How the fuck do you make art look "clean"?I don't know how people do it. It seems like even the most stiff, untalented deviantart artist has an easy time coloring and polishing art, even if their base drawings are terrible. Meanwhile I just can't seem to ever make anything that has that same quality to it. What gives? How to people do it?
>>7218238"clean" is just a slang used by zoomers to have another synonym for "good" to say clean is like saying that your drawing on paper is clean and free of eraser crumbs or pencil points or smudges
>>7218257why r old ppl obsessed with zoomers?
Work on multiple layers, use the pen tool, zoom in, erase wayward pixels.
what mean clean?
>>7218238It's hard to know what you're doing wrong, or if anything is wrong at all, if you don't show your work.
>>7218238>>7218292What this guy says. We don't know what you're talking about and can only assume.If by clean you mean a final draft like how writers have a rough draft, second draft, third then final drafts, then a 'clean' sketch is a second draft and a clean linework is finalized.This is basic level stuff my dude, but again, we can only assume this is what you mean by 'clean'.
>>7218238>Come into MY house,
>>7218257It just seems like people are more easily able to render lines, but it's strange to me because I see so many artists (especially from latin america for some reason) who have the least fluid artstyle possible (Like puppet rigs that they just draw over or something) and yet their linework almost seems robotic. Perfect, fluid, and consistent. I just can't seem to replicate it, and when I do it takes forever. Jittery hands? Lack of skill? My software? I just can't figure it out. >>7218269I already use multiple layers but I can't say I ever use the pen tool. I need to get more familiar with the interface of my software in general. I do the pixel thing already, if anything that's one of the most tedious aspects due to the amount of layers. >>7218298>>7218292Pic related is a sketch I did, and I like how it looks enough but, will post another example in a second. It's from something I have WIP so I don't want to show too much but it's the main thing I work on. But when I try to get it beyond that point I just can't seem to give it that same "oomph" factor if you get what I mean. Will post more examples.
Then these shitty birds are still a bit lazy but closer to the way the linework looks when I finish it.
Here is another. Upper left was my initial attempt to shade it, lower left was another anon's edit, and then the right is my attempt to fix it. However, that whole thing took very long, and as you can see the drawing is still just a sketch. I think if I tried to make the linework more "proper" it'd take prohibitively long. I just can't figure out how people get their lines so nice, and blend them with colors so efficiently. Beyond the concepts they just feel sterile to me. Especially when the lines are thin, and it feels like my hands can't stay stable enough to pull that off. It feels like trying to understand alien science to me.
>>7218313>>7218317>>7218324Hey, these are cool my guy.> I think if I tried to make the linework more "proper" it'd take prohibitively long.Only because you don't know what you're doing.You seem to know what goal with the line work you want to achieve, post some examples of what you're aiming for before we give some tips on how to apply it to your work.
pixel fucking I think they call it
>>7218330Thank you, I like the ideas of them at least. Okay, I'll post some things I like the look of in general and talk about them. I'm picking random images off my computer, so forgive me if it takes a minute. I forget this character's name, I think it was something like Shakara, but look how the color and lines sort of "blend" together into a cohesive whole. Despite everything not being "perfect", it just looks "right", if that makes any sense. I don't get that from my own art. (though to be fair most of my art is digital)>>7218339What? What in the world does that mean?
Here's a cartoonier example more typical to what I like to draw, see how the linework is polished but doesn't give you the impression that they had to tediously spend time using sub-optimal brushes to make the drawing look half decent? Then look at the viscera in the background, it isn't done with black lines, they're colored to blend with the color scheme of the rest of that part of the drawing and contrast against Rick Taylor so he stands out more in the foreground. That's the kind of style factor I just cannot seem to pin down. I'm aware the two aren't something I can likely do at once, but I think these two illustrate the areas I'd really like to improve on.
Also everything being so sharp and crisp, I forgot to say that about the splatterhouse drawing. See how even that background square is sharp, and almost vector-like. I could never do that with my current skillset. It would be lumpy and bad looking because it would be entirely done by hand. I have no idea how I could do something like that, aside from maybe filling in a square with the fill tool and warping it around some.
>>7218345>What? What in the world does that mean?zooming in to the pixel level and fucking around getting smoother lines with the eraser etc. More of a VFX industry term but kinda applies to making super clean artwork.
