors easier later on in your
works.
Step 4: Ready, Set, Go!
Now it’s finally time to start drawing. First you begin
with a basic ovular shape (Hah, a circle can be an oval
but an oval cannot be a circle!) just like my layer
describes. If you’re not comfortable with the view you
I use a standard BAMBOO FUN
are getting of the canvas, adjust with ctrl+/ctrl-.
tablet so it’s really easy for me
to draw. If you’re more
comfortable with a mouse,
you may do so. However, I
advise against using a mousepad because it restricts
movements and maybe even
the quality of the piece.
*Tip: When doing this step, avoid using the circle tool provided by Photoshop
because it takes away the realness and it’s also makes it as a “Shape” layer so it’s
a pain to rasterize and compress.
Help, my brush isn’t the color I
want it to be!
First, don’t panic. There is an easy but
simple way to change the color of your
brush and your layer.
Select the “Magic Wand” tool (W)
or any type of “Lasso” tool (L) and
click your circle to select it. A
dashed line should appear around
the area that you have selected. If
you do not like your selection, use
the “Quick Mask” tool or press Q.
Using the brush (B) or eraser (E)
tool, you can add or subtract the
amount of selection you have.
Once you’re done, just click
the “Quick Mask” tool
again to exit out of it.
Quick Mask ->
Okay, now what?
Select the “Paint Bucket”
tool (G). Notice that you
may also use the “Gradient
Tool”.
Double-click the first color square and
choose which color you would like your
circle to be (the second one is only used
when after you click the reverse arrow).
Then click your canvas to get the desired
color. Once you’re done, just deselect
Select>Deselect from the top or ctrl+D.
Example:
Why blue? Because it’s easier to distinguish
from other colors. A lot of artists use a light
color to sketch then black/grey to retrace
their drawings afterward. Since I’m lazy, I
won’t retrace. XP
WHAT?! I didn’t have to go through
all of that?
Haha, we got kind of side-tracked,
huh? Actually, in the beginning, you
really shouldn’t be doing so much
work. It’s heart-breaking but the
easiest way to correct your mistake is
to undo your strokes by hitting ctrl+Z;
for multiple mistakes ctrl+shift+Z; or
just go to the history palette and click
backward then redraw the circle.
Step 5: Outlining the Eye
This is a really crucial step as it mostly
determines the gender of the
person/animal/whatever you’re
drawing (like a fluffy bunny! ^^ Ignore
me. ; >.>).
Just don’t add the random
pieces of hair if it’s a guy unless
it’s a pretty boy (Kyaa~! Fuji
Syuusuke-sama! :D <3).
For girls who wear makeup or already
adept at drawing manga eyes, this
should be a piece o’ cake because it’s
just the like basics of mascara.
*Tip: While drawing the eyelashes, it might take a
while with a small brush so try changing the
brush size. For a more feathered edge, fiddle
around with the opacity and flow options for the
brush.
Don’t forget the bottom lashes!
Notice how the top lashes have a
more crescent shape compared to
the bottom one.
Step 6: More Shapes
Ugh, more circles? Oh well, it shows
that your character’s eyes are shining
and full of life! Feel free to add other
random shapes if you would like as
well.
How come it still doesn’t look like an
anime eye? It’s because we haven’t added
in the pupil in yet! Create an oval in the
middle of the eye and erase wherever it
hits the “light” parts.
Step 7: Coloring
Now is the fun part, coloring! This is where the layers you made come in handy. My
suggestion is using the brush, gradient, magic wand, and smudge tool.
This is also kind of hard because I can’t tell you how to color it. Some like work with
just one layer while others like to do it right on the drawing. You decide!
Color in pupil.
Use gradient tool.
Use varying colors of the eye
color and smudge it in for
extra awesomeness.
How to Use the Gradient Tool
Select the “Gradient Tool”.
Double click the gradient icon.
Click the small arrows and then choose
a color. You can choose where you the
colors to change by using the
“Location” box. Click “OK”.
How to Use the Gradient Tool
(cont.)
Drag the tool across the
area in which you want
to color gradient and let
go! ^^
Depending on the distance, the amount each color is
shown, changes. Play around with the other types of
gradients as well!
You’re Done! 
Finished Product:
Please continue to draw! ^^ I will try to
update and give more tips on how to draw
anime soon. Hope you liked this tutorial and
stay tuned for more!
Please R&R (read and review),
~ Shinigami-san