LESSON 1:
USE OF HAND TOOLS
TLE-ILLUSTRATION 7/8
Contents
Part 1 Traditional Illustration
Part 2 Digital Illustration
Part 3 Classification of tools according to its function
TRADITIONAL ILLUSTRATION
Pencil
• The pencil is a good linear tool.
• Pencils come in many varieties, like charcoal, graphite, and
colored pencils.
• Pencils are made of a graphite or plastic lead stick, surrounded
by a wood casing.
Pencil
• The graphite pencils are most commonly used and
have a range of soft to hard grades, from 9B to 9H,
with 9B being the softest as well as the darkest and 9H
being the hardest. The greater the pressure the darker
the shade you will get.
Understanding pencil grades:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-vsHfyAAeM
Pens
• Ballpoint pens are the regular ink
pens that we normally use for day-
to-day writing.
• Ballpoint pens are used for drawing
and shading, but care must be
taken to control the pressure used.
• Too much pressure may result in an
unwanted blob of ink on the drawing
surface.
Pens
• Felt-tipped pens are commonly
used by artists.
• A wide range of colors is available
and the artist can blend colors to
create different effects.
• By controlling the pressure used,
the artist can create shading and
hard or soft lines.
Pens
• Fountain pens and lettering pens are used for general drawing,
sketching or calligraphy. Have refillable or replaceable reservoirs.
Pens
• Technical pens are somewhat
similar to fountain pens.
• They have a tube-like, hard nib
that can be used both for
sketching and for producing
detailed drawings.
• Have refillable or replaceable
reservoirs.
How to pick the perfect drawing pen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNgYvTI09XE
Brushes
• The brush has been used for generations to draw and write with inks.
• Brushes come in a wide variety of materials, shapes and sizes. They are
made of a fibrous tip, connector called a ferrule and wooden or plastic
handle.
• Basically, two types of brushes are available: Round and Flat
How to blend drawings using brushes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM8CyvqWgZ8
Paper/Board
• Paper is a material manufactured • Board is very heavy, stiff paper.
in thin sheets from the pulp of Board weight is described by the
wood or other fibrous substances, number of plies (thin layers) that
used for writing, drawing, or make up the board.
printing on, or as wrapping
material.
Ruler
• Ruler is used for measuring and
setting of dimensions usually
expressed in centimeters and
inches, and drawing straight lines.
Compass
• Compass is used in drawing arcs and circles.
Coloring Materials
• Consists of pigment that is used to color drawings.
DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION
Computers and Digital Equipment
• As technology continues to change and access improves, students
and artists have more opportunities to use computers and digital
equipment and software.
Computer
Tablet Graphic Software
Smartphone
Scanner
Common Digital Graphic Software
Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for professional
graphic design software. This program is for creating and editing
vector-based work such as graphics, logos, and other design
elements.
Adobe Photoshop best know for photo editing and
enhancement, this software also has painting capabilities using
either your laptop, desktop, or mobile devices (Adobe Sketch).
Inkscape is a free and open source design software
focused on vector illustration. Designs done on
Inkscape can be exported in different formats.
Common Digital Graphic Software
Autodesk Sketchbook is another of the classic generation of
graphics programs and it has found itself overlapping a
number of different tools in terms of functionality.
Canva is a graphic design platform, used to create social
media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other
visual content.
MediBang Paint Pro is a free digital painting and
comic creation software.
CLASSIFICATION OF HAND TOOLS
ACCORDING TO THEIR FUNCTION
Tools Used to
Dry Materials for Wet Materials for Materials Used as
Apply Wet and Dry Digital Equipment
Making Marks Making Marks Surfaces
Materials
• pencils • ink • brushes • paper • computer
• pencil crayons • ballpoint pens • rollers • glass • smartphone/
• charcoal • felt pens • airbrush • fabric tablet
• chalk • markers • palette knife • plastic • scanner
• oil pastels • paints (acrylic, • found objects • metal • graphics
water color, • wood software
• tempera, poster, • drafting table
oil)
References
• http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/kes/pdf/or_os_art_te_back_01_
design.pdf
• https://www.adamenfroy.com/best-graphic-design-software
