[Njhinesjr]

Hey guys. Not sure if there is a thread on this already or not, wouldn't be surprised if there was, but I've been playing around with digital drawing using a decent sized intuos and MS. While I'm not terrible at it, actually I think I can be REALLY good if I truly dedicated myself to it, I think the traditional method is still, by far, superior.

I've seen some very nice work being done totally digital, but I think I can do things faster the old fashioned way then scan it. I do like the paper that the digital method saves, and the ease of panel arrangement/placement, quick modifications and other technical aspects of comic creation, but I think I can do a better quality of art with pencil and paper. Drawing everything on the computer (especially the conceptual/creative phase) seems to be a bit tedious to me at times, though I love the potential.

Is this something anyone else has experienced?

I'm leaning toward a mix of the two....specifically creating the actual designs and concepts traditionally then hoping to do the actual comic in a completely digital way.

I learned the traditional way and believe that It's because of that training that has helped me hasten the learning curve that comes with the digital format.

For some reason I still battle with the two....Thoughts? Pros? Cons?

Sorry If this is a dupe topic:)

[A Bad Idea]

I personally think the whole "VERSUS!!!!" mentality of Trad and Digital drawing needs to go away. They're just tools. They both have unique strengths, and they're both capable of awesome things. Artists who frequently proclaim "I can do this by HAND! SUCK IT DIGITAL ARTISTS!" just sound insecure and pretentious to me. An architect isn't any less of an architect because he uses AutoCAD instead of pencils and rulers. A musician isn't any less of a musician because he uses an electric guitar instead of an accoustic guitar.

I use mostly digital because it achieves the look I want and it's more convenient for me, but not because it's "better". As for the learning process, naturally it's still better to learn traditionally. As in any art, it's necessary to learn the basics and origins of the form before you dive into its newer variations, because you have to know what the old stuff does so you can understand what the new stuff is emulating.

[Njhinesjr]

I personally think the whole "VERSUS!!!!" mentality of Trad and Digital drawing needs to go away. They're just tools. They both have unique strengths, and they're both capable of awesome things. Artists who frequently proclaim "I can do this by HAND! SUCK IT DIGITAL ARTISTS!" just sound insecure and pretentious to me. An architect isn't any less of an architect because he uses AutoCAD instead of pencils and rulers. A musician isn't any less of a musician because he uses an electric guitar instead of an accoustic guitar.

I use mostly digital because it achieves the look I want and it's more convenient for me, but not because it's "better". As for the learning process, naturally it's still better to learn traditionally. As in any art, it's necessary to learn the basics and origins of the form before you dive into its newer variations, because you have to know what the old stuff does so you can understand what the new stuff is emulating.

Well put. Unfortunately for me it's more than a mentality....it's a (at least mine) reality. I can actually, more often than not, tell the difference when I see examples of the two different "tools" employed.

There is something uniform about the digital way. It can be worked around and minimized with some effort, but perhaps that's what has me hesitant to fully rely on drawing the full comic on the computer unless it's for certain purposes.

Don't get me wrong. I like the potential I see that the digital format has to offer and I thing MS is the best invention for comics since PS added the layer feature. There's just seems to be something missing with the digital way.....

Just thought I'd share my thoughts here. Artist to artist ya'know?

[Angie]

Tablets, pencils, paints, etc. are nothing but tools. Like with any tool, you need to practice to be good with it. There is a bit of a learning curve when you first use tablets because there will be a disconnect in your brain with not being able to see your hand moving as you draw. I was really bad with a tablet in the beginning, but with practice it matches the speed of my using traditional tools. In some cases it's actually faster for me as a stylus has pen pressure and makes it easier to naturally get linewidth variation. Whereas with something like a micron pen which has a set size it can make, I would have to slowly go back to get the variation.

I highly recommend anyone that wants to do comics or even just illustration pick up MangaStudio. It's becoming a bit of an industry standard for digitally done comics. Photoshop is great for colors but doesn't naturally have the brush selection to get clean crisp lines without extra effort. Sai is a solid program but doesn't have the power of MangaStudio.

[Njhinesjr]

So you don't pick up pencil, paper and a pad anymore Angie?

[Angie]

I do sometimes, primarily for commissions at cons! But my personal work is all digital.

[Njhinesjr]

Interesting. I think my "style" comes through ok using MS....just seems to take a bit longer.

[Charlie]

I do pretty much 99% of all my stuff digitally but I do like using pencils and paper once in a while too. So I'm gonna echo the whole 'versus' argument is dumb.

[Njhinesjr]

I do pretty much 99% of all my stuff digitally but I do like using pencils and paper once in a while too. So I'm gonna echo the whole 'versus' argument is dumb.

Gee, Perhaps I didn't phrase the topic the best way.....

I was actually wondering how many people on Void use digital nowadays as opposed to paper and pencil, not advocating one over the other. I plan on using digital for my own work. The fact that I can doodle on the canvas for hours and not waste the paper is more than enough to encourage me to hone my skills with the Wacom alone.

I still very much enjoy drawing in a sketchbook though and am not opposed to using old school comic boards for certain works.

I still notice some Voiders using traditional methods for the comics they post. I personally think there is some benefit to using the paper and pencil still....I dunno....

Any tips for techniques using MS for drafting around the forums?

