Can i get some help please? (INKS)

[UrbanRevolution]

Greetings all,

My name is N8 and I’m that Manga phantom / jack of all trades.

I realized that I’m loosing something with my inks. It’s like my pencils feel more manga then my inks…..

http://www.urbanrevolution.us/dj20.jpg
VS.
http://www.urbanrevolution.us/dj21.jpg

1) Does anyone publish off their pencils? I know a lot of American comics are doing it right now, but I haven’t seen it in Manga.
(it just needs to be clean enough right?)

2) Do you have any suggestions on how I can fix my problem? I’m going for that
Bleach / Next exit / Re:Play feel with my inks.

I do a lot of American comic’s and my inks are no prob, but the wispy Manga inks are driving me mad.
BTW I ink with Microns.

Any help you can offer would be grand.
-Nate

my other work
http://messageboard.tokyopop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163

[Wolfman]

Hi man, try this link http://www.glasshousegraphics.com/breakingin/scanning/scanning.html

It might help.

[UrbanRevolution]

Thanks!

i tried it and it don't work that well....oh well..

[QueenieChan]

I realized that I’m loosing something with my inks. It’s like my pencils feel more manga then my inks…..

1) Does anyone publish off their pencils? I know a lot of American comics are doing it right now, but I haven’t seen it in Manga.
(it just needs to be clean enough right?)

Megatokyo is published in pencil. And it looks atrocious, in my opinion. I've only seen PARTS of Blade of the Immortal published in pencil, and that's probably the ONLY pencil publishing in manga I've seen that looks good. Even so, Hiroki does most of his art inked. Publishing in pencil WELL is actually quite difficult and expensive.


2) Do you have any suggestions on how I can fix my problem? I’m going for that
Bleach / Next exit / Re:Play feel with my inks.
I do a lot of American comic’s and my inks are no prob, but the wispy Manga inks are driving me mad.
BTW I ink with Microns.

My suggestion: Don't use Microns. You can't get the same flowing manga line effects with Microns - or at least *I* can't get the same effects with Microns. You can easily euy either Nikko pen or G-pens, and Deleter paper, and try it out. It's quite different to using Microns, but the line variation is much better.

[UrbanRevolution]

thank you, i'll look into em'

[BettinaMarie]

My suggestion: Don't use Microns. You can't get the same flowing manga line effects with Microns - or at least *I* can't get the same effects with Microns. You can easily euy either Nikko pen or G-pens, and Deleter paper, and try it out. It's quite different to using Microns, but the line variation is much better.

Actually...Christy Lijewski, artist of Next Exit and Re:Play and INSANELY HUGE fan of Kubo Tite, uses Neopikos and Copic Multiliners for her inking, as do I. Neopikos for the body of the work and Copics for backgrounds. So it is possible to use them for pro work and get that "flowing manga line effect" with these sorts of 'technical' pens and I have been able to create the varying line widths with these pens, but it DOES take a LOT of practice and know-how to do it effectively. I personally think I've more control over my inking with these pens...and...it's not as messy^^;

Keep in mind though, that I've worked with brush, dip pens and ink for many years when I first started to REALLY learn to ink my work.^^;

[DescentfromOblivion]

Neopikos for the body of the work and Copics for backgrounds.


I was wonder how often do you go throuogh Neopikos and copic multiliners
and how long have you let them set before they dryup, without using them, which is better on not fading when
you erase.

[KaYoKitten]

I've been wondering about this, too...No one's said anything about my inking in my sharing-manga thread (found here (http://messageboard.tokyopop.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1512)). I use regular ink pens (with a good steady flow to the ink, I can't stand those Millenium pens XP ). For thick lines, I use a Uniball .07, usually for panels and some foregrounding. Medium lines, I use a Pilot Precise, which has this needle-like point at .03 for the majority of inking. And I use .005 Microns for super-thin lines and some hatching and cross-hatching prior to tones.