OP, whether you're aware of it or not, you're essentially asking "How do I draw better?" Because that's what these are, better drawings than your drawings. These artists know how to draw (to some varying degrees), that's it.I mean for example, in your last post you're mystified by a simple geometric shape that can be made in 3 seconds with a basic tool included in virtually every art program (polyline selection tool).These styles don't even have anything in common, except that the artists intuitively understand composition, line weight, mood, gesture, and so on.Why does this "Shakara" thing work? Because it works in 2 values. Try binarizing your own art and note the difference.It all comes down to simple fundamental drawing; stylistic flourishes are extra. You can make the tightest shit with just black and white, when you're good.I'd recommend working in grayscale, black/white, and limited values (2-3). Get back to basics and try to improve at that.
>>7218373I've done that sometimes, but I wouldn't exactly consider it ideal. I think if the mistakes are small enough to necessitate that, I can live with keeping them.>>7218378>How do I draw better?" Because that's what these are, better drawings than your drawings. These artists know how to draw (to some varying degrees), that's it.I mean for example, in your last post you're mystified by a simple geometric shape that can be made in 3 seconds with a basic tool included in virtually every art program (polyline selection tool).Yeah, pretty much. I acknowledge that I am stupid and don't know very much about the interfaces of drawing softwares beyond a handful of the tools and a few basic features. Something I've also been meaning to correct.>composition, line weight, mood, gesture, and so on.This, I have something of an understanding of the others (even if those drawings don't make use of them) but I don't really fully get line weight, it's still sort of in the realm of "I know the definition but my grasp of it is still vague." >Try binarizing your own art and note the difference.I think that will help a lot with the shading, certainly. I think I need to work on my understanding of how light works on objects too. Will give that black and white idea a try.
>>7218391>I don't really fully get line weight, it's still sort of in the realm of "I know the definition but my grasp of it is still vague."Line weight is highly subjective. Someone will probably link that shitty "tutorial" of the gay porn looking Asian superhero trying to explain line weight, but the truth is, there aren't any rules and you're not supposed to be overly conscious about it. You develop an instinct for what lines you want to emphasize as an extension of your own draftsmanship. It comes naturally with good drawing.Alberto Mielgo (I think this is him) uses really thick lines for expressive purposes, and also for areas of natural shadow. It's ultimately, again, about emphasis, about creating interesting focal points. You need a way to make certain parts in the drawing stand out, so it isn't a big generic ball of blah that the eye glazes over, needy as it is for focus. Some artists use detail/hatching to accomplish that, some use simple flat tones, some rendering, and then some play with line weights, etc.But again, work on simple fundamentals, expression comes later.
>>7218397>Someone will probably link that shitty "tutorial" of the gay porn looking Asian superhero trying to explain line weightSure, why not.
You need to draw like you know what you're doing or don't give af. Line confidence is real, also for most normies you only have to do flats and a simple celshade for them to think it looks amazing.
>>7218357That looks like mimicking vector lines. One way to achieve that kind of look without using vector is to draw a thick contour with the basic round flat brush and then take a basic flat round eraser, zoom in and start erasing the line into the shape you want.
>>7218378Not OP but I needed to hear this, thank you.
>>7218313I thought this pic was the “clean” example lol.I really like what you have going on there.
>>7218257You should google periods and comas, since it seems you are unaware of them.
>>7218238>the most stiff, untalented deviantart artist>>7218313>>7218317>>7218324>proceeds to post the most stiff, untalented deviantart art
>>7218300suck MY dick,
Sorry for late replies, I went to sleep.>>7218397True, it is mostly about getting the desired effect. I think part of the issue is that I've progressed about as much as I can with just futzing around in art programs and some reading about drawing. So I need to find some specific material about linework maybe and grind it out with that for a while, I think. I just lack both the knowledge and control. So I may simply need to improve my study habits. >>7218548Right, I appreciate the compliments but I know for a fact there is a lot of room for improvement. I feel confidence is important but I just lack the control to get it so perfect and fluid. Drawing sometimes feels more like assembling parts over a sketch than redrawing it organically, if that makes any sense. >>7218569Okay, so sculpting the line is an option? I can do that, I just figured it wasn't how most do. I have absolutely no clue how to do vector.>>7218877Thank you, that's how it can look with thinner lines. I like it, though I feel it still looks very amateur. >>7218891Yes, and? I'm working on it.
>>7219048>Yes, and? I'm working on it.Nothing, it's just funny that you're trying to belittle people that are at your same skill level.
>>7219071>Implying I wasn't fully aware of this from the beginning>Implying in my original post that I was not explicitly stating that even those people have more skill than I do in some ways, making fun of my own befuddlement at how they do itHow vain and inconsiderate of me to disparage no specific person from a website famously known for having vast swathes of low quality art. Thank you for putting me in my place, you really showed me.
Its easy enough on trad but on tablet I just can't draw a good line to save my life. When I watch videos of people drawing, they draw millions of tiny lines and take ages just to draw one line. I'm convinced its physically impossible to draw on a tablet the same way you'd draw with a pen, drawing large confident strokes, because you can't know how hard you're pressing on the tablet and it feels like drawing on ice so there's no feedback.
