Step 2 - Neaten

Using your pencil, tidy up the line work. This is where a light table comes in handy, where it is used for tracing your image. Among traditional artists, this may be considered a trade "secret", although many artists probably wouldn't think it much of a secret. The invaluable tool of a light table is priceless to an animator and traditional illustrator and this is how we often get such tidy lines without having to erase over anything.

Tip: If you don't have a light table, use a window that offers good lighting. Which means you'll probably need to do this during the day. :) To keep your drawings from slipping away from eachother, you may want to tape your pages together. Use painter's tape as it peels off easily and won't tear your work. You may also want to tape the picture on the back against the window too to prevent "slippage".

Otherwise, get an inexpensive light table - or make your own. It will save you alot of arm ache from drawing extensively against a window. You'll basically need a sufficient sized sheet of frosted plexi-glass (eg. 16x20 in. is a good size, but it all depends on how large the paper is you choose to work with, and the size you most often would work with) and a flourescent light to go beneath. You'll also need some books to prop the glass up to give you some tilt to allow you to draw effectively. Even a make-shift light table pays off huge if you're considering serious drawing in the long run.

Remember, taping your bottom page to the light table is also a good idea in this part of the drawing process.