Hello dear Minecraft fans! I only write blogs when I have a very good idea that is interesting to talk about, and it's useful because there aren't thousands of it. Well, that's true there are many skin shading tutorial blogs here, but I thought this blog will be easy and fast. I will tell you how to shade skins quick and without any professional skills. I recommend this blog for skinners, and shading is the right choice if you want to make your skins advanced. So let's begin!

Downloads that you will need to shade a skin
Firstly you will need these downloads, because you can not shade skins without these. Just click on the title of the download, and it will redirect you to the download website.

Paint.NET (Choose your operation system's link below):
- Paint.NET (For Windows 7 or higher): You can shade skins with this programme.
- Paint.NET (For Windows XP/Vista): If you have lower operation systems than Windows 7, download this version.

Shading Template
- Shading Template for Minecraft 1.8 Skins: This is a shading template that you'll have to overlay on your skin.
- Shading Template for hat layers: If you use a plus hat layer on your skin, use this template when shading.
NOTE: If you want to share a shaded skin on Planet Minecraft, don't use the shading templates mentioned above. You have to upload work that is absolutely yours, so I advise to create a shading template yourself.

How to shade a simple-layer skin?
If you have downloaded the stuff above, you can start shading. Follow the steps below.
1. Open Paint.NET and choose File on the right up corner. Then click on Open and browse that skin you want to shade and open it.
2. Now open that folder (not in Paint.NET) where you saved the shading template.
3. Drag the shading template from the folder to Paint.NET.
4. Choose "Move into layers".
5. Now click on Layers (on the toolbar at the top), choose Layer Properties and then switch 'Normal' to Overlay.
6. Now your skin is shaded. Click on File, Save as and switch the file format into .png (Minecraft skins are only available in PNG format). Now browse a folder where you want to save the shaded skin and save it.
7. When a window appears, choose 'Flatten'.

How to shade a hat-layer skin?
If your skin has plus (hat) layers, you have to follow the steps below.
1. Do everything the same as you would do it when you shade a simple-layer skin, JUST...
2. When you open the shading template's folder, drag the hat-layer shading template to Paint.NET, not the simple-layer template.
3. Now do everything as written above.
NOTE: If your skin hasn't got every hat layer filled, use an eraser in Paint.NET, and delete the gray parts.

Finished? Now you can shade skins! :)
Well done, you have shaded your skin! Shading is recommended if you want to have a proffesional skin. Shaded skin looks much more better! Good luck on your skin-making career! ;-)

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