No matter how beautifully a page may be drawn in pencil, it cannot be printed in a comicbook unless black india ink is applied to the original pencil drawing. That means someone has to tracę over the initial penciled artwork with either a paintbrush or drawing pen, transforming each illustration into a carefully “inked” finał product.
However, always remember that an inker is not merely a person who traces a penciled drawing. The inker has to be an artist himself. (Or herself. No chauvinists we!) A gifted inker can make mediocre penciling look great; while a mediocre inker can make great penciling look duli!
Inking is vitally important. The morę you know about it, the better. And here’s where we begin ...