Materials Color I'll show you our basic materials to draw Manga for color prints. There are a lot of methods to draw color illustrations,so you'll be able to choose any method you like.Many Manga artists in Japan use some water proof ink for outlines and some water based ink for painting. Brush   I usually use properly three or four different size fine calligraphy brushes. The main brush itself being approx 1 inch (2.5cm) long and approx 1/8 of an inch (3mm) wide at the base. I think that Chinese brushes are best, because they are very soft and tips of brushes are so thin. If you buy some brushes, you have to check the tips. It's really important. brus.PSD The brushes with loose tips won't last long. Note: I keep beside myself a special kit for holding my brushes. It's very important to keep the brushes clear. The kit has holes in which to store the brushes and several compartment for holding clear water.   Felt Tip Pen The pens I use have a soft brush touch tip on one end for thin and hicker strokes and a medium broad harder tip on the other end. These called "Copic Sketch" made by Too corp. in Japan. These are becoming popular with Manga artists. Ink (Water proof)   It's important because it doesn't smudge when I paint.Almost all Manga artists use black ink for their outlines,but sometimes they use dark brown, sepia or dark blue. Note: Currently, I use a special copy machine.At first, I draw my Manga outlines the same as a black and white drawing. And second, I copy it with the copy machine. Lastly, I paint it with water based ink. 1) The outlines of the copy are not smudged when I use water based color. 2) If I'm not using copy machine, when I make a mistake with my painting, I must start again.   Ink (Water-based) I use Dr.Ph.Martin's Radiant Concentrated Water Color(made by Salis International. Inc.) and Luma's Brilliant Concentrated Water Color (made by Steig Products). Water color ink is the most popular material with Manga artists. You don't have to apply this ink too thick. I always mix the ink thin with water when I paint my articles. Air Brush   I use an aerosol air brushing kit for background, faces, anywhere. I use a masking sheet to protect the rest of the page rather in the same way as a painter puts tape on windows to protect the areas he doesn't wish to paint. Note: Airbrush kits can be very expensive so I recommend beginners a cheaper way of getting the same effect: This method uses metal gauze -the kind you might have seen in science lessons-bunsen burners, eh! (like fly screen). This is put in a frame with a handle so it's easy to use.The brush should be pretty big and with a flat ever top. A toothbrush will do nicely.To apply the paint, rub the brush on the gauze and you should get a fine spattering of paint on the papers underneath.   Color pencils Poster color Acrylic paint I use these materials properly for the effects I need. Fixative You've completed your masterpiece and you're admiring it . When you sneeze all over it - you try to rub it off-your picture is ruined. You can prevent this kind of nightmare by spraying fixative over the finished product thus ensuring it remains smudge-free forever.   Computer Currently, I use a computer system to draw color illustrations. I use: Macintosh 7600/120 Ram =162Mbites Scanner = Apple Color OneScanner 600/27 Printer= Alps MD2000S Tablet = WACOM Graphics Tablet UD2 Software = Adobe Photoshop 4.0, Fractal Design Painter 4, Strata Vision 3d, Bryce 2, etc. Computers are very expensive and there are few chances to publish color pages, so there are few artist to use a computer for drawing illustrations. At first, I draw my outlines on a paper with ink. And then, I scan it and paint in the monitor. I always send the graphics data with a MO(magnetic optical) disc to a publishing company, and they publish it. Almost all Manga artists who use computers are Macintosh users, (I've never heard of Windows users) because output print shops usually use Macintosh system in Japan. <<PREVIEW >>MENU