So, I need some help. I usually experiment with all the different processes of doing a design. I always hand draw all of it, or at least the majority, and then I either trace it with the pen tool and do the line work that way (time consuming), draw the linework and color it with my tablet, or ink it and scan it in and attempt to auto trace it or have the lines clean enough to leave alone. I use a .08 micron pen. I usually use regular paper, but I need to do more in my large sketchbook. Basically, I want to be able to just ink the drawings and bring them into the computer and color them. But, auto trace usually looks horrible, or the lines aren't clean enough and they come out bad. This is for all the experts that ink and then bring it in. Horsebites is the perfect example because I know he does it that way. I just can't get the inked lines to come out looking good. Any tips/help is much appreciated... 2008-06-07T17:56:52-04:00 29 2008-03-05T17:16:04-05:00 true 0 1706 false false 5076 283 1 2009-11-21T13:56:42-05:00 639 scan at 600 dpi 1706 Post 2008-03-05T17:53:24-05:00 43685 1146 2008-03-05T17:53:24-05:00 thats why im gonna try Manga Studio, inking special 1706 Post 2008-03-05T17:55:32-05:00 43686 2418 2008-03-05T17:55:32-05:00 try http://vectormagic.com for the tracing. 1706 Post 2008-03-05T18:16:10-05:00 43696 506 2008-03-05T18:16:10-05:00 I'm glad you posted this. I rely waaay to much on autotrace. <blockquote><cite>quakerninja said:</cite> try http://vectormagic.com for the tracing.</blockquote> I've never used vectormagic, but I always sort of assumed that sites like that never give you the quality you want. 1706 Post 2008-03-05T18:24:33-05:00 43701 1265 2008-03-05T18:24:33-05:00 <blockquote><cite>quakerninja said:</cite> try http://vectormagic.com for the tracing.</blockquote> theyve started charging now damn... 1706 Post 2008-03-05T18:24:46-05:00 43702 2418 2008-03-05T18:25:18-05:00 yea.....I have even scanned the lines in really high. Maybe they arent clean enough? Is auto trace a bad way to go? Does paper and microns suffice? 1706 Post 2008-03-05T18:43:07-05:00 43711 283 2008-03-05T18:43:07-05:00 vector magic does good work, sucks they charge for the vectors now, but they have good options for preping the image. I have had good luck live traceing the vector magic png in illustrator 1706 Post 2008-03-05T18:44:33-05:00 43712 506 2008-03-05T18:44:33-05:00 lookin' for similiar advice, I use a 1 pigma graphic or a fine sharpie on velum or tracing paper.. and autotrace is hit or miss sometimes comes out workable other times not so much.. 1706 Post 2008-03-05T18:46:16-05:00 43713 2799 2008-03-05T18:46:16-05:00 yeah I really want to open this conversation up because I'm looking for a lot of insight into the subeject. 1706 Post 2008-03-05T18:51:24-05:00 43715 283 2008-03-05T18:51:24-05:00 You can use the links palette in illustrator and link to the raster image in photoshop, then when you tweek in photoshop it will update in illustrator. It's a workaround that helps with how live trace renders the effect. you can see a tutorial here http://revision3.com/pixelperfect/vector/ 1706 Post 2008-03-05T18:58:27-05:00 43716 506 2008-03-05T18:59:57-05:00 paper is going to play a roll in this too. The more porous the paper, the more the lines will bleed. When I need nice crisp lines I'll ink it on Bristol. Bristol is kinda pricey but it pays off. 1706 Post 2008-03-05T19:13:55-05:00 43717 1661 2008-03-05T19:13:55-05:00 <blockquote><cite>justgeoff said:</cite> paper is going to play a roll in this too. The more porous the paper, the more the lines will bleed. When I need nice crisp lines I'll ink it on Bristol. Bristol is kinda pricey but it pays off.</blockquote> I know there are a ton of factors. I use a .08 micron usually on thick computer paper (shitty I know) or in a sketchbook. I use the computer paper because I have a ton of it and it's easy to scan. But, I assume there are better options.... I might have to pick up some bristol, but I do know it's expensive and I usually go through a lot of paper when I'm drawing so I wouldn't want to mess up. I just want a good set up (paper, pens) that I can ink sketches and they scan in well enough to either auto trace, or leave a lone and color.... easier said then done though! 1706 Post 2008-03-05T20:03:16-05:00 43734 283 2008-03-05T20:03:16-05:00 i just draw everything with my different sized microns. im not picky on paper i actually use computer paper. hahaha really weird i know 1706 Post 2008-03-05T20:11:52-05:00 43737 2160 2008-03-05T20:11:52-05:00 <blockquote><cite>KidneyLeans said:</cite> i just draw everything with my different sized microns. im not picky on paper i actually use computer paper. hahaha really weird i know</blockquote> no...haha. That's exacly how I am. I never really think about the paper, and moreso about the lines. Do you live trace it, or just leave the lines as is at really high resolution? 1706 Post 2008-03-05T20:14:58-05:00 43738 283 2008-03-05T20:14:58-05:00 Also, what does everyone do for larger lines. Isn't the biggest micron .08? That's the largest one I have and it's still not THAT big. 1706 Post 2008-03-05T20:22:53-05:00 43748 283 2008-03-05T20:23:08-05:00 bumpity bump bump 1706 Post 2008-03-05T20:38:53-05:00 43759 283 2008-03-05T20:38:53-05:00 <blockquote><cite>Ray Frenden said:</cite> Vector magic isn't free any longer.