Tips for Becoming a Mangaka – Materials

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Do you dream of becoming a mangaka? (漫画家) Then find out what the essential materials and tips are to become one!

Have you heard, read, or do you like mangas? Well, this article is special for you who dream of becoming a mangaka or admire any of them or are simply curious (lol).

A mangaka is someone who draws mangas; creating stories also makes you a mangaka, but nothing is better than putting your ideas on paper without depending on someone else, right?

Many give up along the way, perhaps due to lack of motivation or simply not knowing where to start. But how about having the right initiative? Starting with the right materials and tips?

Essential Materials (Basics) – Pencil

Clearly, a pencil is essential, but we are not talking about just any pencil; we are talking about special pencils, which have classifications.

We are talking about pencils that have 4 types of classifications, which are H, F, HB, and B.

These classifications are related to the hardness of the graphite, from the softest (soft), which results in a darker tone, to the hardest, which results in a more grayish tone of graphite.

These types of pencils are often used in writing; for example, in most pencils, you will see the letters HB, which is one of the classifications. In other words, they are not necessarily and obligatorily used around art.

The hardness of the pencil is classified into 4 types: B, H, F and HB.

• B – Represents blackness;
• H – Represents hardness;
• F – Represents fine (fine tip);
• HB – Represents a threshold between B and H, which characterizes a common pencil for writing;

The classifications follow this order:

9H > 8H > 7H > 6H > 5H > 4H > 3H > 2H > H > F > HB > B > 2B > 3B > 4B > 5B > 6B > 7B > 8B > 9B

It is recommended to use pencils that are in the middle of the classifications, such as 2H and 6H, F, HB, 2B, and 6B. Always remember to keep the pencil well sharpened for better handling.

Paper

If you are not willing to spend much money, you can opt for using 75-gram sulfite paper, which is sold in packs. Care is needed when using it, as it crumples more easily.

The best paper for drawing manga is Westerprint, 180-gram weight, which is sold in pads in A3 (29.7 cm x 42 cm) or A4 (21 cm x 29.7 cm) sizes.

And of course, if you invest a little more, you will be able to find pre-printed sheets with blue borders, which show the correct space of a manga page.

Pens (Ink)

There are technical pens that are disposable, which have felt tips, and although they have a finite life, they never clog.

There are also pens that require ink refills; they have greater precision and also require meticulous and careful maintenance.

They have various sizes, from 005, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05… The most commonly used are 005, 02, 05, and 08.

They are essential for mangakas, as all details and final art are usually done with them.

Erasers

It is very frustrating when you are making a nearly perfect drawing, but suddenly, you miss a line… And that’s where the eraser comes in!

It is necessary to know that common erasers do not have the same effect as those specifically made for drawing. With a common one, it is very likely that your drawing will smudge and stain in some parts.

Use mainly a white plastic eraser, which guarantees not to stain the paper and does not leave marks along the way.

There are also Clean Type erasers; they are a type of eraser that can be manipulated and shaped in any way we want.

The use of it is quite simple, and if you know how to use it, the results of your future drawings will reach another level. You can do these things with a common eraser, but not in the same way as with a Clean Type!

• It serves to lighten dark areas, to create light effects on graphite, to remove excess, and also, of course, to erase!
• It erases easily and will rarely leave traces that an eraser was used on your drawing;
• The most important thing is also knowing how to create shapes that are convenient for your drawing, such as a tip, balls, or any other shape;

Prefer brands like: Staedtler, Koh-I-Noor, Faber Castell, and Trident.

To avoid prolonging the article too much, we will divide this post into several parts. To read the rest, access the links below:

• Tips to Become a Mangaka by Doing Sketches