How to Ink a Comic Page with Mark Morales

[@ProkoTV]

This is just a small sample of what’s covered in the premium course! You’ll get even more technical knowledge from Mark about inking when you sign up at proko.com/marvel

[@walterfrancisco3197]

I have immense respect for inkers. Some of them end up elevating the art of the penciler and end up being unrecognized for the finished piece. Thanks for the lesson Mark Morales.

[@ProkoTV]

Comics can be a collaborative process, with each person adding their own flare and elevating the final product!

[@black_squall]

"You're a tracer!"

[@stevehutch]

Wow. Well done to Proko for persuading the master of inking techniques Mark Morales to share his skills. I have such admiration for Mark’s work. He treats the penciller’s work with such respect, meticulously adding refinements, line work, shading and feathering to an almost superhuman level. Thanks to all for an incredible video.

[@ProkoTV]

Thank you kindly!

[@birdy369]

There are simply not enough videos online of inkers demonstrating their incredible talents outside of the digital realm! I picked up nib and brush inking last year and let me tell you, its QUITE the challenge! Between attempting to keep a steady hand, having the right ink consistency and amount on your brush/nib, not swiping your hand over wet ink, and most importantly, just having TOTAL CONFIDENCE in each mark you make!

[@MatijaVuk-z9n]

rlly ? you can find plenty on youtube

[@ghengis423]

I'm taking the course and I've also been practicing my drawing on the side. My drawing has increased greatly throughout the year, but my inking is improving at a much slower rate, which is a testament to just how difficult it is and how these amazingly skilled artists go under the radar so much.

[@ProkoTV]

Thanks for taking the course and persevering in your inking practice!

[@lordcommander3224]

He combines classic Marvel inking techniques with modern methods. Great video.

[@mythebe]

I'm a penciler who grew up on Jim Lee's X-MEn and Mark Morales has altered the course of my future. I feel free, like I can live my life and maybe even have friends again instead of thinking I'm supposed to be spending 40 hours per page penciling every mark.

[@RogerioPereiradaSilva77]

I was the same. I used to spend God-only-knows-how-many hours, painstakingly adding 'fake' feathering using pencils, drawing each muscle and little veins (some that don't even exist, lol!) and tons of other tiny details on pencils - most of which wouldn't even be seen after the art was actually inked, scanned and shrunk on the computer - just to try to imitate 90's comics style and then eventually it just "clicked" on me. I realized that it was a waste of time and simply stopped doing it altogether and then decided to focus on the fundamentals like lightning, composition, storytelling, etc. Since I am my own inker, I don't even do tight pencils anymore and MAN that does feel liberating!!! I'd rather create something quick within two hours or so full of energy than spend days on a drawing that by the time it is finished, I don't even care for it anymore.

[@mythebe]

@@RogerioPereiradaSilva77 I'm curious what type of comics you make. "than spend days on a drawing that by the time it is finished, I don't even care for it anymore." I think I have a similar experience. After penciling, inking, coloring, and lettering a page I truly hope I never have to look at it again for as long as I live. I'm a self taught artist, so the worst part is how many problems end up in the final versions of my pages despite how much time I spent on them. Oh well.

[@RogerioPereiradaSilva77]

@@mythebe Right now I am not making any but I keep entertaining the idea of writing and drawing short stories with a classic American comics style but first I need to streamline my process as much as I can so that I can produce pages fast. Fast as in "perfect is the enemy of good enough" fast, if you catch my drift? As for finding faults on the finished product, I feel the same way with my pieces. No matter how much effort I put into these pieces, I always see things that bug me when I declare them done. I believe most artists feel that way towards their work. But working digital has helped a lot in reaching that speed goal, though.

[@RogerioPereiradaSilva77]

@@tsdobbi I think that what you are describing is the infamous "Vince Coletta effect". Vince Coletta was Jack Kirby's inker for a long time during the 60's and became famous for mutilating Kirby's artwork by, literally, erasing large portions of the pencils while inking the bare minimum in a misguided attempt to speed up the inking process and handle more pages per day. When you look at what Jack's pencils typically look like compared to the finished pages the difference is like night and day, indeed.

[@RandySiplon]

Mark is one of the cleanest, slickest inkers of all time. Great video!

[@Pascanchik.]

When I was a little kid I thought that only one dude was doing all the penciling and inking in a small office. But it’s good to know that two or more people are working on our favourite comics to make them look better

[@Soshikix]

You just described manga artists

[@Pascanchik.]

@@Soshikix they do that all by themselves? That’s crazy

[@jokerman9623]

​@@Pascanchik.No they usually have a small team with them. There's the main artist but they will have several assistants

[@Pascanchik.]

