How to Color Manga Using AI In Under 5 Minutes! (2024)

Introduction

Do you want to turn your manga from a black-and-white sketch into a vibrant, colored masterpiece? However, if you are extremely lazy and untalented like me, you're in the right place. In this article, I will show you how to use an AI tool to color any manga page in under 10 minutes. Full disclaimer: I actually made this tool myself, but it's completely free to use.

Step 1: Find Your Manga Page

First, you'll want to find a page of manga to color. The AI model performs better on manga with cleaner lines and more anime-like styles, though it can handle more complex art as well. For this demo, I searched for "Hunter x Hunter panels" and picked the first one I found.

Step 2: Access the AI Tool

Next, go to the website tuna.playground and click on the "Colorize" tab. Upload the manga page that you just downloaded. It might look slightly lower quality, but don't worry; we'll upscale it later.

Step 3: Automatic Colorize

By hitting "Colorize," the model will try to guess the colors. Sometimes, the results can actually look pretty good.

Step 4: Add Color Hints for Accuracy

For more control, click on "Add Color Hints." This feature allows you to place points on the canvas to guide the AI in coloring. To choose the right colors, find references of the characters you're coloring. In my case, I used colors from an existing scene in the "Hunter x Hunter" anime. A Chrome extension called Eyedropper can be helpful, although it has issues when selecting colors from videos, so use images instead.

Step 5: Refine Your Colors

If the colors look washed out, add more points and adjust the colors. Though some bleeding might occur, the model does a decent job overall.

Step 6: Upscale the Image

Once you’re satisfied with the colorized image, go to tuna.upscaler to upload both the colorized and original images. Upscale both and import them into your favorite photo editing software (e.g., Photoshop, GIMP, Ibis Paint).

Step 7: Final Touch-Ups

Import the black-and-white image above the colored one and set its blending mode to "Multiply." This preserves the original lines. Use the brush tool set to zero hardness for airbrushing touch-ups. Use an eyedropper tool in your software for consistent coloring. Shading can be done by selecting a slightly darker color and filling in the necessary areas. You can also use the magic wand tool to make selections and color within those areas without worrying about going over the lines.

By following these steps, you might not create the next Mona Lisa, but the result is impressive considering the minimal time investment.

As the creator of this tool, I welcome any questions, feedback, or feature suggestions. Feel free to leave comments or join our Discord.

Enjoy!

Keywords

• AI tool
• color manga
• Tuna Playground
• color hints
• image upscale
• photo editing software
• Hunter x Hunter
• Eyedropper extension

FAQ

1. What kind of manga art styles does the AI tool work best with?

The AI tool works best with manga that have cleaner lines and more anime-like styles but can still perform on more complex art.

2. Can I use the tool for free?

Yes, the AI tool is completely free to use.

3. How can I ensure accurate coloring?

To ensure more accurate coloring, use the "Add Color Hints" feature and find reference images to guide your color choices.

4. What if the colors look washed out initially?

If the colors appear washed out, add more color hint points and adjust the colors as needed.

5. How do I preserve the original lines in my final image?

Import the black-and-white image above the colorized one and set its blending mode to "Multiply" in your photo editing software.

6. What photo editing software can I use for final touch-ups?

You can use Photoshop, GIMP, Ibis Paint, or any other photo editing software for the final touch-ups.