Finding your unique style is one of the most crucial aspects of becoming a successful graphic novelist. Your style is what sets you apart, making your work recognizable and memorable.
Linework is the step after sketching where you finalize your design/drawing into distinctive lines. This can be done with your tool of choice, whether it be a digital brush, pen, or pencil.
Your linework is inextricable from your personal style. It’s essentially “the way you make marks.” Just like a forensic detective can decipher who you are from your handwriting, readers feel their way into your stories from your linework.
Below are some guidelines on linework (not rules!!).
TIP 1… Have a strong underlying sketch to make your linework/inking phase go smoother.
The better the scaffolding, the easier it will be to build upon. Composition is critical. Laying out the paneled scenes ahead of time while considering perspective, room for the dialogue balloons, and flow of transitions leads to stronger clarity of idea. A solid sketch results in solid line work.
However, that’s not to say everyone works like this. Some may have a process to rough, pencil, and ink, or immediately ink after roughs, or freely ink it!
It is all up to you. For beginners, though, it’s best to start with a solid foundation.
TIP 2… Pay attention to how you use your wrist, elbow, and shoulder when drawing lines.
This seems obvious, but be aware of your arm joints. Think of them as natural compasses, each with a different range of motion. A flick of the wrist, swivel of the elbow, or rotation of the shoulder each creates a different arc.
Practice strokes and circles with your tool of choice while using or locking different joints. Repetition is key here.
Over time, you’ll familiarize yourself with the type of motion (and tilt of grip!) that gives the desired line effect. Straight and smooth, shaky wobble, stippling, crosshatch stroke – build the muscle memory for technique.
TIP 3… Experiment with line style that balances function with aesthetics.
Figure out what best suits you and the story. Graphic novel making is a marathon. We have to really love what we are doing and be able to do it for a long time. Choose a method that is comfortable for you within the pace you set.
It’s a good idea to time yourself by inking a few pages (one simple in design and another that is detailed/complex) to get an average of how long it takes you to complete a single page. This way you may factor in inking time estimates with your page counts.
Love the look of crosshatched backgrounds… but not the time it takes? There may be a brush or texture out there you can use instead!
Find shortcuts that ease the process and cut the time.
TIP 4… If you want to vary your line weight, focus on a design’s form and depth.
Generally if you are drawing a character you would use thicker lines to focus on important aspects, such as their face, body, and overall silhouette. Thinner lines are used for interior details. If a shape is overlapping another, the foremost shape is boldened.
The same is true for shapes existing within a scene. Backgrounds are generally thinner than foreground elements. Using varied lines gives an illusion of depth and establishes a visual hierarchy for the viewer.
Of course this isn’t a rule so much as a style choice. Some styles have no line variation and stay a consistent size.
Bonus tip: If you are a digital artist, try not to get a case of digital zoomies!
What is a digital zoomie? When you are 500% zoomed in to your artboard and carefully detailing shoe laces. Back out!
A good rule of thumb is to try not to go past 200%. Zoom your canvas out to page size to see how it looks at actual size. This will save you unnecessarily adding details which are too small to make out, and also help you keep an eye for consistent linework on the page. Looking at the Navigator (CSP) or Thumbnail View (PS) also helps to give you a quick glance at the overall composition.
TIP 5… Both traditional and digital inking is great, just consider the pros and cons of each.
Traditional inking generally takes more time to scan and clean up. You will need a good scanner and a program to do the page scrubbing. Any edits will either be fixed traditionally (re-inking & scanning) or digitally. If the latter, finding a digital brush similar to your traditional one is essential!
There is no undo button, but that is its strength as well. You’ll tend to fiddle less with your work. The biggest upside? The true nib to paper experience. You’ll be able to physically hold pages… and have the option to sell originals later down the line!
Digital inking is faster and easier to fix, but doesn’t always have the same “tactile” feel as traditional work. There is a higher upfront cost in having to purchase your digital tablet of choice, the software for it, and digital brushes/textures. It will also take time to acquaint yourself with said software and establish a digital style you like.
But, after the initial costs/time sink, you will have an arsenal like no other. Bring in 3d objects to assist you layout scenes or character poses, lay down perspective grids, color filters, layer to your heart’s (and memory/RAM’s) content, and if you get a portable tablet, you can take your work anywhere!
At the end of the day, do what your heart tells you. Each project is different. We continuously grow as artists discovering ways we want to communicate our ideas. Your process is just as important as the final product. Without you there would be no comic, so take care of yourself, experiment, and have fun!
Resources
- Books
- Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic by Lisa Congdon
- Art Starts with a Line: A creative and interactive guide to the art of line drawing by Erin McManness
- The Art of Comic Book Inking by Gary Martin
- Videos
- “How to Ink a Comic Page with Mark Morales” by Proko
- “Inking Drills and Exercises” by Todd Nauck
Over to You
Are there any linework or inking tips or resources that have made a big difference for you? Or are you still struggling with any aspect of linework or inking?
We’d love to hear from you… please leave a comment below!
