Inking Questions for Stan

[micah_acord]

I've got a few questions for Mr. Sakai.

I know you've mentioned using a Koh-I-Noor Art Pen. Would that be their Rapidographs? Or is it more like a crow quill? If it is, then what are your thoughts on using Rapidographs as an inking tool? I know Jeff Smith hates them and uses a brush, and Dave Sim swears by Hunt 102 crow quills.
Your lines in your later work look very consistent, and I'm a fan of Rapidographs myself, so I was wondering. I read the story in 'the Art of Usagi Yojimbo' about how you do an issue, but I didn't know if the info was dated, or if it's exactly the same way nowadays.

Also, I know from reading some interviews that you don't put a lot of detail into your pencils, but I'm curious about exactly how much detail you do put in. Do you follow Sergio Aragones' policy, and just do a squiggle to indicate character placement, or do you sketch out the general geometric shapes of the characters (which is what I do), or do you actually sketch out the characters thoroughly, but leave out textures and whatnot for the inking stage?

I'm a huge fan of your work, and I really like your inking style. So, anything I can learn would be greatly valued.

Thanks!

-Micah

[Stan Sakai]

I use the old Koh-i-noor Sketch pen, which had a flexible nib, not the current technical pen with the same name. The flex-tip gives a more interesting look to the inking with its varied line weight.

The only thing I use technical pens for are the border lines and the page circles in the lower right corner.

My pencils tend to be fairly loose. When Sergio inked my pages for Return to Adachi Plain, he complained there was not enough on the page for him to work with. I countered with, there was more detail on the page than he usually has. He did a terrific job.

I don't put textures on my pencils, but the figures, backgrounds, and props are there, though not in great detail. After the foreground figures are inked, I will draw all the perspective lines so the perspective looks believable, then ink the backgrounds.

I usually do five passes in my inking. First, I will ink all the foreground using an older, broken in pen nib. Then I will ink the background characters with a new, stiffer nib. Then I will do the perspective, completing all the basic inking on the page. I then erase all the pencils. I use graphite pencils, rather than non-photo blue. In the fourth stage of inking, I spot all the blacks with a brush pen. Finally, the textures are put in.

I use Badger Black Opaque ink, however they just changed their formula recently and I am on the lookout for a new brand of ink. I have enough ink for, maybe, another 3 years. The new Badger is terrible. I use it to fill my brush pen, and save my old stock for my pens.

[Steve Hubbell]

I've been spending too much time on facebook, I started looking for the "like" button!

It's great, we keep learning more and more about your work process.

[Stan Sakai]

Facebook is great. Someone sent me a link to a guy selling the old Koh-i-noor Sketchpens on Craigs List, at a pretty good price considering how long they have been unavailable. I contacted the seller and bought a couple of pens and a few extra nibs. This should last me another 8-10 years. Now if I can only find someone with a stash of the old FW or Badger Black Opaque inks.

I don't have time to update FB often, as I have not been able to visit this site as often. Or even Live Journal. I have my new color piece for Book 25 that I've been wanting to post, including the step-by-step, but I'm too busy catching up to deadlines.

[coolray85]

thank you for talking about your inking process!
have you ever tried windsor and newton black ink?I am using that and I like it a lot.....

[micah_acord]

Wow, thanks for the info!

Now I'm starting to look for flexible nib pens, myself.

I should definitely start seeing better results in my inking, now.

Thanks again!!