Manga Punk - Tutorials

Drawing in Profile

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 10:20:23 -0500

Before I begin, I want to point out that this is a guideline, and that this isn't the only way to draw a head in profile. This is a way that I'm comfortable with. Try it out, but then find a way that suits you, and your style. If it's the same as this, fine ^^.

I also want to point out that the drawings are better at explaining themselves than the text.

"Colored Lines" Coloring Tutorial

Wed, 24 May 2006 15:06:04 -0500

Coloring the lines of your artwork can give your picture a more natural look, especially if you are working directly from pencils. If you are working from inks, this method might subconsciously evoke Disney-esque nostalgia in the viewer. It could be fun to experiment with using these subtle cues. How would a person perceive a profane image that subconsciously reminds them of The Little Mermaid?

This tutorial follows my work as I colored one of the panels of The Perfect Smile, a gURL.com comic. I used Photoshop 7, but surely these techniques will apply to older and newer versions of the software and its competitors to some extent. All shortcuts are for Windows. Macs arent' that different. Just use the option key instead of control, I think.

Melody Herbert's Guide to Scanning

Sat, 21 Jan 2006 08:04:07 -0600

Note: The images on this page may take some time to load.

Getting a good scan is vitally important to how a finished image will look. It will also make the coloring process easier and faster. I'm using an HP scanner, but these settings should be on any scanner. I'm also using Photoshop5.5 for editing. It's the only software I'm familiar with at this point in time.

Step 1:

Set the scanning resolution. 300dpi (dots per inch) is what I like to use. This particular scanner goes to 1200dpi; but the higher the resolution, the larger the file size. (Note: Rachel recommends no less than 600dpi if you plan to some day print your artwork professionally.)

Photoshop Selection Tutorial (PS 5.5)

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 19:39:37 -0600

(The images on this page may take some time to load.)

Selection is key to most coloring, highlighting, and shading techniques; but can seem complicated at first. There are several methods for selection, and only you will know which one is best suited to you and your artistic needs. This tutorial covers the basics of the most versatile methods, and includes a few tricks to make them easier. I’m using Photoshop 5.5.

Magic Wand Tool

Call me crazy, but my favorite method is the Magic Wand tool. You simply click inside of an area that you want selected, and boom, there it is. Some people don’t like the magic wand because it can be a bit inaccurate and tempermental depending on what you're trying to select. But, you can remedy this inaccuracy by setting the Tolerance.

Tips for Drawing Eyes

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 18:29:41 -0600

Here's a pile of miscellaneous information that might help you draw manga-style eyes.

The Long and Short of It

Notice how the upper lid of the eye is almost always longer than the lower lid.

In-creasing Anxiety

When the eyes are opened wide, a crease forms above the upper lid. It makes the face look alert, and when you leave white around the iris (as in this picture) it gives the chara a surprised expression (don't forget to raise the eyebrows in that case).

Sad and Crying Eyes

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 17:44:43 -0600

Phase 1: Sad Eyes

When people start feeling sad or hurt, their brows start to pucker toward one another (figure 1.b) and their lower eyelid pooches up (figure 2.b), hiding part of the iris. Note: The lower eyelid does the same thing when people get angry, too.) I always draw extra sparkles in my eyes and try to draw them a little wobblier to suggest wateriness (figure 3.b).

Phase 2: Crying Eyes

When the eyebrows severely furrow, a crease will form between them (figure 4). In real life, tears well up and spill over in the inner corner of the eye, near the nose. In manga and anime, however, the eyes are so distorted that this kind of tear flow looks downright weird. So, when drawing in the manga style, have the tears well up in the outer corner of the eye (figure 5). This actually happens in real life, so it won't look unnatural. Tears should be drawn lightly with broken lines to suggest shininess and transparency (figure 6). Small sparkles can be drawn on large tear drops, and features like lashes can be seen through them.