I've tried crow-quill, brush pens, G-pens, and a few other art-store variety calligraphy pens, but none of them I felt comfortable using. Quills and nibs tend to use too much ink too quickly for me, and I lose control of the line. I'd rather take the extra hour or so to use these pens than try and do it all in one fatal swoop that could all end in disaster. ^^;

My Precise pens usually last me a week on my usage now, but if I go pro using them, I'll probably start going through two of them. Which is good, because they're pretty cheap, but do decent work. Despite how little I use them, though, my Microns run out the fastest, and they're the most expensive. T_T

[Wolfman]

What do you suppose Hiroaki Samura uses for his inks in Blade of the Immortal? I love that kinda rugged look he adopts. Its almost like he uses his inks in the same way that you would use pencils to sketch a drawing(yes, i know some of his pages are pencilled). I think it sets the tone cleverly for the mature readers that he attracts as it adds realism and is not smooth or too comicy-looking.

Is there any TP manga that uses this same approach to inking?

[UrbanRevolution]

Actually...Christy Lijewski, artist of Next Exit and Re:Play and INSANELY HUGE fan of Kubo Tite, uses Neopikos and Copic Multiliners for her inking, as do I. Neopikos for the body of the work and Copics for backgrounds. So it is possible to use them for pro work and get that "flowing manga line effect" with these sorts of 'technical' pens and I have been able to create the varying line widths with these pens, but it DOES take a LOT of practice and know-how to do it effectively. I personally think I've more control over my inking with these pens...and...it's not as messy^^;

Keep in mind though, that I've worked with brush, dip pens and ink for many years when I first started to REALLY learn to ink my work.^^;

thanks!

[rivkah]

What do you suppose Hiroaki Samura uses for his inks in Blade of the Immortal? I love that kinda rugged look he adopts. Its almost like he uses his inks in the same way that you would use pencils to sketch a drawing(yes, i know some of his pages are pencilled). I think it sets the tone cleverly for the mature readers that he attracts as it adds realism and is not smooth or too comicy-looking.

Is there any TP manga that uses this same approach to inking?

The closest I can think of, so far, is Queenie Chan for "The Dreaming." She has a very detailed inking style, though she's still certainly much cleaner than "Blade of The Immortal" and she uses more tones since there's a lot of suspense and terror.

It's also an excellent book. ^_~

[Wolfman]

The closest I can think of, so far, is Queenie Chan for "The Dreaming." She has a very detailed inking style, though she's still certainly much cleaner than "Blade of The Immortal" and she uses more tones since there's a lot of suspense and terror.

It's also an excellent book. ^_~

Thanks! I'll be sure to read the previews. I'm experimenting with 'Hiroaki Samura' use of inking as that type of style would be ideal for my pitch to TP later this year.

I read your sticky on submitting to TP. Gotta say, its helped alot and much thanks for finding the time to write it. Maybe you could help me with this query that I posted for the Editors at...

http://messageboard.tokyopop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1565

[J. Stoncius]

Am I crazy or did I see this on eatpoo a while ago? (I don't post there since I draw way too manga for them not to skewer me, and only lurk occasionally because it seems like hardly anybody over there realizes that pencil sketches don't need to be posted at 700kb and 2000x2000px. Not everybody has cable, kthx. But I swear I saw this because I remember people talking about the perspective on that speaker.).

You can get a decent look with microns, in my opinion, but you have to be willing to take the time to do it. Line variation is key. And knowing where to make the lines thicker or thinner, but that's really just something you have to study a lot in existing manga. And practice.

Like, this is the "inks" step of a fanart I did a couple weeks ago (yes, Saiyuki...shut up, I'm a girl and I like to draw shirtless guys, shhhh). I did this, like...completely with 01 and 005 microns, on legal-sized cardstock.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/defiantdrifter/lazybw.gif

I don't ink with anything else for comics, because I like the control they give me. It really depends on what kind of look you're going for. I don't think manga necessarily HAS to have wispy lines. A lot of wispiness in manga lines to me looks like error and lack of confidence, depending on the art. With your piece, I think especially in the face, you could have varied things a little more.

[RikkiSimons]

A lot of wispiness in manga lines to me looks like error and lack of confidence, depending on the art.

It depends if it works well with what the artist is trying to do, yes. And more often than not I think it works very well with a lot of the published examples I've seen. On the other hand, too thick a continuous contour line sometimes makes me think the artist was trying to draw a coloring book.

-Rikki

[J. Stoncius]

Yeah, it pretty much depends. I'm mostly talking about amateur stuff like doujinshi, though. You see a lot of wispiness in that because "manga art has wispy lines." Well, that's not really all there is to it.

[rivkah]

I don't ink with anything else for comics, because I like the control they give me.

