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Manga Mondays

Writer: Mark NorthcottMark Northcott
Feb 103 min read

Refining Sketches and inking techniques


This image is a result of refinement from a looser sketch in order to better realize the characters involved in a story.
This image is a result of refinement from a looser sketch in order to better realize the characters involved in a story.

Welcome back to Manga Mondays, where we continue our journey into the art of manga creation. In this fourth installment, we move beyond thumbnails and dive into the refining of sketches and inking techniques—the stage where your manga starts to come to life with polished details and crisp lines.



Refining Sketches: Building on the Blueprint

After finalizing your thumbnails, it’s time to refine your sketches. This phase bridges rough concepts and the final inked page, allowing you to define character expressions, refine compositions, and adjust panel layouts before committing to permanent lines.







Steps to Refining Your Sketches

  1. Enlarge Your Thumbnails

    • If working digitally, scale up your rough thumbnails to match your final canvas size.

    • If drawing traditionally, lightly sketch your refined layout using a blue or red pencil to differentiate from later inked lines.

  2. Tighten the Composition

    • Clean up rough lines while maintaining the energy and gesture of your initial sketch.

    • Adjust character poses, facial expressions, and backgrounds for clarity and impact.

    • Check proportions and perspective—use guidelines for accuracy.

  3. Enhance Readability

    • Ensure characters and action remain the focal points.

    • Remove unnecessary details that clutter the composition.

    • Use line weight variation to establish depth.

Tip: Flip your canvas (digitally) or hold your paper up to a mirror to catch asymmetry and awkward compositions.



I'm using this AI image for two reasons. Heh. The first reason is that this image clearly demonstrates the reason an artist will benefit from flipping the art back and forth to see the errors in linework more efficiently. And the second reason is to show how difficult it can be to use a seemingly simply tool such as AI image generators to create a mirrored image. The request to mirror the same image couldn't have been made more clear and yet the above is the result after several iterations.
I'm using this AI image for two reasons. Heh. The first reason is that this image clearly demonstrates the reason an artist will benefit from flipping the art back and forth to see the errors in linework more efficiently. And the second reason is to show how difficult it can be to use a seemingly simply tool such as AI image generators to create a mirrored image. The request to mirror the same image couldn't have been made more clear and yet the above is the result after several iterations.



Inking Techniques: Bringing Your Manga to Life

Inking is where your manga truly takes shape. Strong, confident lines define your artwork, while dynamic line weight and shading enhance the visual storytelling.



Essential Tools for Inking

  • Traditional: G-pens, maru pens, brush pens, and fineliners.

  • Digital: Pressure-sensitive brushes in programs like Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, or Affinity Designer.


Mastering Line Quality

  1. Vary Line Weights

    • Thicker lines for foreground objects and characters.

    • Thinner lines for background details.

    • Use tapering strokes to add energy and fluidity.

  2. Use Clean, Confident Strokes

    • Avoid sketchy, hesitant lines—commit to your strokes.

    • Use your whole arm, not just your wrist, for smoother curves and arcs.

    • Practice inking over rough sketches on a separate layer or tracing paper.

  3. Add Depth with Hatching and Cross-Hatching

    • Use fine lines to create shadows and texture.

    • Cross-hatching adds density to darker areas without relying solely on solid black fills.

  4. Utilize Spot Blacks and Negative Space

    • Large black fills add drama and contrast.

    • Leaving areas white creates highlights and breathing room.

    • Experiment with silhouettes and high-contrast compositions.


Common Inking Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

  1. Overly Stiff Lines – If your lines feel rigid, practice quick, gestural strokes to loosen up.

  2. Uneven Line Weight – Be intentional with thickness and tapering. Adjust brush settings if working digitally.

  3. Smudging (Traditional) – Use a scrap paper under your hand and let ink fully dry before erasing guidelines.

  4. Over-Detailing – Keep the focus on clarity. Too many details can overwhelm a panel.



Finalizing Your Page

Once your inking is complete:

  • Erase pencil lines (traditional) or hide your sketch layer (digital).

  • Clean up stray marks and refine edges.

  • Add final touches like screen tones, textures, or effects.

Tip: If working digitally, use vector layers for cleaner, adjustable lines.



Next Steps: Toning and Lettering

With refined sketches and confident inking, your manga is taking shape! Next Manga Mondays, we’ll explore toning, shading, and lettering techniques to bring your pages to the next level.

What part of inking do you find most challenging? Let’s discuss in the comments!

 
 
 

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