Here is the process in video form!

Today I will be showing you how I draw my lineart in an easy step-by-step guide. I will also be sharing some of my beginner tips so you can achieve some clean lineart.

 

When I started drawing digitally, I always wondered how some artists would get such nice, clean lines. Mines looked like wobbly chicken scratch.  I did a certain technique for the longest time. It was an improvement, but my lines still looked...unnatural and plain.  I want to share my clean lineart process and I hope at least one of these tips help you in cleaning up your lineart.

 

1.)  Pick a good resolution for your drawing.

My drawings used to look pixelated when I first started doing digital.  Avoid this mistake by turning up your DPI to around 300-600 and your canvas size anywhere from 2000-5000px.

2.) Draw your sketch as close to your final piece as possible

This way you will be more confident putting down your final lineart. 

3.) Lock the layer transparency and change the color of your sketch

You can do this by clicking the checker icon in the layer window.  Pick any color you like and color it in with a big brush.

4.) Turn down the opacity on the sketch layer

Don this by using the slider on top of the layer window.  I like to put it down to around 20-30%. This way you can tell the difference between your final lineart and the sketch.

5.) Make a new NORMAL layer on top of sketch

Remember how I said I used to use a “certain technique for the longest time”? I was using vectors.  Now, I get that Clip Studio Paint’s vectors are WAY smarter than the ones in the program I was using, but they are just not for me. Vector lines do not erase in the same way as normal ones.

There are certain types of art style where using vectors would be ideal.  Personally, it just doesn’t fit with my art style.

6.) Pick a brush

You want to pick a brush that changes in size depending on the pressure that you apply.  I like the g pen. Mess around with the brush settings if you don’t like how the default is behaving. You can do this by going into tool property and clicking the wrench tool.

7.) Turn up your stabilization

By doing this, you will have more stability over your lines. Your lines will flow more smoothly. Go into the tool property and turn up the stabilization until you are comfortable with the flow of the “ink”.

8.) You are now ready to start your lineart

Now that you know where your lines are going to go (thanks to your finished sketch) you can pull out some single, confident, smooth strokes.  If you don’t like how you put down a certain line, hit the undo button and try again.  I’m also not opposed to using the eraser. Make sure if you use the eraser you clean it up really good.

9.) Have a variety of sizes in your lines

This is what gives your lineart life.  Make sure you take advantage on pen sensitivity to make lines that taper.  You can achieve this by pressing down on your pen to make the lines thicker or thinner if you pull away a bit.  I like to use thicker lines around the outside of my characters and thinner lines when I get into small details.

I hope this guide helped at least one of you guys! Take care!