Digital vs. pen and paper -- a.k.a tools of the trade

[Harishankar]

How many of you would recommend drawing entirely with a graphics tablet and pen. So far that's what I've been doing for my webcomics.

Also if I use a paper and pen, what kind of paper, what kind of pen works best to scan the image into the computer and then colour it? I ask because, most of you seem to be pros in this line and I'm just doing it as a hobby.

I don't want to buy expensive kits to feed my hobby, but some advise on usage of pens to ink the cartoons and the use of paper would help me out, particularly when I want to draw something complex which is not convenient to draw with a tablet and pen..

[Dranxis]

My comics are all drawn by hand, but I can see the convenience of going digital.

For paper, most cartoonists use bristol board because of its thickness and smooth surface. I use Deleter brand comic book paper, which has built-in margins and rulers (they're in light-blue ink which does not show up when scanned). I bought my pack on a whim when I was in Japan, but you can order them online here: http://www.deleter.com/f.html

As for pen and ink, it depends on the art. I use a combination of mechanical pens (microns) nibbed pens, crowquill nibs, and sable brushes. Mechanical pens have consistent line width, so they're good for mechanical objects where you don't want lots of curved line widths. Brushes on the other hand are very good for flowing, organic lines, though sable ones can be a bit expensive.... (they handle very nicely though!) Nibbed pens are also very good, and the finer ones (such as crowquill points) are excellent for crosshatching and shading.

But of course you could probably achieve all of this in photoshop with some practice, so it's up to you. I just felt that the hand-drawn look better suited my comic.

[Harishankar]

Thanks for the info.

I've heard other artists say that they also prefer pen and paper and then scan the images. Others like to draw the pencil sketches and then digitally "ink" it. So I suppose it is up to each individual to choose the technique he/she prefers.

[Boozeathon4billion]

I've been using a mouse to do everything for a long time because I just don't wanna do the extra work of drawing it, scanning it, editing what I scanned, and then prepping for the web. So I just bought a graphics tablet and think its the best option for me, personally. I like that nothing is permanent, that it cuts out the scanning and cleaning up process, and that I don't have to go through paper and pencils like crazy.

But I think its generally just up to the artist. Do what feels best and what turns out the best product.

[Siabur]

When I draw traditionally I use a heavy smooth paper. This prevents the inks from bleeding. I've used bristol board but I tend to screw up when inking so I use a cheaper paper. I also trace my pencils by using a light box, again due to screwing up inking and I prefer pencils to inks. I also do the same thing when using a tablet. Scan the pencils then trace it digitally. As for my traditional pens I get them at Michaels in their drawing section I think $1.50 a pen. They have various sizes from fine points to brush tips. I don't dip the pens they are self inking. There are about 3 different brands availible but are all similar enough and do a very good job.

[Rhenny]

I do both, but right now my skills seem to flow more naturally from pen, paper and etc. I would like to someday eliminate that step but the frictionless surface of my wacom just doesn't give me the feedback I like.
A thrid option is draw in peice meal, draw on smaller papers (I developed this at work) and use photoshop for final image assembly.

[Td501]

Pen and paper was too messy for me and required a lot of space. Using a tablet took care of that and speeded up the whole process. Never have to worry about erasing a hole in the paper when sketching or making an inking mistake I can't get rid of. Very happy to have made the switch.

[Rhenny]

Pen and paper was too messy for me and required a lot of space. Using a tablet took care of that and speeded up the whole process. Never have to worry about erasing a hole in the paper when sketching or making an inking mistake I can't get rid of. Very happy to have made the switch.

How do you deal with the lack of touch feedback, im always lookig for a way to agressively cut my workload to do more pages.

[Boozeathon4billion]

For me, the Wacom tablet I use is fine... but I've done most of my previous stuff with a mouse, so anything is better than that. But I do agree that it feels a little too smooth at times and is therefore hard to get the precise look/feel I want at times. And trying to do details can be sketchy, but for that kind of stuff I just zoom way in and to it by trial and error. I think its easier than doing it on paper, scanning, and editing that.

It just takes some practice I think.

[Td501]

A good tablet and a pen with a good nib will mimic the feel of pen-on-paper to some extent, but it does take some getting used to. The better the feel of the tablet, the quicker the transition period, I'd think. I use a Cintiq, which helps further by allowing me to draw directly on the screen, but it has nice friction, which made the transition almost seamless.

[Harishankar]

I think the pen and tablet is a matter of getting used to. I'm quite comfortable with it at the moment.

