Digital Inking

[Squidman]

I recently started using my tablet a lot more (because, well... I finally got it working like a tablet should... who knew you actually had to install software to get it to work? That's why we always read the instructions, kids...) and figured I might try my hand at this digitally inking some stuff, because I've seen people get some amazing line quality out of it.

I figured before I develop too many bad habits I may as well ask around and see what techniques people use for their digital stuff... Brush settings? Size you reccomend working at? Really, any pointers would be much appreciated.


([u][url=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/Squids/bikerdragon.jpg]This was the last thing I drew entirely with the tablet[/url][/u], so it's obvious I've got a ways to go before I produce those clean, pristine works without taking it to paper first, but I'm here to LEARN!)
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[Lizkay]

That mainly depends on what programm you use for it and what kind of inking style you want to archieve.
For example there are 2 general types, the pixel-inking and the vector-inking, both can give you clear results, but the vector one will be high-res. sharp in every size.. though it can possibly take you longer than a pixel inking. Vector inkings don't really need the useage of a tablet, since you are creating the various thickness of the line with the vector fields.
Concerning inking the pixel-like way the programms I would recommend are Photoshop, MangaStudio or OpenCanvas (I never inked in Painter or PaintShopPro, though they are still useable programms for inkings too) inside these programms are following imporant brush settings you should know. In Photoshop for example your brushsize is the max. size of your drawn line, 3px will never be bigger than 3 px, in OpenCanvas and MangaStudio you can set your brushes to an "average" size, like the drawn line is averagely 3 px big, like when you use medium pressure on your tablet, if you press harder it will be thicker than 3 px or less if you press less. This setting gives a very natural feeling like real ink does, though.. not all like this setting, I work with it, but you need to get used to it .. a lot . For clean and base inks for colored pieces, Photoshop is very practical, since you can make really really clear lines in every brush size. For Surface-inkings, Graffity-like inkings are special brushes quite useful you can create them yourself or just browse through these ones Photoshop, OpenCanvas or MangaStuio offers.
I had a tutorial once, featuring Digital Inking in photoshop, I don't have it online anymore, but if you are interested in it I can put it up again.

[Squidman]

Ah, I meant to specify that photoshop CS is what I was looking for tips in, but figured I'd just leave it open in case people who used other programs wanted to throw around ideas.

If you've got a digital inking tutorial out there that would be great.
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[jg777]

I find the best inking program out there is Painter 9, using the Scratboard pen gets me the best results and awesome sensitivity for varied thick to thin lines, also lets you turn the page to any angle you want so you can draw your stroke in a confortable position, i would never use Photoshop for inking ever again, I love Painter, been using it for 11 Yrs.