@@jokerman9623 oh ok thanks

[@Cubannerd]

I've been using a gpen to do inking in order to improve my digital inking. Is not perfect but I can definitely see the improvement. Seeing these videos are a gold mine of knowledge. I love inking.

[@McShmoodle]

That little tip about feathering from thin to thick blew my mind. I've spent the past decade or so going thick to thin, but his demonstration showed such a drastic change in quality between the two that I'm definitely gonna try it the ither way now 😅

[@marcpatton5207]

Just starting drawing seriously, with a focus on manga and comic art styles. I didn't even know inking was a thing until starting to watch these. Now I'm almost as fascinated with it as I am with drawing itself.

[@WspiDigits]

Great work showcasing all these masters, thanks proko .

[@bendy_bones]

how is this channel more entertaining and better quality than my country's national television channel??? i learn so many techniques from every video. i hope one day i can finish my own comic ^_^

[@ProkoTV]

Thanks for liking the videos! We look forward to seeing your comic when you make it!

[@EzugwuEmmanuel-gx5eo]

I am making my own comic , with proko skills.

[@onthewaycyam]

Masterful ink work! Beautifully smooth lines with a lot of variety.

[@JalyaMohsni-ik3iv]

You have a awesome talent 😮

[@ProkoTV]

Mark's a skilled pro and we were lucky to get him on this course!

[@Topcatyo.]

Really been appreciating this series, and Mark is extremely talented and knowledgeable. Every video, he says at least one thing that changes my perspective on the artistic process.

[@mmveelee]

Today, I learned that penciling and inking are 2 different jobs. 😮

[@I0amARES]

Adjusts lineweight without any difficulty

[@Mezzy..]

Thank you, very insightful

[@daniarmstrong3023]

From the start Mark is one of superhero comics best inkers

[@fandeandreaarruti]

So that's why drawings are so detailed nowadays.

[@bobopatchnosuke229]

That art looks so good, WOW.

[@DiscoSoup1983]

This is so insightful. Thank you for teaching us. You're a true master.

[@dewbackdeliveries2504]

Fantastic video. Thank you for sharing your insight

[@aryansh9486]

Hi,i wanted to buy your course of portrait drawing but hefore buying i wanted to know will you also teach basic shading in that plan

[@Vanillaqyoo]

YES!

[@RogerioPereiradaSilva77]

Breathtaking!!

[@fernandob2275]

I grew up thinking that’s how the comics were penciled, only to learn as an adult that the style I really liked was the inker’s

[@rezajamshidi8685]

Grate tips ❤

[@edmundobaca3498]

Knows shadows in draws.Are a beautiful experience 🔥💯💯💪

[@janschaffrath7914]

Thank you so much - I already learned something new and can improve my artwork. Regards from Germany 🤗

[@deverslath]

This is solid gold. Thanks!

[@davidcaram7675]

I learned something right away here: add a tiny bit of ammonia instead of water to dilute ink.

[@richshalhoub2286]

Thanks Mark your great thanks for reminding me of blueprinting

[@sugu4065]

this helped alot tnx

[@Kkpakpo]

Nice video

[@Buddhabellie]

So so awesome. Thank you

[@PalauianBall]

For a dang minute I thought this was Killed Queen.

[@ClaytheHamster]

SAME

[@nellaprantlova]

Does anyone know what are the brands and names of the art supplies he used?

[@Jang09]

His pen nib is most likely a hunt 102. His brush is a raphael 8404 kolinsky sable # 3. Not sure about his black ink (probably Dr. Ph Martin's Black Star). His white ink is Dr. Ph. Martin bleed proof white.

[@nellaprantlova]

@@Jang09 Thanks so much!

[@ProkoTV]

Everything else here is solid but he uses Higgins Black Magic for the black ink

[@Zettoman]

just in time for inktober, 2024

[@AIexhn]

Bravo!

[@KentaroYuuki]

Already here xD

[@sugu4065]

lol

[@Boomm20375]

How long does it take for a page?

[@margaretphenicie4522]

Schultz used a water brush much later in life. I use a Koi set one that I use black cat ink.

[@M1CR0.]

how did you scan the penciller's drawing?

[@ProkoTV]

If it's traditionally drawn, that'll usually be a scanner just like you imagine, just large. If it's digitally done pencils, no scans needed. You'll just print that out with blue lines to ink over.

[@sarahgutierrez9179]

what pen name brand are you using for inking super curious :) enjoyed watching video

[@woodoo4]

il looks like a Speedball Hunt 102, but I am not sure

[@artizmilife]

What’s the blue pen called? At 9:41 ?