I think the key is in learning to grip the pen and not worrying about the extra pressure on the tablet. We can always turn off pressure sensitivity on or off according to the needs of the situation. And learning to draw using a powerful graphics program will definitely save a lot of headaches especially using the "layers" feature which keeps all elements of the toon in different sections.

[Boozeathon4billion]

Yeah, I agree. I'm using the Bamboo Fun (small) because of price and because I use a very cartoonish style anyway, but it has a good feel and doesn't take much getting used to. You just can't expect to pick it up and have the same reaction as paper and pencil/pen. I spent an entire weekend just doodling, coloring, working with shadow (which I'm awful at still), etc...

It's cut down on my time already and I think it looks more "natural" than my older work.

[Rhenny]

Im going to experiment.. this weekends three pages while hand drawn, the graytones used in post are done with my intuos 3... should drop fri/sat/sun if anyone is curious about the fine details. I would love to eventually go all digital but where i am right now i need soem of the little hook tricks for crisp lines with quill inking.

[Boozeathon4billion]

I look forward to seeing your stuff this weekend. I also just look forward to the weekend. I've got two more finals this week (thurs and fri) and really just want them over with. lol

Don't you hate it when life gets in the way of webcomics!?

[Rhenny]

I look forward to seeing your stuff this weekend. I also just look forward to the weekend. I've got two more finals this week (thurs and fri) and really just want them over with. lol

Don't you hate it when life gets in the way of webcomics!?

I feel you, I have a math final looming.. which is my worst subject. if anything doing this webcomic relaxes me. The work is a constant, something I can be sure and not shank at the last moment.

[Jkandra]

I've been using Wacom tables for years but I still start my strip on paper. I can't seem to consistently get the line I want with the tablet. I use bristol board and Deleter G pen nibs (crow quills spattered too much) for drawing and markers for lettering. Clean up and cut and paste of repetitive images is done after scanning. I’ve heard that some with tablets put a piece of paper on top of the active area to get that “paper” feel. I’ve tried it with some success but am too lazy to switch over all the way.

[Paradox]

I use a mixture of both mediums for my comic. I find that I have trouble sketching straight through my tablet initially, I think it has a lot to do with the touch feedback that Rhenny mentioned, because I find that the surface of my tablet is too smooth and just doesn't give me the control I like.

I sketch my drawings individually into an A4 Visual Diary (Just a cheap one I picked up for like $6 from a stationary shop), usually using about one page per comic. I then scan each character or background in individually and save them as individual files, then use Photoshop CS2 and my tablet to outline/ink each one digitallly on a new layer, and then follow on and colour and compile the comic digitally.

I find that this method works best for me, as its easier to use my tablet once I have the scanned image to trace as a guide. The few times that I've tried drawing directly into the comp I find I spend inordinately higher amounts of time on the sketching stage than normal because I spend so much time erasing and redrawing things. Also, this way I can draw wherever/whenever I want to, be it in a lecture (Who actually pays attention? ) or on my break at work etc.

It works for me time wise because I use a very minimalistic style so it doesn't take me long to draw a scene, I can see how this method wouldn't work for someone who is a very detailed artist.

[Lance]

Boy, I must have some crappy Wacom. Working in Photoshop the brushstrokes have this crazy wavy thing they do.
S'okay cuz I like pencilling and inking on bristol board jus fine, thanks. I use Micron pens and Faber-Castill Pitt brush pens. The blacks aren't as rich as using traditional pens and brushes, but the work is easy and neat this way. The scans are fine w/ a little brightness & contrast tweaking in Photoshop before moving on to color and lettering.

[Fabio Ciccone]

I love so much that I actually hate when I have to draw my comic by hand (as when my previous tablet broke and I had to purchase a new one). Still, I'm pretty sure I'm a better artist drawing the old fashion way. Thing is the tablet sabes A LOT of work (althouhg not always a lot of time) since you are able to, for example, resize the sketch of a panel to better fit the picture to the frame, copy/paste sketches of panels that are alike (thus assuring two characters will be the exact same size in two different pannels), flip the sketch if you wish, create a very large working area to better use of perspective and so on; and you have much more precision once you can do a 800% zoom and use a 1 pt pen if you want (the smallest I ever used was a 4 pt).

Notice that I've been saying I do these changes in the sketch, not the final art. Some people like to repeat the exact same drawing only changing the balloons (one of my best friends do that, so I'm not judging anyone) when it's possible... I personally don't like that, but if you want that's another possibility.

[Rhenny]

Hmm, ok I will ask i would love...love to save the time of pencilling full then inking then scanning, attaching everything yadda yadda..

Anyone have any home brew secrets as to how they got used to sketching with the wacom?