That's very interesting! I've used microns before, but felt that the ability to control my lines with them was more than I'm happy with because there are no happy accidents with microns. Even though I ink digitally, I use a high-variation nib that's extremely sensitive to pressure. Even more sensitive than a traditional nib pen would be . . . it's like using an incredibly fine brush pen. And the line art for microns doesn't feel so . . . fluid? I guess you could say? Which is probably why that whispier, nib style is better for shoujo, eh? It has a sort of light, airy feel to it while microns give a weighter, down-to-earth feel to finished art.

Some of my own experiments with different kinds of pens: :P

MICRON:
http://www.rivkah.com/artwork/prismguide/riseupstrip.jpg

BRUSH PEN:
http://lj.nmerriam.sent.com/rivkah-girl-on-hill.gif

DIGITAL:
http://www.rivkah.com/artwork/harpercollins/wip002.jpg
(if I showed the whole image, I'd have to kill you)

And brush pens are super fun, but I don't think I'd ever use them for comic work. Too little control.

[Jo Soo Park]

MICRON:
http://www.rivkah.com/artwork/prismguide/riseupstrip.jpg



Someone's a Sinfest fan. :D

[rivkah]

Someone's a Sinfest fan. :D

LOL! I was purposely practicing Tatsuya Ishida's style that week. His art (and sound FX!!!!) are amazing, and I love his use of black fills to offset the action and mood in the panel.

[UrbanRevolution]

Am I crazy or did I see this on eatpoo a while ago? (I don't post there since I draw way too manga for them not to skewer me, and only lurk occasionally because it seems like hardly anybody over there realizes that pencil sketches don't need to be posted at 700kb and 2000x2000px. Not everybody has cable, kthx. But I swear I saw this because I remember people talking about the perspective on that speaker.).


what is eatpoo? i have no idea what you're talking about...sorry

[J. Stoncius]

Hmm. Maybe it was conceptart.org, then. eatpoo.com is this place that has a forum where people will critique your art (supposedly). Kind of like conceptart.org, except...not as professional, it seems. I swear I've seen this pic posted somewhere before. I could totally have aliens transmitting things into my brain, though, so if it hasn't been posted, my apologies. XD

[UrbanRevolution]

Hmm. Maybe it was conceptart.org, then. eatpoo.com is this place that has a forum where people will critique your art (supposedly). Kind of like conceptart.org, except...not as professional, it seems. I swear I've seen this pic posted somewhere before. I could totally have aliens transmitting things into my brain, though, so if it hasn't been posted, my apologies. XD

ya it might be an alien thing...

[Pedes]

I've been wondering about this, too...No one's said anything about my inking in my sharing-manga thread (found here (http://messageboard.tokyopop.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1512)). I use regular ink pens (with a good steady flow to the ink, I can't stand those Millenium pens XP ). For thick lines, I use a Uniball .07, usually for panels and some foregrounding. Medium lines, I use a Pilot Precise, which has this needle-like point at .03 for the majority of inking. And I use .005 Microns for super-thin lines and some hatching and cross-hatching prior to tones.

I've tried crow-quill, brush pens, G-pens, and a few other art-store variety calligraphy pens, but none of them I felt comfortable using. Quills and nibs tend to use too much ink too quickly for me, and I lose control of the line. I'd rather take the extra hour or so to use these pens than try and do it all in one fatal swoop that could all end in disaster. ^^;

My Precise pens usually last me a week on my usage now, but if I go pro using them, I'll probably start going through two of them. Which is good, because they're pretty cheap, but do decent work. Despite how little I use them, though, my Microns run out the fastest, and they're the most expensive. T_T

I had big problems with inking at the beggining too. Reasong being: I don't draw with long strokes, most of my pictures were made with hundrets and tousands of tiny pencil strokes. (still people find my lines clean) There was only one thing I could do: practice longer lines. As I said in some other topic, I practice with writing pen. Just doodle in college notebook. But when I take the nib (I mead dip pen) in my hand it's much easier to use :) And the marker-like pens... soo easy! (just I don't own a decent one, must invest). So it's good to learn to use the tool you find the hardest to use, the the others seems simpler. And simple truth: the more you ink the more you feel the pen, you ink more, you get better (and a vicious circle.. not so vicious though ^^ ).