Inking technique

[shigga]

Just curious whats the best way to ink? I want to keep my pencils so would I just use a lightbox and put another peice of Blueline on top and trace over it that way?

[Travis]

This should really be in the tips and tech area...

And that sounds better than any idea I've got!

[Dash Martin]

That's one way to do it. I usually scan in the pencils and then print them out in nonphoto blue and ink over those. It's easier for me to ink on a table tahn on a lightbox.

[Juan2.0]

That's one way to do it. I usually scan in the pencils and then print them out in nonphoto blue and ink over those. It's easier for me to ink on a table tahn on a lightbox.

Yeah, that's what I'd recommend doing too. A lot of inkers work that way nowadays.

[shigga]

wouldn't I need an 11 x 17 printer?

[Travis]

And scanner! I wanna hear how this works...

[Bruce Lee]

This is question that can only be answered by opinion, so I'll throw mine out. If you really want to learn to ink, do it the old fashion way--over the actual pencils if possible, and with old fashion tools like brushes or nibs. Printing bluelines is great, but you know, I've NEVER seen anyone print a blue line page that is as good as the original pencilled source. Always something gets lost--some detail someplace doesn't make it across. Often the blueline details are more difficult to see--blueline strains your eyes a lot more than pencil gray lines will--, so details are prone to be lost along the actual inking stage as well. Little details add up to big mistakes in inking, so don't be shocked (I'm sure you're not--heh) that I'm pushing the ol' school hot and heavy, folks.

Digtital inking is fine, if you can do it in a manner that has some energy and spontaneous line to it. Too often digital inking can leave lines that look dead and lifeless, which doesn't work well.

Technology is a grand thing, but nothing beats knowing how to do something the old fashion way first. Even Brian Bolland started out inking on real paper, over real pencils. He learned to ink before going digital. It's why his digital inks are great--though they are sometimes a little lifeless too, IMO.

I would ask that each of you give old fashion inking a shot before you say, "Screw it--this brush and nib shit's just too hard. I'll do it digitally, 'cuz it's easier on my WaCom." Easier doesn't always translate to a better end result. If you can ink like Mark Farmer via a WaCom tablet, then I say more power too ya--so far though, I've not seen digital inks rivalling traditional brushwork by a season veteran. The day will come, I'm sure, but I haven't yet. I'm not trying to discourage digital inking so much as encourage traditional inking, because I find the latter to have better results in the hands of a skilled artist. My opinion, anyway.

Loston

[Travis]

This is question that can only be answered by opinion, so I'll throw mine out. If you really want to learn to ink, do it the old fashion way--over the actual pencils if possible, and with old fashion tools like brushes or nibs. Printing bluelines is great, but you know, I've NEVER seen anyone print a blue line page that is as good as the original pencilled source. Always something gets lost--some detail someplace doesn't make it across. Often the blueline details are more difficult to see--blueline strains your eyes a lot more than pencil gray lines will--, so details are prone to be lost along the actual inking stage as well. Little details add up to big mistakes in inking, so don't be shocked (I'm sure you're not--heh) that I'm pushing the ol' school hot and heavy, folks.

Digtital inking is fine, if you can do it in a manner that has some energy and spontaneous line to it. Too often digital inking can leave lines that look dead and lifeless, which doesn't work well.

Technology is a grand thing, but nothing beats knowing how to do something the old fashion way first. Even Brian Bolland started out inking on real paper, over real pencils. He learned to ink before going digital. It's why his digital inks are great--though they are sometimes a little lifeless too, IMO.

I would ask that each of you give old fashion inking a shot before you say, "Screw it--this brush and nib shit's just too hard. I'll do it digitally, 'cuz it's easier on my WaCom." Easier doesn't always translate to a better end result. If you can ink like Mark Farmer via a WaCom tablet, then I say more power too ya--so far though, I've not seen digital inks rivalling traditional brushwork by a season veteran. The day will come, I'm sure, but I haven't yet. I'm not trying to discourage digital inking so much as encourage traditional inking, because I find the latter to have better results in the hands of a skilled artist. My opinion, anyway.

Loston

I completely agree with this.

[shigga]

I wanted to avoid inking over my pencils so I could keep them to show some of the bigger companies rather then the small guys I've been doing work for. Just seems easier to go right over them and I guess make good scans of my pencils for printing out.

[Dash Martin]

Shigga - Yes

Neon - It comes in handy, but an 11x17 scanner isn't necessary...you can stitch the halves together like usual with a letter size scanner

Loston is right...if you're learning to ink, inking over the original pencils is the way to go, but if you already know how to ink and if it's your own pencils (and therefore already know where you put all the little details anyway),inking bluelined pencils is the way to go if you want to keep your pencils.