Lineart Tutorial~
As requested by 
honeycorrupts in order to avoid getting done in by her hungry lion of a father (?). Now, Honey, I'm not 100% sure that this is what you meant when you asked for a lineart tutorial. In any case, this was pretty fun to do. I'll gladly do the version you asked for if I happen to have misunderstood you XD.
Note: Be forewarned that I'm a bad storyteller, and hence, am a relatively bad guide but I TRIED and pretended to be a good guide just for this tutorial x__x. Also, in this tut I'll be treating you as if you were a complete novice, so please don't misread my tone as "a tad patronising" LOL. Another thing, I'm not claiming that this is the right way to go about this; it is simply how I choose to ink my sketches. I won't be liable for... damages. We savvy? XD
Right, right. Since I'm kinda sorta Rollo-high at the moment, you can guess that he's going to be our model this time around. You don't mind looking at his face all through this, do you? Since you did say you disliked him XD.
First thing first
A tablet + stylus and a drawing program are needed for this method of inking.sukiyakiya has somewhat taught me to ink manually but having failed that I turned to the comforts of digital inking instead. Where I can abuse the undo button to my satisfaction. I personally use WACOM Intuos3 and Corel Painter Essentials 3 for all my art, with one button on the stylus set on the keystroke for Undo. It's practical, believe you me.
Enough introduction since I know you don't have all day to read this XD.
*****
1. Draw up a rough undersketch
Different artists, different habits.festivewind likes to work with big sketches at 300dpi and I am more comfortable with 200dpi at the largest (Ferrum was shocked upon finding out that a lot of my "small" sketches were in fact the original sizes that I worked with XDDD). This Rollo was done on a 100dpi canvas and the end product will testify that Ferrum's habit is the "correct" one. I would recommend getting into the habit of drawing LARGE as it would look crisp and lovely when downsized <3.
Anyway. Some people like to work in details during the sketching stage and make their undersketches as crisp and ink-able as possible. As for me, I tend to fix the strokes later during inking. Ferrum probably agrees with me considering the, er, fine art nature of her undersketches.
2. Set undersketch on 50% transparency
...or whatever percentage fits you. I personally feel comfortable with this degree of lightness. It is so that you have better control and view of your inking later on.
3. Create a new layer for inking
I like to start with a medium-fine brush (in this case I use a point 1.2 brush) but your own convenience may differ. At this stage we're only lining the sketch, so don't get too fussy about the look of the lineart during this time.
I try to "get" the lines in single strokes, which means there's MASSIVE Undo-ing involved on particularly bad days. If you have a steady stylus hand or experienced with digital drawing, this won't be too hard. I remember my hand's tendency to shake in my early attempts on the tablet, therefore tablet virgins may skip this piece of advice.
4. Once in a while, check lineart quality
This isn't a necessary step, but you might want to check the accuracy of your inking by unchecking the visibility of your undersketch layer.
5. Now you're done with the first inking stage...
I've set down the strokes that I like from the messy undersketch and defined them with inking =DDD. Now let's see how my lineart looks without the undersketch.
6. ...and on to the second stage
Oof... Terrible, isn't it? This is the bit where I fix the strokes and refine my lineart so that it looks a tad more presentable.
7. Redefine the lines
Create an illusion of thick-and-thinness by going over the existing lines with multiple strokes (to thicken) and meticulously erasing away at them (to refine) so that it looks like you're using the dreaded but effective nib pen when you're NOT. Some parts will require thicker/finer strokes than others, and you will get the hang of it with time and experience. This isn't exactly a skill that can be easily elaborated on x___x.
I alternate between medium-fine and medium-thick brush points depending on the parts I work on. I use fine brushes for fine details, some of which include the eyebrows, eyelids, nose, mouth and fringe. And I reserve thick brushes for clothing, shading, the jawline and the character's outline in general.
8. And you're good to go!
Did this help? Even a bit? ;_______; Please prod me with questions if questions need attention, because I feel I wasn't too clear in my explanations.
*****
Thank you for viewing my first ever and probably last tutorial *bows deeply*. I don't think I have anything else I can "impart" to people o____o.