[@JH-pe3ro]

Zebra Ultra-Fine Brush Pen - ZEBRA WFSS4. Can be ordered on Jetpens. (Tombow Fudenosuke will also be very similar.)

[@Khadra-n8p]

I love artsy I so in to rite nw. It is whole new level of brain 🧠 ❤❤

[@manuelchiacchiaretta6851]

Vetril where does it go? into the nib or ink? Thanks

[@ProkoTV]

Vetril?

[@manuelchiacchiaretta6851]

@@ProkoTV in an earlier video he refers to ammonia in a Windex Sorry glass cleaning product. Where does it go in the nib or the 'ink?

[@ProkoTV]

In the ink

[@BlackSquad-sz8gd]

What is the pen name anyone please tell😢😢😢😢😢

[@samankucher5117]

very cool :0

[@HydraCoffee42-wj5ir]

Wow

[@XenaArt]

Класно! Супер! 👍👌💙💚❤

[@barbaraalexander3892]

Is Miles Morales based on Mark???

[@rvmvlv]

Gostaria de ver o processo da Bilquis aqui também

[@venyajayasundara3984]

Am I the only one wondering what is the page size

[@ProkoTV]

11"x17" on Bristol board.

[@venyajayasundara3984]

@@ProkoTV thx!😄

[@raulcual9510]

Please do anime pls or manga 😅😅

[@TACOCactus69]

It's the same damn thing.

[@Jang09]

Mangaka essentially use the same techniques and tools. But you can look up manben videos (by Naoki Urasawa) if you want to see some of them work.

[@bobopatchnosuke229]

Overrated media.

[@paulricahuerta4194]

Nah, anime art is inferior

[@caos813]

Show 🎉

[@TXMATE]

he should do miles morales

[@knightshousegames]

0:18 ...Will I have though....?

[@Snickerszn]

This guy is unreal the pen is an extension to his body.

[@popculturerocks]

That is delicious.

[@danbruh5004]

Inking must be an excruciating process unless you’ve been doing it for a while.

[@fandeandreaarruti]

Line weight to create volume. Okay.

[@sugu4065]

am i the first to comment

[@Toy_The_Poser]

Who the hell is still linking this day and age? Especially THIS WAY? To be honest. Only OLDER artists still use pencil and bristle boards to draw. And even most of them do it just to SELL THEM. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@ProkoTV]

Plenty of artists choose to work traditionally because it allows you to let go and just nake the art. Working digitally, you ALWAYS have the temptation to undo and redo to infinity and that's no good for your time or your creative flow. Just as one example. We all know there's also just often something special about making it traditionally. And let's say some artists DID work traditionally to make extra money selling originals. Freaking AWESOME. Comics work often doesn't pay enough. Make your bag! What a weird thing to give even a shadow of a negative tone to. Traditional artists of different ages and different styles are everywhere in comics right now. All over the best selling comics with the best stories and art and you're missing out by not reading them. Daniel Warren Johnson, Zoe Thorgood, Juni Ba, Filipe Andrade and so so so many more.

[@Toy_The_Poser]

@ProkoTV mmmm, I beg to differ. But I didn't mean to sound negative about the skill of inking or drawing traditionally. Especially if it's a gig to make money. More power to you. But this day and age. In the industry of comic books. Because of digital software. Three sections of comic book making (colorist, letter, inkers) is or ALMOST is obsolete. Because any artist ( penciler ) worth his/her salt should be able to do ALL those jobs. I personally can remember the day that WACOM table was the standard for penciling comics. I had to literally make my OWN Blu-line bristle boards. Lol. NOW..... In the case of saving MONEY and/or TIME. I'm sure those duties are distributed IF needed. So the yeah. Although traditional inking is STILL a neat art skill to have. I see no point a comic publisher like Marvel or DC paying MORE money to 4 or 5 different "artists" to take LONGER completing a book doing it traditionally. When ONE artist can do it a lot quicker digitally.

[@ProkoTV]

​@@Toy_The_Poser I think we're just going to have to disagree on this one and that's okay! While jobs have definitely condensed and pencilling by itself is MUCH less commonly seen now, coloring and lettering are often (not always) distributed jobs for very good reason and done that way to great effect and time efficiency. Even coloring is split into two jobs with flatting done by someone whose time is less expensive. The same goes for lettering. Their time is less expensive than the drawing artist and their skillsets are different. Having the artist do the letters would cost more and slow down the machine. This division of labor is seen on comics that are drawn traditionally and digitally.