Markers Vs. Pen

I’ve run into 2 different methods of marker rendering. One is to do a line drawing of the object then use it as an underlay, and fill in color on the overlay. Then adding outlines and highlights once the color is done. I find that this way make is hard to create really dynamic shadows and highlights. The other way is to just to lay the lines out in pen, then go in with marker and verithin white pencil to do everything on one piece of paper. The problem I find with this is that sometimes the pen from the outlines will bleed into the marker. So my question is are these the methods people are using? What method do people like best? And is there any pen out there that you would recommend that won’t bleed into the marker? What combinations of media (specific brands) are people using to create their renderings?

I am no professional. I have read Redering with Markers by Kemntizer and use some of his techniques.

I start by lightly penciling the concept and layout.

I then block out the lightest colours using markers and lightly erase my pencil lines.

I start to shade / blend and work depth into the shadow.

I then take out the coloured pencils and use them to add highlights and definition (if edges are catching light)

I will then take my black marker out if I have any outlining to do and pen in the fine details or outlines.

I work on a single sheet of paper and leave finishing lines and outlining till the last step of the rendering to ensure everything remains crisp.

I do everything on one sheet of paper. I prefer verithin, will start with faint lines, then with marker, then back with the line quality I want. If I make a terrible mistake, I start over again, no big deal. Each 11x17 page takes me less than an hour. Any longer, I will be wasting my time. So I usually plan it out with little thumbnails on some scrap paper before I go to the big one. That also helps me to plan the composition.

“sometimes the pen from the outlines will bleed into the marker… is there any pen out there that you would recommend that won’t bleed into the marker?”

water-based pen should solve bleeding. Pilot Fineliner is what i use. just let it dry. should be fine.

i usually use combo of both techniques (when i dont PS the color). pen underlay. overlay in pen then marker it. i also scan the original pen underlay. comes in handy to have sometimes. also times when marker job goes to client. if you want a marker for the portfolio (assuming you’ll ever be able to show it), good to have the underlay.

She asked me to stay and I stole her room. She asked for my love and I gave her a dangerous mind. Now she’s stupid in the streets and she can’t socialise. I love the little girl and I’ll love her till the day she dies.

Jimmy’s guitar sound jealousies scream… Waiting at the lights… Know what I mean…




Nice quote Ykh… :laughing:

can fix the bleeding by doing a pencil first. a B/2B/4B for line, curve, shade! specially on vellum looks good. i use ink wash if i want to do something professional looking.

you can use markers, colored pencils and guache as you please it makes it look more like an industrial product as apposed to a sci-fi cartoon.

you can also use a combination of sheets (groups) as transparent layers- that way you can play around with shades, perspective, pencil lines, ink. you also have to take into considration the source of light, material, and finish if you want to make the object look more alive.

so what you can do is apply specific shades on one or several layers and move it/them around until it looks exactly like what you want and then redo it.

but don’t waste your time too much on making it look perfect. also try to find yourself a sketching style that’s unique. it’ll get integrated into your design over time.

“combination of sheets (groups) as transparent layers”

sounds like you have an elaborate technique. too bad you dont post sketches or drawings to show it.

@Telekon - Bowie fan?

no it’s not elaborate. it’s the easiest thing in the world. just needs a light box and a bit of patience.
i will never post sketches - you can have my word on it.

Got to use underlays. It’s hard for me to get everything I want in one pass. I start with some little thumbnails. Then I’ll do a few 8.5 x 11 bond sketches with pen or pencil with some color thrown on to flush out ideas. Once I have a solid idea, I’ll do a rough comp focusing on proportion and composition in pen (pilot Stylist) or pencil (prisma color), then I overlay that like 4 times working out details, how things would go together and function. Then I’ll overlay a final linework and either scan it to render or photocopy it onto Graphics 360 paper (trickey, but if you feed it just right it doesn’t jam the machine up) and I’ll render it with markers, pastels and pencils. Seems to work for me.

As my old prof allways said “overlay yor successes” - Dan Zimmer

I do most sketches on one sheet, although I am beginning to experiment with overlays for presentation sketches.

I use Staedtler Mars pens at work, and various things on my own time. Markers are usually Prismacolor or Sharpies. The only bleeding problems I experience are the markers bleeding on the paper, especially with plain bond, and a ‘color creep’ over time on transparent vellum (Prismacolor yellows are particularly bad). Most sketches are pen only, but I much prefer verithins to markers for detailed stuff. Need to dig out my guache and try it at work sometime…

for furniture design i use a 0.5 technical pencil and regular A4 copy paper in isometric perspective. i show it just like that to the company owner. he didn’t mind at all. infact i think he liked it.

Jackal - did any of this help, you got any you want to post?

yea, thanks everyone for your help. I will post some soon to see what you guys think.

thanks again

This is was the first marker rendering I ever did my sophmore year. I will post more once I get them scanned in. Any tips would be great. Thanks

http://www.spymac.com/upload/gallery/f_91/user_919434/medium/upload_336289.jpg

Ive been finding that pantone markers blend better and dont bleed as bad as the prismacolors.