There is a way to draw manga and illustrations that uses “line drawings,” and this method is always necessary when drawing illustrations. Manga artists and illustrators use line drawing techniques to draw, so those who want to work in illustration should keep this in mind.
This article provides a detailed explanation of the outline and role of line drawings used in illustrations. It also explains the steps to draw line drawings, so it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to become a manga artist or illustrator.
What is line drawing?
As I mentioned earlier, line drawing is a way of drawing only lines when drawing manga or illustrations. Also, keep in mind that painting or shading using black is not considered line drawing.
For example, if you want to create a line drawing for an illustration, use a pencil or ballpoint pen to trace the lines. In addition, you can create illustrations using line drawings on your PC, so it is recommended for people who create digital illustrations.
There is also a method of drawing that is similar to line drawing, called “rough drawing,” in which the draft is drawn by hand. Rough drawing is a rough way of drawing an illustration. Also, many people may not know the difference between line drawings and rough drawings.
Line drawing is when you first draw a draft illustration with a pen and then draw only the lines. On the other hand, rough drawings show how to draw drafts and sketches when drawing illustrations, so they should be thought of as creating a blueprint for the drawing. In the next chapter, we will explain the role of line drawings.
What is the role of line drawings?
Up to this point, we have explained the outline and characteristics of line drawings. By the way, there may be many people reading this article who understand the outline of line drawings, but do not know what role they play.
From here, I will explain in detail the role of line drawings. In conclusion, the roles are as follows:
- plays a role as part of the shadow
- coloring
- The role of making illustrations look beautiful
Let’s look at each in turn.
plays a role as part of the shadow
First, the line drawing serves as part of the shading. Shading is the expression of shadows using black lines. The reason for shading is that you can change the expression by adding black or shadows to the line drawing.
In other words, by adding shadows, you can change the impression of the illustration, so it has a role as shading.
coloring
Another feature of line drawings is that they can be colored differently. If you want to color separately, you will need it if you mainly use coloring. Also, if you want to draw an illustration using coloring, line drawings are very important, so try to use them consciously.
The role of making illustrations look beautiful
Finally, line drawings have the role of making illustrations look beautiful. Basically, when drawing manga or illustrations, line drawings are used, which has the characteristic of making them look neat. Also, to make your illustrations look beautiful, you need to draw fine lines and touch them, so be conscious when drawing.
What is the procedure for drawing line drawings?
Up to this point, I have explained in detail the role of line drawings. From here, I will explain the steps for drawing line drawings. In conclusion, the steps are as follows:
- draw from outline
- then draw inline
- add solid
I will explain each in turn.
draw from outline
First, when drawing line art, you need to start from the outline. Outline refers to the edge of an illustration, the line that separates it from the background. Basically, when drawing an outline, you need to draw it with thick lines, so it is important to give it sharpness. When drawing detailed parts such as the tips of hair, it is best to draw with thin lines.
This is because drawing with thin lines can express lightness and add contrast.
then draw inline
Next, after drawing the outline, let’s draw the inline. Inline refers to a line drawn inside the outline. Inline drawing is a method of drawing that expresses a three-dimensional effect by drawing thinner lines than outlines. Also, by drawing inline lines where the light hits, you will be able to express clearly.
add solid
Finally, after drawing the inline, let’s add a solid line. Solid refers to filling within a specific drawn line. By adding solids, you can change the impression of the illustration, making it possible to add strength or weakness. Basically, by adding a solid color, you can create shadows, which allows you to express a three-dimensional effect.
In addition, by combining line drawings and solid shapes, the expression of the illustration will be enhanced, so let’s draw by using the roles of both. In the next chapter, we will explain in detail the reasons why line drawings become dirty.
Three reasons why line drawings become dirty
Here, we will explain the reasons why line drawings become messy when drawing. In conclusion, there are three causes, and they are as follows.
- The lines are dirty
- Looks dirty if the screen size is small
- overall color is black
Let’s look at each in turn.
The lines are dirty
The first reason why the line drawing looks dirty is simply that the lines are dirty. If the line is blurry or you cannot draw along the line, the entire line drawing will be messy, so it is important to be careful not to blur when drawing neatly.
In addition, when drawing a line, it is necessary to draw it several times, so the expression becomes clearer. In other words, instead of drawing the line all at once, try to draw it in several parts. If the image is still blurred, try using the camera shake correction function.
Basically, when you draw line drawings by hand, it will be blurry, but digital line drawings have a correction function, so let’s take advantage of it.
Looks dirty if the screen size is small
The second reason why it looks dirty is that it looks dirty if the screen size is small. Basically, when the screen size is small, the lines become blurry. Also, when drawing line drawings digitally, the lines may look rough, so be sure to display the screen at the optimal size.
Also, we recommend a specific image size of 4,000px or more, so be sure to draw at an appropriate size.
overall black color
The reason why it gets dirty in the end is that the color is black overall. When drawing manga or illustrations, if the colors are black, it will look dirty. This is because if you draw with thick lines or add a lot of shadows, the illustration will look black and look dirty.
Therefore, by adding contrast and strength when drawing line drawings, you can draw well-balanced illustrations. Also, if the color is entirely black, it will look dark and you may not be able to see the parts you want to emphasize, so be sure to check the areas you want to shade in advance.
Line drawing illustration site
So far, I have explained the reasons why line drawings become messy when drawing. By the way, many of you reading this article may be wondering what kind of line drawing illustration sites are out there.
So, from here on, I will introduce some line drawing illustration sites. In conclusion, the following sites exist:
- Linustock
- Sokost
- shigureni
I will introduce each one in turn.
Linustock
The first illustration site is “Linustock”. This is a site for web designers that deals with free line drawing illustration materials. Compared to other sites, Linustock has the feature that the materials it handles are simple, so it can be said to be the site most recommended for beginners.
Therefore, if you have never drawn an illustration before or if you are a beginner, please use the “Linustock” site.
Sokost
The second illustration site is “Sokosuto”. Similar to Linustock, this site deals with simple illustrations. In addition, illustration materials can be downloaded in PNG, SVG, and EPS formats and can be used for free.
You can find the material you are looking for through a keyboard search, so it can be said to be an easy-to-use site. Even if you are a beginner, the site is easy to see and use, so it is relatively easy to use.
You can download the illustrations from the site, so please try using them once.
shigureni
The last illustration site is “shigureni”. It also handles the latest information from SNS such as LINE and Instagram, so those looking for the latest information that can be used for free should register. In addition, Shigureni’s site has many illustrations with girls as motifs, so it has a cute design.
“shigureni” carries many cute designs for women, so it is most recommended for people who want to draw cute illustrations.
summary
In this article, we explained the outline of line drawings and how to draw them. When drawing manga or illustrations, it is important to know how to draw line drawings and rough sketches, so keep this in mind if you want to draw beautiful illustrations.
Also, when drawing line art, it is important to draw with thick lines and be aware of shadows. Please refer to this article and master how to draw illustrations.