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Art tips and techniques and some reviews by illustrator Joe Corroney.
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COMICS 101 for 09/19/2002
Digital Inking vs. Traditional Inking
Joe:
In your Digital Painting example (Battle Droids! Comics 101 last month -Joe), you paint over very, very tight pencils that almost look like inkings.
Does this save you time vs penciling and inking? Or do you spend about the same amount of time because you had to pencil so tight?
When you do ink, do you ink digitally, with Zig/Copic/Staedtler markers, nibs, and/or brush?
Thanks,
Michael Greczek
Hi Michael,
Either way really takes about the same time more or less for me. It might actually go a little faster by digitally inking this piece since it becomes part of my painting process though I'm not sure. I don't usually go this route for 'speed' reasons necessarily since it feels about the same. It's more about the specific technique I want go after.
Even though the Battle Droids! piece looks like it was completed in India ink, I chose to paint over my lines digitally so they would have a slightly more painterly, organic feel than a cripser hard edged feel from actual pen and ink.
I guess I knew I didn't want to ink traditionally since I was experimenting with Photoshop at the time and testing my capabilities with the program. I was also knew this had to be in full color and was planning for a more rendered look than usual but I suppose in the end the piece really didn't deviate much from my usual technique of masking actual pen and ink line and painting behind it on layers. Overall though, I thought it turned out pretty successful even though I played it a little more safe than I planned.
When I actually 'ink' I primarily use a crowquill pen with a Hunt's 102 nib. I also use 101 and bowl point nibs sometimes. I like the crowquill pen nibs because I can ink pretty fast with them. I might go through 2 nibs per piece (if it's large) or page when I'm inking so it can be kinda costly me but I'm very comfortable with the dip pens. I also like the Hunt's 102 nib because of it's flexibility.
For straight edges or graphic shape outlines I use tech pens. I sometimes use Windsor Newton brushes to ink my figures with when I'm feeling brave. I do use markers to quickly block in my bigger flat blacks in my pieces and I just started playing with Copic markers recently.
I basically use whatever it takes to get the job done. I think the trick is not to pigeon-hole yourself into just one tool since you can get a variety of techniques from having different types of inking supplies at your disposal.
One of the best artists working in the industry today (and for probably the past 20 years I think), Tom Mandrake, is a friend of mine and I've learned so much recently in terms of what I can do and get away in my own pen and ink art by just studying his work.
Definitely check out his official *brand new* website, www.tommandrake.com, and take a look at his online portfolio.
Also, for any inking and drawing supplies you should check out www.bluelinepro.com.
Just click the 'Store' link in the navigation at the top or left side of the page.
Thanks for reading Comics 101, Michael!
-Joe
See ya next week...
<< 09/12/2002 | 09/19/2002 | 09/26/2002 >>
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