While doing my research I located something called “Textile Medium”. Skill Lesson #1: How to take water-based acrylic paint and turn it into something AWESOME! It’s this knowledge that I would now like to pass to all of you so you aren’t stuck in Internet limbo wondering where all the creative DIY articles on painting fabric went. Combining this information gave me the knowledge I needed to pursue creating Nisha. While the other spoke specifically of a medium I could use to turn acrylic paints into a safe tool for painting on any fabric. One spoke of cel shading (which was my primary search) but lacked a great deal of detail as to the manner in which one attempts to cel shade or what materials one uses. I found TWO articles on painting clothing that were readable. So I needed help and where did I look? Why to my very best technological medium: the Internet. I had NEVER attempted cel shading nor had I ever attempted to paint a complicated design on a shirt before (sure, I’ve used Iron-Ons but they fade and are really tough to get good color with). Needless to say, painting on clothing is something I have done before…with puff paint or tie-dye. OK, let me summarize: NISHA IS CEL SHADED. Nisha has a simple pair of jeans that, again, are cel shaded.

I could get it screen printed but that would cost more than the 3 dollar tank top I planned to print on… Nisha’s jacket is cel shaded and has seen better days…how the heck am I supposed to emulate that? Here were my primary concerns with this character: She is a cel-shaded character with a whole lot of custom gear. In this tutorial I am using Nisha from the Borderlands Pre-Sequel game.

While there is no right or wrong way to customize a costume there is a simpler route for those just getting started. Others go complicated routes like embroidery. Some costumers get around this by dyeing material or using Photoshop to create custom fabric. Many times a character wears something that is one of a kind, something that is so unusual in its color and design that cosplayers who desire to dress as the character are a bit off put. As with many characters, be they anime or game or anything in between, a lot of customization lies in the clothing.

Borderlands without cel shading