[1] Pen settings

I’ll prepare my pen settings for the line art.

Like with the brush I made for the rough sketch, I’m going to make my own custom brush based on the [Brush] > [Watercolor] [Dense watercolor] brush.

 

First, I duplicate the [Dense watercolor] sub tool and change the name to “Slim lines”, then click OK.

 

I set the brush options in the [Sub Tool Detail] palette.

 

■ Advanced setting 1: Set brush size to 5.9

 

■ Advanced setting 2: Turn off [Ink] > [Mix ground color]

 

■ Advanced setting 3: Set [Anti-aliasing] to [Weak]

 

■ Advanced setting 4: In the [Brush shape] category, select [Pen] and click [Apply brush shape]

 

■ Advanced setting 5: Add starting and ending effects in [Starting and ending]

I click the part that is marked [None] as default, and select [Brush size] in the [Effect source settings] dialog box that opens up. Then I check [Starting], [Ending], and [Starting and ending by speed].

 

Now my brush is thin and smooth.

 

[2] Preparing the layers

I reduce the opacity of the rough draft folder from 100% to 15% using the slider at the top-right of the layer palette.

 

This will make the line art stage easier.

 

[3] Inking the character

Above the draft layer folder, I make a new layer folder and create a new layer here.

 

I called the layer “Line art”. It’s helpful to change the layer names as you go to keep them easy to track.

 

With the rough draft visible, I use the brush I made in step [1] and draw the line art for the main character.

 

The lines for the hair need to be more flowing, so I draw roughly first and then gradually finalize the lines.

 

When drawing people, I create a layer called “Pose support” where I draw support lines to help me check that the pose ends up looking right.

 

I also draw the hands on a separate layer because I make lots of minor adjustments to them.

 

When the line art for the character is more or less finished, I create a “Character” folder and move the layers there.

 

I don’t need the “Pose support” layer anymore, so I delete it.

 

I’ve finished the line art for the character.

 

In the next part, I’ll do the line art for the other objects and the background.