Thread: Drawing tablet? Anime program?

I agree with the Wacom as far as tablets. Photoshop is the graphics and image manipulation software of choice - although if you want to do some realistic painting effects, check out Painter (now Painter X). I don't have this latest version, but back in the day it could simulate different types of media (watercolor, pastel, oils, etc.) and different papers. Can't imagine how much fun this new version would be.

As far as technique, I'd like to recommend one to you if you like anime:

Draw your subject
Scan it
Pull it into a vector program (such as Illustrator)
Trace the lines (using the pen tool and least amount of points possible)
Experiment with different stroke types, like marker, brush, straight, etc.
Save it
Open in Photoshop
Make sure your drawing is on the top layer then set its mode to "multiply"
Create a layer beneath it and start coloring!

It's as if you were working on a traditional animation cell.

Originally Posted by Tornado Joe

As far as technique, I'd like to recommend one to you if you like anime:

Draw your subject
Scan it
Pull it into a vector program (such as Illustrator)
Trace the lines (using the pen tool and least amount of points possible)
Experiment with different stroke types, like marker, brush, straight, etc.
Save it
Open in Photoshop
Make sure your drawing is on the top layer then set its mode to "multiply"
Create a layer beneath it and start coloring!

It's as if you were working on a traditional animation cell.

Wait, so inking really is outdated?

In the sense that the outline can be traced in Illustrator and you have a clean scan? But won't that reduce the...smoothness? Or is the tracing in Illustrator done through the tablet?

I've just always been under the impression that anything but colouring and shading done with software turns out rather...stale, fake looking.

Wait, so inking really is outdated?

I've just always been under the impression that anything but colouring and shading done with software turns out rather...stale, fake looking

No, inking is still done and an artform in itself which takes great skill. However, for someone not as skilled and specialized in inking, tracing the image with a vector program will yield incredibly clean and smooth lines (obviously), gives you the ability to 'undo' any mistakes instantly, and an infinite number of ways to correct the line. If you've ever used the pen tool in Flash or Illustrator you know what I mean. And you would not use the tablet for the tracing. You could, but it's much easier clicking on points and using the bezier handles. It takes practice just like anything else, but once you learn it's great.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this method if you were doing an entire comic book - and specially not an entire animation sequence!! But for one piece of art it can really make a difference. If fact, I wouldn't be surprised one bit if the dude with the white hair in your sig was outlined with vector lines. Those curves look way too smooth and angular (and appear to be tinted with color, a technique used a lot in some animations such as the ones found on campchaos.com)

Ok so all I really need now is a tablet? I don't think I have Illustrator and I don't feel like getting it. I can do my stuff in photoshop. But whats a good cheap Wacom tablet?

What about this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823100045
It seems good and it's the cheapest one on newegg. I have yet to look at Ebay for anything.

Is there really that much appeal in a tablet?
What makes it better than sketching by hand and scanning?

I haven't used a tablet but I'm guess it would be a whole lot easier because you wouldn't have to worry about eraser smudges and if your using photoshop, you can make new layers and keep things more organized.

Aye, but it's a...tablet! This awkward...thing, lying there...and making you look to the screen instead of your drawing space...

Maybe it's just me but I can't imagine drawing on anything but paper with a pencil. o.o