[Intro]
[Step 1]
Step 2
[Step 3]
[Step 4]
[Step 5]
[Step 6]
[Step 7]
[Step 8]
[Finished Artwork]

 
2a. Clean it up with some inks!
  • Once I've completed a sketch I like to ink my picture.  Since I'm always too paranoid to ink over a pre-existing sketch, I will instead take a piece of transparent paper (available at any art store) and trace my pic with a thin art pen, usually at .005" thickness.
2b. Scan time!
  • When the inked product is ready, you'll be wanting to scan it.
    • I scan my inked pictures at 300 dpi (dots per inch) in LineArt mode.  LineArt mode will only take in black and white, no greyscale or color, which is fine for an inked piece.
    • I scan through Photoshop to get my pics : File --> Import --> Twain_32 will activate your scanner and get you your picture (if you don't have it check their web site at http://www.adobe.com and see about a demo version to at least practice with) .
2c. Change modes!
  • It's scanned?  Good!  Go to Image --> Mode and select "greyscale" since you can't select anything else anyway), then go to Image --> Mode again and the other color options will be available : choose "RGB color".
  • If your picture isn't oriented properly (it's on the screen sideways), go to Image --> Rotate Canvas and change it to how you see fit.
  • SAVE YOUR FILE NOW!!!
    • I save files in PSD (PhotoShop Document) format while working on them.  You can't open them anywhere except Photoshop, other Adobe-spawned programs, and Fractal Design Painter, but it'll hold all your info well.

NOTE!
Don't want to go through all the inking spiel?  Then follow these instructions for straight pencil-to-scan...
  • Your pencil-work has to be pretty clean.  You can still have a few smudges here and there, but try to erase any strong lines that you don't want.  Also, make sure most of your lines are closed (no open holes anywhere).  There are ways to get around this, but I won't be giving them here today.
  • Scan your image at 300 dpi in Greyscale mode.
  • When the pic arrives in Photoshop, go to Image --> Adjust --> Levels and move the left and right slider triangles to clean up the image.
    • The left tri is for darkening and thickening lines.
    • The right tri is for increasing the white bias and thining down black lines.
    • The middle is a fine tuner for both.
    • Don't overdo the whitening -- you still need your lines to stay unbroken for step 3.
  • Change the mode (Image --> Mode) to "RGB Color", and save your file as a PSD.

My inked version of Ms. Croft.