The Doodlekitty Method

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:58:51 -0600

Step 1

Start out by drawing just a simple, round shape several times until it is roughly a circle. Then draw a small line following the bottom of the circle shape for the bottom of the eye. You can draw the top of the eye where I have to give your character a young, innocent look or draw the it at half mast for an evil or dreamy look.

Step 3

Slightly above the top line, draw a smaller version of the top eye line to show the crease where the eye lid closes. Draw it at the level of the top point of the circle (the iris), even though you can't see it.

The Almond Model

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:03:23 -0600

The almond model is great for doing older, eviler, or more Asian characters as it essentially creates narrower eyes. A lot of so-called Amerimanga artists (you know who you are) use this method, which is really too bad, as it is not the norm in manga. Most manga artists structure their eyes with the box model or the Naoko Takeuchi method which results in a much more flexible eye, capable of showing more emotion. Alas, American artists think that a few poorly drawn kimono and some of these eyes are all it takes to create "anime inspired" comics. I spit on those people for their misuse of technique and terminology. Thou art shunned. So, aspiring manga artist, please do not over-use this technique, okay?

Step 1

Draw a nice almond or narrow oval shape.

The Box Model

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 15:42:35 -0600

The box model is a variation of the Naoko Takeuchi method. It allows for slightly more structure in the eyelashes (ala CLAMP). It is best to master the Naoko Takeuchi method before trying this one, as you need to have a good feel for where your eyelashes will go, how the lids are proportioned, etc.

Step 1

Start by drawing a simple square, your "box."

Step 2

Now, your lower lid will probably dip below the edge of the box while the upper lid will arch over it. Use the box's edges to keep all the lashes in order. Rule of thumb (for beginners): The lashes should touch each corner of the box.

The Naoko Takeuchi Method - Eye Tutorial

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 15:06:38 -0600

Fans of Sailor Moon already know that Naoko Takeuchi's distinctive style consists of two lines, one over the other, finished with a wide, white-pupiled eyeball. This is a very easy technique to master as it only uses two lines and a circle. I learned how to draw manga by copying Ms. Takeuchi's style until I was perfect. Although my eyes look very different now, they are always consistent because they are still essentially built upon the "two lines, one circle" method. This is the simplest technique for drawing manga-style eyes and after much practice, it can even be adapted to create realistic eyes.

Doodlekitty's Face Tutorial

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:39:30 -0600

Step 1

Start out by drawing just a simple, round shape several times until it is roughly a circle.

Step 2

Add on two lines at the bottom widest points of the circle to form the chin. Sometimes I bring up the roundness of the head to help accent the wildness that is manga hair. You might want to draw a second "chin" so to speak so that you have a natural shadow from the chin.

Haiku Tutorial

Sat, 14 Jan 2006 11:58:06 -0600

There are many forms of poetry, but Haiku is one of the ones you just have to
learn how to write! Haiku originally came from Japan. They've been there for a
long time believe me (since the days of the samurai). They're not that hard to
write! All you need is a pen and paper, and also--a clear mind!

Step 1: Think about what you want to write about first. Brainstorming is a
good way to get ideas.

Step 2: Write the first line if you already have an idea what you want to
write. The first line must contain five syllables.

Step 3: Write the second line. It must contain seven syllables.

Quick and Dirty Guide to Drawing Men (specifically bishounen!)

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 18:37:19 -0600

I like to draw men because I am attracted to men. Pretty, young men with long, flowing hair and names like James and Raphael. Maybe you want to draw men because you want to create your own stable of two-dimensional hotties to ogle, or maybe it's because you have a new project (hopefully a paying one!) and you want to make your men look less like deformed women (a common difficulty for those who draw in a manga-inspired style). Men can be harder to draw than women. They are more angular and, if you are accustomed to drawing women, their bodies seem unbalanced and incorrectly proportioned. Most figure drawing books focus mainly on the female body, only using the male body for comparison. Finding pictures of men to draw from can be difficult as well, since most nude pose books tend focus more strongly on women. You could peruse an issue of Playgirl for pictures of nude men, but I already tried this and don't recommend it. The poses are blatantly sexual and of little use out of a hentai setting.