Miku sketch

   Hello~ I'm just a curious passerby with a curious question: First, you sketch your drawings and then, you scan them onto your computer to digitally color and complete, yes? I've seen a lot of your works and I was just wondering if that's how most artists draw like that. I have a printing machine that also allows scanning, but I've never tried using it before; and also, I'd like to know more on scanning basics from a pro like you.

That's the basic process, except my scanner broke a while ago and I use my iPod camera instead. I brighten up the image on Gimp to make it clearer, then embed it on Inkscape. I trace the lines with the mouse, remove the pencil layer and leave only the vector lines. Next I put the vector lines on Gimp and make the image transparent so that only the lines are visible. I place the color layer under the line layer and color the picture. Don't worry too much about the scanning if you're going digital, you'll be throwing away the pencil lines anyway after you're done using them as a guide, so they only need to be clear enough to see. However, if you do have an HQ scanner you have the option to use "race bitmap" on Inkscape which converts your lines to digital lines and makes them clearer. I did this in some of my older pictures when my scanner still worked. ​http://www.fanart-central.net/pictures/user/AzureMikari/826756/Filias-Icecream-2 The lines turn out in varying widths and not quite as smooth as vectors, but it is a lot faster. The advantage of vectors, other than looking smoother is that you can more easily make small fixes and last minute modifications, where as tracing will copy the sketch and making changes will be more difficult, as it may make the line look inconsistent if you mix traced digital with vector. You can get Inkscape here: ​http://inkscape.org and Gimp here: ​http://gimp.org they are both very good free programs. 

   Whaaaaooooouuuu. That's a great long process you got there. Ah, but it does explain to me MUCH about a digital artist's "behind the scenes" work. Thank you so very much for explaining to me how you do what you do. I apologize for my late reply. I did not realize you actually replied to my question until I checked my e-mail the other day. Once again, many thanks for the help with GIMP and Inkscape; you are a very generous artist. Most professionals don't give advice to amateurs, so that I am most grateful of your help. x'DD 

Also, one more question: How did you upload your drawing you took on your iPod camera to GIMP? Was it through an account, or did you sync the drawing onto your computer? Just this one question and I am set and ready for digital drawing. Or attempting to draw digitally. ; o ;

You're welcome :) I don't really consider myself a professional, I still have a lot to learn and need to keep practicing. XD

Any camera will do the trick as long as it has an ok resolution. For the iPod, mine is a Touch 4, so I can either use the usb cable and access it similar to a flashdrive, or what I usually do to get files from one of my electronics to another, email it to myself.

   Ah, I see now. This just got AWESOME. I will try my best with digital drawing. As always, thank you AzureMikari. I'm sure your tips and guidelines will help me on the path to being a digital artist. Arigatou gozaimasu. ^w^

You're welcome :) Good luck with your drawings and most of all have lots of fun! :D