TOOLS & MATERIALS
YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THE TOOLS TO DRAW MANGA. IF YOU BUY PROFESSIONAL ITEMS, INVEST IN TOOLS THAT WILL LAST. LESS EXPENSIVE OPTIONS WORK WELL TOO. THE FOLLOWING IS JUST A QUICK LIST OF SOME OF THE TOOLS YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE. MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO USE EACH ITEM ARE INCLUDED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK.
PENCILS & SKETCHING
Pencils: These are the most common and versatile tools. HB, B, and 2B pencils are easy to use and can add contrast. A mechanical pencil is great for sketching but not for shading, because its point stays thin.
Non-photo blue/non-repro blue pencil lead: These brightly colored leads aren’t visible when photocopied, so they work well for sketches, which can then be inked over in your final drawings.
BRUSHES, PENS & INKS
Manga is predominantly a black-and-white medium. Even when the art is colored in, it usually features crisp black outlines, so most manga artists prefer to use pure black ink.
Fineliners: These come in different widths and are easy to use, making them the ideal drawing tool for a beginning manga artist.
Brush pens: Placing more pressure on the brush will thicken your lines, while light pressure produces very fine details.
Dip pens: Dip pens are the traditional tool for a professional illustrator. Metal nibs are perfect for manga artwork; by changing pressure, you can go from super-fine, feathery lines to thick, bold strokes.
Brushes: These produce thicker lines than nibs, as well as drybrushed textures for shading.
ADDING COLOR
Colored pencils: When used in layers, these can create shading. Sharpen them for outlines and strong details. A chiseled tip is great for shading.
Markers: The most popular tool for coloring manga remains the marker. Keeping your strokes wet as you go over them again makes them look smooth and blended, or let the strokes dry first before adding more to create a distinct darker layer without blending.
DIGITAL TOOLS
You can also digitally sketch, ink, shade, and color your manga drawings. This book focuses on more traditional techniques, such as drawing and inking by hand; however, you might want to look online for digital art suggestions. (See here to learn how to add color digitally.)
