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...
29 Comments
derekdeal said 8 months ago
scan at 600 dpi
i came from nothing said 8 months ago
thats why im gonna try Manga Studio, inking special
quakerninja said 8 months ago
try http://vectormagic.com for the tracing.
Weston said 8 months ago
I’m glad you posted this. I rely waaay to much on autotrace.
I’ve never used vectormagic, but I always sort of assumed that sites like that never give you the quality you want.
i came from nothing said 8 months ago
theyve started charging now damn...
drewB said 8 months ago
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?
quakerninja said 8 months ago
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
newy 51st state said 8 months ago
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..
drewB said 8 months ago
yeah I really want to open this conversation up because I’m looking for a lot of insight into the subeject.
quakerninja said 8 months ago
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/
justgeoff said 8 months ago
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.
drewB said 8 months ago
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!
KidneyLeans said 8 months ago
i just draw everything with my different sized microns.
im not picky on paper i actually use computer paper.
hahaha
really weird i know
drewB said 8 months ago
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?
drewB said 8 months ago
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.
drewB said 8 months ago
bumpity bump bump
i came from nothing said 8 months ago
you can use it and download the png file and redraw over or live trace...bummer there making a application soon
heroes said 8 months ago
sharpie?
derekdeal said 8 months ago
i just got these things called identipen from sakura aaaaaaaaaand i think im in love
quakerninja said 8 months ago
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
KidneyLeans said 8 months ago
KidneyLeans said 8 months ago
there are larger microns get a graphic 1 or a graphic 2
drewB said 8 months ago
Yeah, I just need larger microns and I should be good
justgeoff said 8 months ago
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.
chrisrushing said 8 months ago
i might have to try some of those brush pens. nice!
derekdeal said 8 months ago
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.
Pearls To Pigs said 8 months ago
http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-Brush
are those the ones you speak of?
printolithic said 8 months ago
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.
madrooster7 said 5 months ago
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.