Okay, before you do anything (well, except brainstorm, of course), you're going to need a few supplies.
Here we have an assortment of pens, pencils, and a bunch of other things (curves, freeform ruler, circle template, etc). You won't need
all of this stuff, but it sure comes in handy sometimes.
The bare essentials are
paper, pencil, pen, eraser, white-out, and a ruler or straight-edge.
Paper -
I use pretty cheap 9x12 paper, and it works just fine. You can even draw on copy-paper if you want.
There are brands specifically for comics/manga, though I've never seen or tried them. (
http://www.deleter.com/f.html )
Pencils -
My main concerns with pencils are lines that are too dark and won't erase completely and smearing the graphite everywhere (sometimes a big problem for lefties like me). I generally use a hard, light pencil like an H2 to rough things out, then to into detail with an .05 mechanical. (make sure you stock up on the lead filling, though)
Pens -
I've worked with nibs and brush, but I still favor the pen for it's ease of use. I have both felt-tip and ballpoint, being used for figures and lines, respectively. Sakura Micron pens are excellent, but sometimes a little expensive. I would recommend getting sizes .01, .03, and .05.
Eraser -
This is easily one of your most important tools. Some erasers are just crap (stay away from the erasers on pencils). We want one that erases things completely. White ones work well, and kneaded ones don't leave little 'eraser poops' all over the place. One of my friends just got me a set of ArtGum erasers, and they are fantastic.
White-Out -
How precise you are with ink determines how much you'll be using this particular item, but it's always a good thing to have. I also keep a bottle of white paint handy in case I
really screw up.
Ruler -
If you're going to buy a ruler, get a T-shaped clear plastic one. It's wonderful for right angles, and being able to see what's going on underneath the rules will save alot of white-out. Any curves, edges, or templates you get should have some degree of transparency.
*Note- A compass is also handy for drawing larger circles.
Now, once you've drawn something, you'll need a way to get it onto a computer. Digital cameras work, but the quality can't begin to compare to a good scan.
I don't really have a specific type of scanner I like; any brand can make a decent scan if you know how to set it properly.
This is a printer/copier
/scanner in one, HP PSC 1610.
My only peeve is that it is too small to get an entire page at once; everything has to be scanned in two or more pieces and reassembled digitally.
And lastly, a computer with some graphics programs. I have Paint Shop Pro 9 and Adobe Photoshop Elements open.
PSP9 I generally use for the initial clean-up and lettering;
I use Photoshop for screens and gradients.
On to the next Tut - DM- Story and Plot
Back to the Index - Drawing Manga
Stumble!