LESSON 3: Tools and Materials Used in Illustrations

 LESSON 3

 Tools and Materials Used in Illustrations 

Illustration - is the act of describing information or ideas by example, usually in a visual manner in the form of an image. Examples of illustrations include photographs, paintings, drawings, and graphs.

Illustration - is a versatile and creative field that can involve various tools and materials depending on the artist's style and preference.

Traditional Drawing Tools

Pencils

Different grades of graphite pencils for sketching and shading. Pencils are the most versatile of drawing media because of the variety of marks that can be made. Marks can be subtle and delicate or bold and vigorous. A few bold strokes can capture movement whilst tonal shading can define form. A great characteristic of pencil is that line and tone can be combined in one drawing.

Charcoal

For expressive and bold drawings. Charcoal used as a dry art medium. Both compressed charcoal (held together by a gum or wax binder) and charcoal sticks (wooden sticks burned in a kiln without air) are used.[1] The marks it leaves behind on paper are much less permanent that with other media such as graphite, and so lines can easily be erased and blended.[2][3] Charcoal can produce lines that are very light or intensely black. The dry medium can be applied to almost any surface from smooth to very coarse. Fixatives are used with charcoal drawings to solidify the position to prevent erasing or rubbing off of charcoal dusts.

Ink

Used for line work, cross hatching, and stippling. Drawing inks are water-based media made from various plant and mineral colorants. Any given ink may vary in tone due to the purity and concentration of its ingredients and its degree of dilution. Historic drawing inks are commonly hues of brown, reddish brown, gray, and black.

Pens

Liner pens, also known as technical pens, are perfect for artists who need precision in their drawings. These pens have a fine tip that allows for thin lines and small details. Liner pens are available in a variety of widths, from very thin to medium thin. They can also be found in different colours, although black is the most common colour used by artists.

Markers

Markers were traditionally a niche tool used primarily by graphic designers and manga artists. Because markers are not as fade-resistant as other media, they were avoided by serious artists who had longevity in mind. But over time, as artists began to make art for the internet, more and more artists became attracted to the fantastic versatility of markers and their wide range of brilliant colors.

Colored Pencils

Colored pencils are relatively inexpensive, and the palette is extensive. The color is pure, clean and bright. The medium is permanent, and colored pencil drawings do not require elaborate care or storage. Along with hard and soft colored pencils, watercolor pencils and oil-based colored pencils. 

Painting Materials:

Watercolor art refers to any works of art made using the medium of watercolor. Watercolor also refers to the medium, a water-soluble paint that has transparent or translucent properties. Many people describe watercolors as being “soft” or “light” because the pigments in watercolors are often not as bright as acrylics or oil paints.

Acrylic paint is water-based fast-drying paint widely used by artists since the 1960s. It can be used thickly or thinly depending how much water is added to it.acrylic paint uses a synthetic resin to bind pigments. As it can be diluted with water and used thinly or thickly depending on how much water is added to it, it can resemble a watercolor or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media. 

Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigmented suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the dried oil paint film. The addition of oil or alkyd medium can also be used to modify the viscosity and drying time of oil paint. 

Digital Tools:

Graphic Tablet is a computer input device that enables a user to hand-draw images, animations and graphics, with a special pen-like stylus, similar to the way a person draws images with a pencil and paper. These tablets may also be used to capture data or handwritten signatures. It can also be used to trace an image from a piece of paper that is taped or otherwise secured to the tablet surface. Capturing data in this way, by tracing or entering the corners of linear polylines or shapes, is called digitalizing.

Stylus pen is  a small pen-shaped instrument whose tip position on a computer monitor can be detected. It is used to draw, or make selections by tapping. The stylus has the same function as a mouse or touchpad as a pointing device; its use is commonly called pen computing. 

Computer is a high-performance computers to run digital illustration software. The use of digital tools to produce images under the direct manipulation of the artist, usually through a pointing device such as a graphics tablet or, less commonly, a mouse. It is distinguished from computer-generated art, which is produced by a computer using mathematical models created by the artist. 

Software: 

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Procreate

Corel Painter

and more for creating digital illustrations.

Paper and Surfaces

Sketchbooks Portable books with various types of paper for sketching on the go.

Illustrations Sturdy surfaces for creating detailed illustrations with various media.

Watercolor Papers Heavyweight paper designed to handle watercolors without warping.

Erasers and Correction Tools:

Kneaded erasers, also known as putty erasers, are pliable and used for picking up graphite, charcoal, conte, pastel or coloured pencil debris from your paper. It can also be used to lighten up pencil lines if they are too dark.  A kneaded eraser can be shaped by your hand in achieving precise erasing.  They are also excellent for bringing out highlighted areas and creating soft effects.

Vinyl eraser is a firm eraser that is perfect for erasing stubborn marks. Vinyl erasers, which are made from plastic, are not flexible or pliable, but artists can use the edge of the eraser to remove fine marks from the paper. The great thing about vinyl erasers is that they remove pen and ink marks and they can remove marks cleanly.

White Gel Pen used for adding highlights and corrections in traditional and digital work.

Rulers and Straightedges:

T-squares and rulers used for adding highlights and corrections in traditional and digital work.

Sponges, stencils, and textured brushes used for adding interesting textures to illustrations

Cutting Tools: 

X-Acto knives and cutting mats used for creating precise paper cutouts and collages

Easels:

Easel stands to hold canvases or drawing boards at a comfortable working angle.