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Sometimes a penciler indicates in his penciled drawings where the black areas should go. Other times he leaves it to the inker. However, no matter how the decision is arrived at, the important thing is to know when and where to place your strong black areas, for too little or too much black can weaken or totally destroy a penciled drawing.

While the black masses of course give a drawing solidity, they also help focus important elements in a picture by attracting the eye toward any desired area. Equally important is the use of solid and strong black masses to create dramatic moods within the drawing. Now, let’s study some examples to help us clarify these points ...

Notice how the heavy black areas here are concentrated on just one side of the figurę.

There are almost no blacks in the light area on the other side. This technique serves to accomplish two things: 1) It gives the figurę a feeling of dimension, of roundness. 2) It directs the reader’s attention to the character’s head by framing the head with massive black areas, directing the reader’s eye to the all-important fearful face.

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In this panel we have similar lighting, with one bright light source illuminating one side of the body and casting the other side in deep shadow. Even though the figures are drawn quite realistically, notę how boldly and simply the heavy black shadows are applied. For the most dramatic effects, keep your inking simple, with just one definite light source in each panel.