Introduction

This time, I will show you how to draw common light expressions in battle manga using the concentrated line brush.

I've added subtitles in various languages to the video, so please enable them before watching. While either this TIPS article or the video alone is fine, watching both will likely provide a clearer understanding.

The concentrated line brush is a tool that draws concentrated lines where you trace with your pen.

As shown, it can snap to radial rulers and radial curve rulers.

Using this tool, you can easily draw explosions like this.

The concentrated line brush can be created by clicking the 5th option from the top in the top-left menu of the Sub Tool window, [Create Custom Sub Tool], giving it an appropriate name, setting [Output Process] to [Concentrated Line], and [Input Process] to [Brush]. Feel free to change other settings.

 

The brush used in this TIPS article can be downloaded below. Please feel free to try it out and use it as a reference.

1. Drawing an Energy Ball

This time, we will draw a scene where this character is holding an energy ball in their hand.

This is a classic scene in battle manga.

First, on a vector layer, draw a square and guide lines, then draw a circle so that its center is clear.

 

Move the circle close to the hand and set up a radial ruler at its center.

While it can be useful to keep these circular guide lines when drawing backgrounds, we will erase them this time.

(Alternatively, you can set the radial ruler first, then set the [Ellipse] tool to [Draw from center] and draw the circle.)

When the energy ball is filled with white, the fingers become hidden like this.

To make it appear as if the energy orb is behind the fingers, create a mask in the ball's layer folder to hide the finger areas.

This technique can also be used when holding small items like guns or teacups.

By lowering the opacity of the white layer, I made it a translucent screen tone to create a softly glowing effect.

2. Drawing the Energy Ball's Light Rays

Next, we will draw the light rays of the energy ball with a pen, following the radial ruler.

Since the concentrated line brush is not ideal for fine details, we will carefully draw each line one by one with a pen.

3. Drawing Larger Light Rays

This time, we will draw larger light rays, but if we follow the radial ruler as before, the light becomes too large as shown in the figure below. So, we will abandon this method and try a different approach.

Create a new vector layer, turn on the [Border effect], and set the border color to black.

On this vector layer, you can draw bordered lines by using the white straight line tool from the center.

Apply a layer mask to the part inside the ball on the vector layer.

Next, set the [Control Point] of the [Correct Line] tool to [Correct Line Width].

Thicken the end points of the straight vector light rays by adjusting the line width using the [Control Point] of the [Correct Line] tool.

You can change the line width by moving the pen horizontally over a point with the [Control Point] tool.

Add more light rays, making them thinner towards the center and thicker outwards.

Since they are drawn on a vector layer, you can also fine-tune them with the Object tool.

This drawing method is also useful for drawing laser beams following perspective or bullet trajectories from gunfire.

Once the shape of the light rays is determined, rasterize the vector layer. Then, select white with [Select color gamut] to separate the lines and white, splitting them into different layers.

Convert the separated white layer into a screen tone.

 

Now the energy ball and light rays are complete.

4. Applying a Gradient Screen Tone for Shadows to the Body

Apply a gradient screen tone for shadows to the body.

If you set the [Shape] of the gradient to [Ellipse], the center will become dark. To make the center bright, either press the red [Invert] button or swap the positions of black and transparent colors on the slider.

5. Drawing Light Hitting the Body with the Concentrated Line Brush

Finally, it's time for the concentrated line brush!

As preparation, clip a solid white layer to the screen tone folder set to [Multiply].

Then, draw light onto the topmost white layer using the concentrated line brush.

 

Select the areas where light hits the body with the Auto Select tool or Lasso tool, and then draw with the concentrated line brush on the solid white layer to quickly draw light like this.

6. Drawing Shadows Cast on the Body

For dark areas where shadows fall directly, draw shadows with solid black. For slightly lighter shadows, draw them with the concentrated line brush.

Since these shadow concentrated lines are drawn on a vector layer, you can later thicken them by correcting the line width.

Completion

Finally, draw a gradient screen tone and concentrated lines in the background to complete the illustration.

This concludes the tutorial on light effects and the concentrated line brush in battle manga.

The concentrated line brush has many other uses, so please explore different ways that suit your needs.