Applied over

Styles that put one thing on top of another, and the wording for each.

Every other group here starts from a blank sheet. These four start from something that already exists and put a second thing on top of it, which changes what the prompt has to say: it has to describe two layers and, more importantly, the relationship between them. The photograph underneath has to stay a photograph, and the marks on top have to stay marks. A model asked for both will usually blend them into one illustration, so the separation is the thing to insist on.

Drawn on top

2

Two styles where a hand adds marks to a finished photograph, and the two layers stay apart.

Doodle Overlay: Flat cartoon marks drawn over a real photograph, with neither layer pretending to be the other.

Flat cartoon marks drawn over a real photograph, with neither layer pretending to be the other.

Marker Annotation: Circles, arrows and handwriting over a photograph, added to explain rather than to decorate.

Marker Annotation

Circles, arrows and handwriting over a photograph, added to explain rather than to decorate.

Layered until the surface goes

2

Two styles where the layering is the subject, and what was underneath stops mattering.

Sticker Bomb: Printed die-cut stickers layered edge to edge until the surface beneath disappears.

Printed die-cut stickers layered edge to edge until the surface beneath disappears.

Photo Collage: Photographs cut out and layered on a surface, with the cut edge left visible.

Photographs cut out and layered on a surface, with the cut edge left visible.

Draw one of them

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Other style groups

Drawn traditionsHow a character is drawn by hand, and the wording that gets each tradition.9 drawn styles Anime and mangaThe looks from Japanese animation and comics, and the wording for each one.8 anime and manga styles PaintedThe painting media, and the wording that gets each one out of a model.7 painting media Made by handStyles built from real material, and the wording that gets each one.10 handmade styles Rendered in 3DHow a computer model is made to look like something, and the wording.11 render styles Soft materialsThe surfaces that make a hard form soft, and the wording for each one.10 soft surfaces Gradient and noiseHow a colour transition is handled, and the wording for each one.5 gradient styles Character shapesHow a figure is built and finished, and the wording for each decision.12 character styles Studio looksThe looks asked for by studio name, described by what is on the screen.8 studio looks Technical drawingHow a thing is specified rather than depicted, and the wording for each.7 technical styles

Print stylesPrinting a sheet rather than drawing a character? The same reference, for ink on paper.

Two layers that must not agree. In every one of them a model will try to integrate what is underneath with what is on top, and the whole style depends on it not doing that.