My 2nd Manga Session: The Beginning of My Coloring Journey with Affinity Designer

Hey fellow creatives, manga lovers, and curious wanderers!

Today I want to take you behind the scenes of my second official manga art session, which was a huge personal milestone—because this time, I didn't just sketch or ink…I dove headfirst into the world of COLOR! 💥

Yup, that’s right. This was the very first time I seriously tried coloring my manga art, and let me tell you—it was as terrifying as it was thrilling. I worked entirely in Affinity Designer, which I’m still getting the hang of, but it felt like the perfect playground for experimentation and discovery.

Oh, and before we go any further—I documented the whole process in a brand-new YouTube video! 🎬 So if you want to see the chaos, the color choices, the undo button abuse, and the tiny victories that made me smile like a dork, go check it out:

Why Coloring Felt Like a Boss-Level Side Quest 🎮

Let’s be real for a second: sketching is comfortable. Inking has a satisfying finality to it. But coloring? Coloring is a psychological game.

I had to fight off my inner perfectionist. I kept second-guessing everything:

• “Is this skin tone too dull?”

• “Why does this shadow look like a bruise?”

• “Wait, is it too saturated now?”

• “Do I even know what light sources are?”

The journey felt like I was unlocking a hidden realm of manga-making I’d only ever admired from afar. For years I’ve looked at beautifully colored manga panels and thought, “One day.” And now, with trembling hands and more than a few color palette misfires, that day has come.

Why I Chose Affinity Designer Over Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint

You might be wondering: “Why not use Clip Studio Paint, the go-to for most mangaka?” Fair question.

Here’s why I went with Affinity Designer for this session:

1. One-time payment – I’m not about that subscription life (yet).

2. Vector AND raster options – Being able to bounce between both was perfect for my experimental process.

3. Beginner-friendly UI – While still powerful, it didn’t overwhelm me with tools I wasn’t ready for.

4. Affinity ecosystem – I’m already dipping my toes into Affinity Photo and Publisher for other projects.

Of course, there’s a learning curve. But since I'm still discovering my flow, it made sense to use a platform that felt flexible and cost-effective while still being powerful enough for pro-level art.

The Process: From Line Art to Life

Here’s how I approached the process for this second session:

🖋️ Step 1: Clean Line Art

I started with a piece I’d sketched earlier—nothing too complex, just a character bust with expressive eyes and dynamic hair. I inked it digitally using Affinity Designer’s vector brush tool. I kept the strokes clean, but with enough variation to give it personality.

This step is always a joy for me because it’s where my characters really come to life. It’s also where I tell myself I can still bail on coloring if I lose my nerve (😂).

🎨 Step 2: Base Colors (AKA "The Flat Zone")

Next, I blocked in the flat colors. I tried to stay organized by separating skin, hair, eyes, and clothing into different layers.

The temptation to go wild was strong—but I kept it simple:

• Skin: muted caramel tones

• Hair: a deep plum-purple

• Eyes: teal with flecks of gold

• Clothing: white and navy blue with hints of gold trim

This is where things got exciting. My art started to feel alive. Even with just flat colors, there was this emotional depth I hadn’t felt with plain black-and-white.

🧤 Step 3: Shading & Highlights (aka “Please Let This Look Right”)

This part took the longest—and the most re-dos.

Using clipping layers and Affinity’s blend modes, I added shadows to the face, neck, and clothes. I was aiming for soft cell-shading with a slight painterly touch.

I used the soft brush tool sparingly for blending, and experimented with different light sources. One version made it look like the character was in an alleyway with neon lights. Another looked like golden hour glow. I ended up somewhere in-between.

For highlights, I lightly brushed them onto the hair and eyes—trying not to overdo it. But let’s be honest, sparkly eyes are a must.

✨ Step 4: Final Touches

Once I was happy (enough) with the colors, I added:

• A soft gradient background

• A subtle texture overlay

• A faint glow effect around the character outline

And just like that—my first full-color manga piece was born!

Lessons I Learned (the Hard Way)

This second session wasn’t just about coloring—it was about mindset, growth, and getting over creative anxiety. Here are a few things I learned:

1. Start simple. I didn’t try to color a full scene. Just one character. That helped me stay focused.

2. Color theory is not optional. I need to study more about harmony, contrast, and warm vs cool.

3. Trust your instincts—but test your swatches. What looks great in your head might clash on screen.

4. Mistakes are part of the magic. There were at least five moments I thought I “ruined” the piece… but each mistake pushed me to try something new.

5. Recording the process helps. Watching myself in the playback reminded me how far I’ve come. I recommend every artist hit that record button, even if it’s just for your own reference.

   
   

Why This Session Matters to Me 🥹

This wasn't just “my second session”—it was a pivot point in my journey as a manga creator.

In the first session, I was building the foundation—getting used to my tools, understanding shapes, poses, and lines. This time, I felt like I’d stepped through a portal. I wasn’t just designing characters anymore—I was breathing life into them.

Color lets me explore mood, theme, cultural vibes, even spiritual energy (especially since many of my manga stories deal with mysticism, ancient realms, and cosmic battles). It opens the door to entire visual languages I’ve barely begun to explore.

YouTube: See the Magic (and the Madness) Unfold

I’m super excited to share this journey with you in video form. The YouTube video captures:

• My exact layer setup in Affinity Designer

• Real-time coloring footage (mistakes and all)

• Commentary from yours truly on what I’m doing, thinking, and accidentally messing up 😅

Here’s that link again:👉 [Watch My Coloring Debut on YouTube](https://youtu.be/YxWX6aU7w4Y) Like the video if you enjoyed watching the process.

Comment with your favorite coloring tips or what tools you use. Subscribe if you want to ride shotgun on my manga adventure.

This is just the beginning. I plan to release more sessions—some sketch-based, some full illustration, and even sneak peeks into my ongoing manga series and worldbuilding projects.