World Famous Comics: The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics
The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics
By: Klaus Janson Publisher: Watson-Guptill Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Watson-Guptill Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 128 Publication Date: July 01, 2003 Release Date: July 01, 2003
Product Description: For the aspiring artist who wants to become an expert comic book inker, The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics is the definitive, one-stop resource!
America’s leading comic book publisher brings its superstar creators and classic characters to the third in an authoritative series of books on how to create comics. Legendary comic book inker Klaus Janson uses DC’s world-famous characters—including Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman—to demonstrate an array of inking techniques, covering such topics as using textures, varying line weights, creating the illusion of three-dimensionality, and working with light and dark. Janson’s lively, step-by-step instructions are informative, exciting—and clear enough for even beginners to follow. In addition, every technique shown in this guide conforms to actual industry standards.
The perfect how-to on everything from basic inking materials to storytelling techniques, this one-stop sourcebook is packed with a wealth of tested techniques, practical advice, and professional secrets for the aspiring comic artist.
Second in a master class trilogy on comic art This second book in the DC Comics master class on comic book creation is this volume on inking from Klaus Janson - author of the first volume on pencilling. Once again, a huge amount of information and valuable wisdom has been packed into what might seem like a very "text heavy" book, but delving deeper I found priceless nuggets of information on how to improve my own style.
One example - the answer to the age-old dilema of "do you use a pen or a brush" - is given in the sentence "the hard metal point of a pen might best be used to ink drawings of hard and metallic shapes . . . (while) . . . any shape that has a softer element to it can be handled very well with a brush." Now why didn't I think of that?!!
Once again, as with the pencilling book, Klaus Janson presents a serious advanced manual for serious artists. Not perhaps the step-by-step DIY book that beginners might need, but definitely a treasure trove of ideas, experiece and inspiration from a master artist in his field.
Highly recommended.
Phenomenal This book is hands down the most useful books on drawing out there, as well as by far the best inking reference I have ever read. And speaking of reading, it is actually written well, too!
The first reading took under an hour. The second, a little more so. The examples Janson gives in the text are from some of the greatest artists in comics history, yet from some of their least known work.
If you are an artist of any sort, READ THIS BOOK!
Understanding the "WHY IS THAT?" about inking When it comes to drawing or inking you have to understand the rules. Some people have natural ability when it comes to inking and they couldn't tell you exactly "why" they inked in a particular way. This book definitely goes into that realm. It will tell you the fundamentals of the inking process and in time you will develop your own inking style. This book is worth adding to your drawing reference library.
workmanlike intro to comic book inking On the one hand, this book will give you every practical bit of information you'll need to, basically, critique your own inking and bring it up to an acceptable level. This book is appropriate for the novice artist. Unfortunately, there is almost nothing inspiring about this book, including the art. DC has had some tremendous inkers, which you'd expect from such a large company with such a long tenure. But you'd also expect that the bulk of the work from a large company would be average and unnotable. It is in the latter category into which this book falls. It was written and the bulk of it illustrated by two stalwarts of the industry, who have done tremendous work in the past. But the image on the cover - of two breasts charging at you - pretty much sends the worst, loudest message the comic book industry has: No depth, just something to grab your attention. What certainly isn't shown or described, except for the 3 or 4 images by Berni Wrightson, are examples of careful, beautiful, meticulous artwork. Sadly, that IS the kind of work that is predominantly seen in comic books today. What disappoints me is that the best work is not what this book is about.
Instructional, a part of the puzzle Read this and The Art of Inking, and you have probably read the best two sources of info regarding this subject available from a book. The two books are complementary in a way, covering different aspects. Klaus Johnson isn't my favorite author in readability/page-turning writing style, but the book is effective and helpful. I would look at both books and PRACTICE!!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
