I've decided that inking is better (mainly discussion)

[Caliber Mengsk]

Well, a while ago, I drew up an anime-ish person based off of a real life person picture, and it turned out to be one I really really liked. (turned out to look like this: http://caliber-mengsk.deviantart.com/#/d46z212 )

I haven't drawn in a while, and this drawing was just sitting on my desk, and also, a few years back my Sister bought me some copic pens for christmas. Well, I never felt that anything I drew was good enough to really ink, or I liked it so much I was afraid I'd mess it up.

In this case though, while I like the picture, it's very simple, not much to it. So, I inked it the other day. Turns out, it looks great. Even better now, since it was drawn on newsprint, and was very light colored overall, this made it pop.

I'll upload a new pic of her inked if I remember when I get home (XD seems to be not very likely with my memory), to get your guy's opinions on it, but beside that, I wanted to ask if you ink, why or why not, and if you have any tips? (>_< besides not using newsprint for things you are going to ink XD)  

[Thaliat Everwood]

Cool, I am interested to see the new version.

I share the same concerns on inking and I think that is why all my coloring is now digitally done.  

[Caliber Mengsk]

Coloring I can understand being done digitally. It's the only way I do it. razz

Inking is kind of different though. Sure, it can be done fairly decently on the PC, and I even have my own method in photoshop for inking with the mouse (using the pen tool) but it still doesn't look quite right.  

[Tarff]

I also prefer to do everything on the computer so I don't NOT color something just 'cause I'm worried I'll mess it up. Ctrl+z is the best thing in the world. Unfortunately, now when I draw on paper, I try to "undo" things sometimes because I'm so used to having it and then I realize a moment later that I need to use an eraser. rofl Very sad, I know. However, when I do draw something, if I like it, generally I just ink it. Sometimes I really don't want to erase the pencil underneath, but I figure, if I mess up, I'll just scan it into the computer later and can fix it then. Inking just makes it easier for when I put it on the computer because then I don't have to deal with creating a lineart on the computer. And since I always color on the computer (so I don't have weird lines and stuff on my picture from the markers and coloured pencils are just not dark enough when I use them), I know that I can take more risks anyway. But, in general, I think that inked pictures look better because there's greater contrast between the image and the paper. So I say yep yep to that. 3nodding  

[Caliber Mengsk]

I would never use colored pencils or markers to color, for the same reasons you said, but I would most definitely watercolor. I haven't done it yet myself, but if done right turns out amazing, and doesn't have harsh lines or dark spots.

That said, digitally coloring is my favorite so far. I'll probably mess around with water coloring after I get use to inking.  

[Tarff]

Caliber Mengsk

I would never use colored pencils or markers to color, for the same reasons you said, but I would most definitely watercolor. I haven't done it yet myself, but if done right turns out amazing, and doesn't have harsh lines or dark spots.

That said, digitally coloring is my favorite so far. I'll probably mess around with water coloring after I get use to inking.

Yeah... I'm waaaaaay too sloppy with water colour. And, even though I know some people can do a great job with it, I still prefer darker/harder colours. Or, I should say, more solid coloring. So if I am using a paint medium, I use pastels, in which case I use it on a blank canvas, not a lineart. rofl  

[moeotaku1]

The only way I make anything I'm particularly fond of is when I'm using pencils. I've experimented with markers and paint and have failed horribly (not including the black Sharpie I used to practice shading a leather jacket). I do try to ink often, but my drawings are so small that the ink usually just makes it look crowded. I need to draw bigger and/or get my hands on a thinner pen.  

[Tarff]

moeotaku1

The only way I make anything I'm particularly fond of is when I'm using pencils. I've experimented with markers and paint and have failed horribly (not including the black Sharpie I used to practice shading a leather jacket). I do try to ink often, but my drawings are so small that the ink usually just makes it look crowded. I need to draw bigger and/or get my hands on a thinner pen.

You should definitely invest in a small set of pens if you're thinking of inking. These are what I have, though I got a four back (it had small, fine, medium, and brush tips), and because it had less pens, it was even cheaper than this set here.
They work rather well, but they're not expensive as hell. 'Sides, your pictures WILL end up looking better, I believe. Especially if you have a lot of detail because, over time, the graphite from the pencil will smudge a lot, and then your details will be lost. Just a suggestion, but a highly recommended one. rofl  

[moeotaku1]

Tarff

moeotaku1

The only way I make anything I'm particularly fond of is when I'm using pencils. I've experimented with markers and paint and have failed horribly (not including the black Sharpie I used to practice shading a leather jacket). I do try to ink often, but my drawings are so small that the ink usually just makes it look crowded. I need to draw bigger and/or get my hands on a thinner pen.

You should definitely invest in a small set of pens if you're thinking of inking. These are what I have, though I got a four back (it had small, fine, medium, and brush tips), and because it had less pens, it was even cheaper than this set here.
They work rather well, but they're not expensive as hell. 'Sides, your pictures WILL end up looking better, I believe. Especially if you have a lot of detail because, over time, the graphite from the pencil will smudge a lot, and then your details will be lost. Just a suggestion, but a highly recommended one. rofl

Those look magnificent~ I would buy them if I weren't so broke! blaugh But I asked my parents for a DA account for Christmas. Maybe I can make some money from commissions. Wish me luck and thanks for the advice.  

[Det Takashi-Senpai]

I love inking, something simple and not hard to do. Any picture I draw I usually ink unless it's just step one in a drawing process. I've been drawing this sci-fi like woman that I've been showing to my uncle (he's an illustrator) and I've been asking him for a few tips on making it look better, first I drew it in pencil, posted it, then I redrew with the things told to me to work with, and reposted it, this was the inked version

http://schmidy1993.deviantart.com/#/d5oxptj  

[akinmytua]

I can never seem to get digital coloring to look the way I want so I am a slave to inking. Lately I found a cheat. I scanned a pencil drawing and then reprinted it on card stock. I could then color it with colored pencil and not worry about gouges in the paper. But I also still enjoy inking and then coloring. I just make sure to copy the pencil art before hand in case I screw it up. And I still like colored pencil...



What pens do you guys favor?