</blockquote> you can use it and download the png file and redraw over or live trace...bummer there making a application soon 1706 Post 2008-03-05T21:22:09-05:00 43803 2418 2008-03-05T21:22:09-05:00 <blockquote><cite>drewB said:</cite> Also, what does everyone do for larger lines. Isn't the biggest micron .08? That's the largest one I have and it's still not THAT big.</blockquote> sharpie? 1706 Post 2008-03-05T21:27:10-05:00 43808 1486 2008-03-05T21:27:10-05:00 <blockquote><cite>heroes1985 said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>drewB said:</cite> Also, what does everyone do for larger lines. Isn't the biggest micron .08? That's the largest one I have and it's still not THAT big.</blockquote> sharpie?</blockquote> i just got these things called identipen from sakura aaaaaaaaaand i think im in love 1706 Post 2008-03-05T21:32:32-05:00 43809 1146 2008-03-05T21:32:48-05:00 yeah I got some of those quite by accident they are the cats meow. I just found out that sakura is the maker of micron and pigma, I love my brush pens. pigma graphic is the way to go for fat lines. http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-Brush 1706 Post 2008-03-05T21:49:58-05:00 43823 506 2008-03-05T21:52:17-05:00 <blockquote><cite>drewB said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>KidneyLeans said:</cite> i just draw everything with my different sized microns. im not picky on paper i actually use computer paper. hahaha really weird i know</blockquote> no...haha. That's exacly how I am. I never really think about the paper, and moreso about the lines. Do you live trace it, or just leave the lines as is at really high resolution?</blockquote>i dont live trace i just scan it in really high res and just go at it in photoshop:D 1706 Post 2008-03-05T22:06:19-05:00 43836 2160 2008-03-05T22:06:19-05:00 <blockquote><cite>drewB said:</cite> Also, what does everyone do for larger lines. Isn't the biggest micron .08? That's the largest one I have and it's still not THAT big.</blockquote> there are larger microns get a graphic 1 or a graphic 2 1706 Post 2008-03-05T22:07:25-05:00 43839 2160 2008-03-05T22:07:25-05:00 <blockquote><cite>KidneyLeans said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>drewB said:</cite> Also, what does everyone do for larger lines. Isn't the biggest micron .08? That's the largest one I have and it's still not THAT big.</blockquote> there are larger microns get a graphic 1 or a graphic 2</blockquote> Yeah, I just need larger microns and I should be good 1706 Post 2008-03-05T22:10:01-05:00 43842 283 2008-03-05T22:10:01-05:00 <blockquote><cite>drewB said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>justgeoff said:</cite> paper is going to play a roll in this too. The more porous the paper, the more the lines will bleed. When I need nice crisp lines I'll ink it on Bristol. Bristol is kinda pricey but it pays off.</blockquote> I know there are a ton of factors. I use a .08 micron usually on thick computer paper (shitty I know) or in a sketchbook. I use the computer paper because I have a ton of it and it's easy to scan. But, I assume there are better options.... I might have to pick up some bristol, but I do know it's expensive and I usually go through a lot of paper when I'm drawing so I wouldn't want to mess up. I just want a good set up (paper, pens) that I can ink sketches and they scan in well enough to either auto trace, or leave a lone and color.... easier said then done though!</blockquote> Well you don't just use the Bristol to sketch on. Once you have your final image use a lightbox and trace it onto the Bristol and then ink it. 1706 Post 2008-03-06T09:11:55-05:00 44060 1661 2008-03-06T09:11:55-05:00 i might have to try some of those brush pens. nice! 1706 Post 2008-03-06T10:10:06-05:00 44083 954 2008-03-06T10:10:06-05:00 i sketch on the bristol, cuz im dangerous like that, but i do it with a pink colerase pencil first then ink on top of it. 1706 Post 2008-03-06T10:13:35-05:00 44089 1146 2008-03-06T10:13:35-05:00 <blockquote><cite>chrisrushing said:</cite> i might have to try some of those brush pens. nice!</blockquote> http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-Brush are those the ones you speak of? 1706 Post 2008-03-06T10:19:23-05:00 44095 1815 2008-03-06T10:19:23-05:00 i've had good results scaning vellum paper. it's see through so you get your pen lines on the perfectly white background of your (clean)scanner, increase the size of the image while scanning and then resize it in photoshop. 1706 Post 2008-03-06T15:54:14-05:00 44362 441 2008-03-06T15:54:14-05:00 Yeah, I've been using a brush pen called Memory.. the other cool thing about it is it's refillable. One prob I have with Sakura pens is that they dry up too fast. Scanning ink lines has always been a source of frustration for me as well, because I often have to completely redraw my lines as soon as they are scanned. I've found it also helps to use a slick paper. I recently discovered Borden & Riley's #234 Paris Bleedproof, and it really does make ink and markers look nice. Lots of slick papers can be pretty smudgy, and for a lefty like me, that's a big issue. 1706 Post 2008-06-07T17:56:52-04:00 101293 5076 2008-06-07T17:56:52-04:00