[Pennydox]

Until I can find a tool that can completely mimick the brush pens I use, I'll be sticking with my traditional mediums. I like my 'imperfect' style/methods, but when I do stuff digitally, all the mistakes stick out like a sore thumb. Likewise, I am pretty bad with color theory and can barely handle a paintbrush, but I have a vast library and experience using photoshop layers and filters to get what I want with colors. Sometimes I use markers though, but they're always tweaked digitally.
So I use a mix of both things to get what I want.

Doing stuff traditionally is much faster for me and I like getting my hands dirty, but when I need professional graphic design (like logos) , that's when I stick to my Photoshop.

Different strokes, for different folks.

[Wei Ingnan]

using different tools will reap different results and engender different responses from your audience....and it will also expand your understanding and reach in regards to your own work.....its great to experiment and its perfectly fine to prefer one over the other....using only one tool(or method or medium) EVER AND FOR ALWAYS will also limit what you can accomplish and it will be a loss of the lessons that could otherwise be learned...in many instances crucial lessons lost

it is however perfectly fine to consider one medium vs. the other superior in regards to what it is you personally like to use, want to use and what you want to accomplish..... people already do this within traditional mediums(oil vs. acrylic?) and Angie just did it here with Digital(photoshop vs. mangastudio?)....because there IS a definite difference....but it is your choice and your choice alone which tools and mediums you wish to work and create with versus the others(and not because people who prefer one or the other themselves get their asses in the air)....all have their place and people CAN do great things with any medium or tool.

so keep experimenting and seeing where it takes you.....I hope you share your results with us.

[Njhinesjr]

Pineapple, I tend to agree with you about the speed....I tend to be faster using pencil and paper at this point.

Wei, of course I'll share....

Here's a few samples....

I did these awhile back.....this one I believe I drew completely in PS...or MS4..cant remember



This is the colored version....done in PS


These next few were all done in MS4....I probably should go back to MS4. I still can't seem to work with MS5ex which is what I have now.

[Pennydox]

oh yea, I forgot to mention: don't hate on someone's style just because of the program they're using. You'll be surprised what a stick of wood with a piece of metal can do, and you'll also be surprised what MS paint could do, and you'll be surprised what Adobe Photoshop is capable of. But never hate a program over another program, that hurts peoples' feelings.

[Njhinesjr]

I don't hate on any programs....I'm a former Graphic Designer.

This is me w/pen and paper....fairly recent

[Sean]

I usually only do traditional work. I enjoy using inks and watercolors. However, I am just now trying my hand at cleaning things up digitally after I scan it in and eventually I do plan to get a tablet. I just personally prefer working traditionally I suppose.

[Wubble]

I'm almost entirely on digital, but sketch traditionally. I would love to learn to use traditional inks and brushes, though.

[Crimson Kumiho]

I tend to use digital more often because I can't afford to buy any tools. Especially since I'm still in the beginnings of my learning to color phase. Trial and error is expensive with traditional and my style is unrefined regardless. Admittedly, I do enjoy traditional medium more personally. Just the organic feel of it. For that reason, I tend to do all of my planning/story-boarding/sketching traditionally. When I had a decent scanner I'd draw my comic pages and scan them to refine digitally or add tones. I don't sell my art (I lack the confidence), but I think it would be more personal/valuable to sell/buy a traditional piece just for the unique factor.

[Ahmed]

Usually I rough everything on paper first, then scan and ink and color. I like a lot of what digital has to offer and I've been doing more of it this past year, but I get burnt out if I have to sit in front of a computer for too long. Ideally I'd like to do everything traditional except coloring.

[The Bent One]

I love 'em both. Drawing traditionally lets you do lots of cool stuff with the texture of the pencil as the drawing shapes the end of the graphite, and inking traditionally is still one of the best ways to go. However, the speed at which you can thumbnail, half-size, pencil, ink, and color a digital piece completely blows away the time it can take to copy and blow stuff up for lightboxing traditional stuff.

If I want to go real quick, I'll just draw straight through my tablet. But if I want tight pencils that will hold personality, I will do those traditionally and then scan them in to ink digitally.

But inking practice is always worth it.

I CAN'T MAKE UP MA DANG MIND.

[Rose]

An artist friend of mine who I somehow met in real life instead of through VOID told me that it's probably better to practice traditionally first, then move to digital once you feel comfortable traditionally. I don't think that's necessarily true all the time, but it kind of makes sense. It's the same reason why painters learn to draw or why cartoonists study anatomy. Having a good understanding of basic or traditional practices can help create a better baseline so that you don't become dependent on the tools of a higher-level practice.

In other words, it's good to start drawing with a pen so you don't become dependent on Ctrl-z (or erasing either).

[graphicDREAMER]

I personally dont think one is better than the other but i do feel like there is a advocacy FOR digital art in most circumstances it is favored over traditional, in a world based on deadlines and the internet. Traditional art has a hard time adapting itself to a digital platform. This is just my opinion. Even attempting to make traditional images digital poses more of a task then just making it digital from the beginning. However i do agree that tablets and such are tools. I cannot go as far as to say the two (traditional and digital) do not now at days, represent two different schools of thought because i think they do. But that is simply the direction things are going in, they did not begin that way. People start to lean toward one direction and before they know it they are leftist or rightist lol Digital or traditional. I only say that cause im guilty of it, im older and remember when digital art became a thing it was just another way to doctor your work. now the paper is gone completely and so is the physical connection. Ok im down with my shpeal lol (sc).