>>7219394No yeah, I get you, I used to be in that position. Drawing styluses aren't ergonomic in the same way as traditional tools, you really can't use the same stuff you use to write as much, if you get my meaning. It got easier for me when I started thinking of the two as completely separate mediums with their own rules, since that's what they are. I just can't figure out how people get it so consistent. It's like they can drive normal, and I'm using a car with only three wheels. It just can't keep straight over long or complex movements.
>>7219397the biggest way to get smoother lines is to draw at a bigger resolution and then shrink the art after you are done. it hides many of the little overlaps and crossing lines. 99% of art you see online is not drawn at the size you're looking at it
>>7219405How big are we talkin here?
>>7219454I dont know, but I always shrink my stuff to 80% of its original size when I'm done
>>7219461What's your typical canvas size look like? Maybe I'm too low resolution.
>>7219471you need to at least draw at 1000x1000 pixels
>>7218891>>7219071PYW
>>7219711He doesn't draw anon, he just came to complain
>>7218313>I just can't seem to replicate it
>>7220334I don't understand, but good job?
stop trying to look clean. focus on shapes. cleanliness follows shapes.
>>7218238Any standard inking brush on a separate layer above the sketch layer. The secret is working at a high resolution ~400% the final resized file for screen viewing
>>7220807This looks like a sloppy speed paint using a very ugly brush. It's not "clean" by any reasonable definition of the word
>>7218238Line weight! That's how you make clean art not look stiff and shitty. Use the curve tool if you're having trouble keeping a steady line and build off of it.
>>7220935Bonus tip: go to any of the boorus and look up the tag "absurdres" to find artworks posted at (often) full working resolution. You'll find many of them don't look clean when viewed at 100%, but clean when zoomed out Download them and try resizing them yourself.
>>7220940Line weight literally has fuck all to do with art looking clean or not. But ok. Also try avoiding using exclamation marks, it makes you appear as a LGBTQ zoomer
>>7220938>ugly brush.show me pretty brush
>>7218238Clean art is having attention to details. Energy spent on loving. The way you kiss her lips and little bite but not the painful kind of bite. All theses requires effort and attention to details. If you know how to kiss, you know how to create clean art.
Here, have a stupid little guy>>7220807I think shapes are important too, but I don't think that will help me with linework. Cool drawing though. >>7220935I may have to look for more inking brushes too. I currently just use a marker brush for it, nothing else gets quite as nice looking as of yet. Works for coloring okay too so it's just sort of my ole reliable. >~400% the final resized fileOh, wow. So yeah, it might just be a resolution thing. Good thing I got a new hard drive or the file sizes might worry me. >>7220941That is indeed a good tip, that will give me better reference for the difference. Thanks anon. >>7220940I think I'll dedicate some time to just learning more of the tools, then. I don't like the idea of getting reliant on things I can't also replicate in physical media, but I suppose a ruler or compass isn't too far off from that. >>7220963That sounds kinda hoity toity but I get what you mean. I can do that, it just takes prohibitively long, I want to get my methodlogy to be more efficient too.
>>7220938pyw haha
>>7218313>>7218317>>7218324draw another 2 or 3 pass of sketches on top of your rough sketch. no artist other than the top 1% can draw clean lines right away. everyone use the same fucking workflow. tons of youtube video to see other artist workflow. and no you won't get it the first time. do it again and again and again. it takes time to get good.
>>7221435Aw, man. It's always the solution you're hoping isn't the one that's the most practical, isn't it? So it's kind of like applying layers of accuracy with the lines? What about the main linework, I only have to do it once, right? I guess that wouldn't add a ton of time, it's more the part after sketches that gets me. I like the youtube vids idea, I just wish 90% of them weren't speedpaints. I can't really get as much from that.
>>7221521It's up to you. Do it until YOU are satisfied.This guy channel is full of videos showing his process. You can always slow it down with youtube player.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvzICelxz2cThis is how most artist work. The only way to speed up your process is to do it a lot until it's ingrain in you that you can skip couple of steps to get to the end result. Just learn to enjoy the process. Good luck with your art journey.
>>7218317follow through on your final lines, dont stop and start.
>>7221885What do you mean? Like don't finish it another session?
>>7218313>>7218324>just can't seem to replicate it, and when I do it takes forever. Jittery hands? Lack of skill? My software? I just can't figure it out. It's literally just, after you finished your messy sketch, you draw over it again with your pen tool and steady stroke enabled. Your drawing program should have a steady stroke feature to make it easier to draw clean lines.