Wah! And happy birthday,joey_fraser!!! So many people having birthdays this month XD.
honeycorrupts in order to avoid getting done in by her hungry lion of a father (?). Now, Honey, I'm not 100% sure that this is what you meant when you asked for a lineart tutorial. In any case, this was pretty fun to do. I'll gladly do the version you asked for if I happen to have misunderstood you XD.Note: Be forewarned that I'm a bad storyteller, and hence, am a relatively bad guide but I TRIED and pretended to be a good guide just for this tutorial x__x. Also, in this tut I'll be treating you as if you were a complete novice, so please don't misread my tone as "a tad patronising" LOL. Another thing, I'm not claiming that this is the right way to go about this; it is simply how I choose to ink my sketches. I won't be liable for... damages. We savvy? XD
Right, right. Since I'm kinda sorta Rollo-high at the moment, you can guess that he's going to be our model this time around. You don't mind looking at his face all through this, do you? Since you did say you disliked him XD.
First thing first
A tablet + stylus and a drawing program are needed for this method of inking.
sukiyakiya has somewhat taught me to ink manually but having failed that I turned to the comforts of digital inking instead. Where I can abuse the undo button to my satisfaction. I personally use WACOM Intuos3 and Corel Painter Essentials 3 for all my art, with one button on the stylus set on the keystroke for Undo. It's practical, believe you me.Enough introduction since I know you don't have all day to read this XD.
*****
1. Draw up a rough undersketch
Different artists, different habits.
festivewind likes to work with big sketches at 300dpi and I am more comfortable with 200dpi at the largest (Ferrum was shocked upon finding out that a lot of my "small" sketches were in fact the original sizes that I worked with XDDD). This Rollo was done on a 100dpi canvas and the end product will testify that Ferrum's habit is the "correct" one. I would recommend getting into the habit of drawing LARGE as it would look crisp and lovely when downsized <3.Anyway. Some people like to work in details during the sketching stage and make their undersketches as crisp and ink-able as possible. As for me, I tend to fix the strokes later during inking. Ferrum probably agrees with me considering the, er, fine art nature of her undersketches.
2. Set undersketch on 50% transparency
...or whatever percentage fits you. I personally feel comfortable with this degree of lightness. It is so that you have better control and view of your inking later on.
3. Create a new layer for inking
I like to start with a medium-fine brush (in this case I use a point 1.2 brush) but your own convenience may differ. At this stage we're only lining the sketch, so don't get too fussy about the look of the lineart during this time.
I try to "get" the lines in single strokes, which means there's MASSIVE Undo-ing involved on particularly bad days. If you have a steady stylus hand or experienced with digital drawing, this won't be too hard. I remember my hand's tendency to shake in my early attempts on the tablet, therefore tablet virgins may skip this piece of advice.
4. Once in a while, check lineart quality
This isn't a necessary step, but you might want to check the accuracy of your inking by unchecking the visibility of your undersketch layer.
5. Now you're done with the first inking stage...
I've set down the strokes that I like from the messy undersketch and defined them with inking =DDD. Now let's see how my lineart looks without the undersketch.
6. ...and on to the second stage
Oof... Terrible, isn't it? This is the bit where I fix the strokes and refine my lineart so that it looks a tad more presentable.
7. Redefine the lines
Create an illusion of thick-and-thinness by going over the existing lines with multiple strokes (to thicken) and meticulously erasing away at them (to refine) so that it looks like you're using the dreaded but effective nib pen when you're NOT. Some parts will require thicker/finer strokes than others, and you will get the hang of it with time and experience. This isn't exactly a skill that can be easily elaborated on x___x.
I alternate between medium-fine and medium-thick brush points depending on the parts I work on. I use fine brushes for fine details, some of which include the eyebrows, eyelids, nose, mouth and fringe. And I reserve thick brushes for clothing, shading, the jawline and the character's outline in general.
8. And you're good to go!
Did this help? Even a bit? ;_______; Please prod me with questions if questions need attention, because I feel I wasn't too clear in my explanations.
*****
Thank you for viewing my first ever and probably last tutorial *bows deeply*. I don't think I have anything else I can "impart" to people o____o.
Wah! And happy birthday,
joey_fraser!!! So many people having birthdays this month XD.