How to Ink Comic Art for Your 8-Page Comic Story | #8PgChallenge – Step 9 (Updated)

Welcome back, creators. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you’ve been following along with the challenge, you are pretty far along with your 8-page comic story. That puts you one step closer to being a published comic book creator. Give yourself a nice socially distant high five!

In this next step, we’ll be adding depth and dimension to the penciled pages by adding inks.

In the Step 1, we reviewed how to plan a story idea for an 8-Page Story. In Step 2, we looked at how to break down your pages and plot. In Step 3, we worked on revisions to the plot. In Step 4, we created character sheets. In Step 5, we scripted our comic book story. In Step 6 we built our thumbnails. In Step 7, we drew page roughs. In Step 8, we penciled real comic pages. So awesome.

In Step 9, you will add inks to your pages. 

Post your inked comic pages in the Step 9 folder in the Forums.

About Inking

Inking can be a difficult concept for some people to really understand. If the penciler is the artist of the comic, then what’s the inker? Well, the inker is an artist too, just an artist that contributes to the art in a different way. Some pencilers ink their own work and some inkers are also pencilers.

If it sounds like you need art skills to be an inker, you would be correct. Inking can enhance or destroy penciled art, so it’s important for inkers to have art ability.

Inking was traditionally something done with actual black ink on art boards. These days, however, inking can be traditional, digital, or a mix of both. You can and should find the inking technique that works best for you.

 

Ron Lim’s Inks for Avengers Assemble (updated section)

Here are the inks from Ron Lim’s Avengers Assemble. You may also want to check out Ron’s pencilled pages and Buddy Scalera’s script for Avengers Assembled.

 

Inking Resources

At this time, we’re following the creative workflow of an Avengers Assemble story that I wrote for Marvel Comics. My editor Darren Sanchez provided insight into the creative planning and editing process. Legendary artist Ron Lim shared his pencil roughs and final pencils.

We do not have the inked pages at this time, but when I get them I will post them.

In the meantime, I’ll provide some useful resources for learning more about inking comic book pages.

Todd McFarlane Digital Inking (and some coloring)

Terry Moore on Inking with a Brush

 

Walden Wong on Inking Faces for Marvel Comics

 

And then there’s this classic scene from Kevin Smith’s “Chasing Amy” movie. You’ll recognize some significant Hollywood stars talking about inking comic books.

Chasing Amy “You’re a Tracer”

 

Ready, Set, Ink!

Okay, so now it’s your turn. If you are participating in the 8 Page Challenge, you should post your rough comic book pages in the Step #9 Inking Showcase forum in the Create@ComicBookSchool forums. Also, you should feel free to leave comments for the participants to help them improve their work.

Post your inked pages into Step 9: Inks in the Create@ComicBookSchool Forums.

Previous Steps

Step 1: How to Create a Story Idea for an 8-Page Comic | #8PgChallenge

Step 2: How to Plot Your 8-Page Comic | #8PgChallenge

Step 3: How to Revise Your Plot | #8PgChallenge

Step 4: How to Create Character Sheets for Your 8-Page Comic Story | #8PgChallenge – Step 4

Step 5: How to Write the Script for Your 8-Page Comic Story | #8PgChallenge – Step 5

Step 6: How to Create Thumbnails for Your 8-Page Comic Story | #8PgChallenge – Step 6

Step 7: How to Create Page Roughs for Your 8-Page Comic Story | #8PgChallenge – Step 7

Step 8: How to Create Pencil Art for Your 8-Page Comic Story | #8PgChallenge – Step 8

In the meantime, here is the original Announcement of the 8-Page Challenge.

 

Challenge Calendar: Register on the Forum to Be Added to the Calendar