In this demo, I will show you the steps to create a manga page. After fully writing your manga story and sketching every page, you will then need to draw, ink, tone and add text.
Storyboard sketches and thumbnails help you plan the pages for the entire story. The sketches are rough but give a basic idea of where every character is placed and the dialogue between them. You may change the storyboard at any time, but it is a guide to help you plan your story better and see where it’s going. I like to keep it as simple as possible with only the main elements showing, such as the characters, settings and text.
Next create a more accurate sketch of your page on new paper or a new page in Manga Studio. In this stage, refer to the character profiles you have made for each character as you sketch them, making sure to get their character details right. You may use a pencil, if you are using traditional mediums, or the pen tool in a separate layer, if you are using Manga Studio.
Start inking over your pencil sketch or in a separate layer in Manga Studio. Nib pens are most commonly used in manga drawing. In this case, I have used the ink pens in Manga Studio. Practicing will enable you to achieve fine lines and accurate inking regardless of the medium you use.
After inking your page, you need to apply tones to enhance the overall look of your page and give it more depth. You may apply tones either traditionally or digitally. If you are short on art supplies, you can scan your inked page, open it in Adobe Photoshop® and apply tones to it. If you have Manga Studio or any other comic art software, you may use the ready-made manga tones they supply. These options are useful and yield beautiful effects.
You can either use the text tool in Manga Studio or in Adobe Photoshop to easily add text. Use only one font throughout the pages. Go through your text to make sure that it is error-free. You may team up with a writer, or hire an editor to proofread and give you feedback on your story transition and art when you have completed your pages. Once you finish editing, you can move forward and share your manga with the world, either online or in print.