☆TheLeatherDragon☆

I do my sketches on the computer because I am horribly indecisive and I don't want to waste paper. It's also much easier this way to change ideas and adjust for commissioners without totally destroying the paper with lots of erasing. I use Paint Tool Sai and I always use the same purple for my lines.

After the sketch is how I want it, I'll print out the image and use a lightboard to trace my sketch onto cardstock. I use a 0.7mm mechanical pencil and I'll do this stage very quickly since I only need the basic setup and not the exact lines.

For the lineart stage, I'll erase the entire sketch so that I can barely see it on the paper. Then I go over it with the same 0.7mm mechanical pencil for most of the picture but for thicker lines I'll use a regular #2 pencil. This is the final lineart I'll use and it's what you see in all my pictures. Some people mistake this for a pen brush or some other tool but it's legitimately drawn on paper.

After everything is finished on the paper, I scan it back into the computer and add the flat colors with Paint Tool Sai. I usually pick the prominent color and fill the entire picture and then go over that with separate layers to add the different colors. Each color will have its own layer unless they're not touching, that way it's easier to edit later if I need to, mostly saturation.

At this point, usually the picture is finished. When it does need shading though, it'll also consist of different layers overlayed and whatnot. I like to add a white outline to most of my art because it makes it feel like a sticker when I make it transparent or I can then use the outline to go over the character to accentuate certain areas in layers.