Hand Colored or Photoshop Colored

[Blaeringr]

Ok, one picture, two finished versions. This is a concept picture for a comic idea I've been brainstorming, and I'm looking for feedback about coloring technique.

First picture the coloring is completely digital. The second one I only colored the blue background digitally, and the rest is hand painted. Which looks better?

[mosama]

I think I might like the 2nd one better but I nearly always prefer digitally colored stuff- the only reason I'm making an exception this time is because the traditional textures just feel right with that dirt stuff. If it was a different picture though I would have said digital.

[robybang]

I kind of like the second one, but I dislike the fact the gradient peeks through the coloring. And I'm not liking the combination of digital and hand painting, mainly because of the clash between the two. I'd try doing the page completely painted.

[sulfurbunny]

Second one will be great if you lose the digital gradient sky! As robybang said, consider doing it all in the same medium because it does clash a bit. You could always splash some light blue watercolor or whatever on a separate piece of paper, scan that and superimpose your guy on top via photoshop.

Not a big fan of the first one, the colors are kinda lifeless (are you shading with black and white? try putting some color in your shadows).

[eishiya]

Both of them have the same flaws, so it's hard to choose. Before you think about techniques, learn the basics - light, shadow, colour, form. These are things you can practice in virtually any medium (so do it in the medium you're most familiar with).

[Vitotamito]

What makes the second better is that you can tell how little time you spent on the first comparatively.

[Zhriffixx]

I prefer the second one because of the increased complexity in both the shading itself and the colors. While the blue might just be the background peeking through, I appreciate the mix of blues and reds a lot more than the "dead" skin tone of the digitally painted version. On overall coloring technique, I'd take eishiya's suggestions to heart and brush up on your knowledge of shadows/form/tones (most people learn shading form first before even beginning color). Use whatever technique you feel comfortable working in when doing this and it's guaranteed that the hard work will also up the quality of your work in other mediums.

[AndToBeLoved]

The second one looks great. Try sulfrbunny's suggestion about painting a sky on a seperate sheet and placing it behind the figure. I do this regularly and it always works very well. You can take it one step further and apply a warm filter or overlay over the picture to give it a more unique tone. Like a very soft yellow, or go the other direction and give it a cool blue.