robin_wright•21d agoProlific Poster

Showerthought: I started using a 2B pencil for my first pass on vellum and it's a game changer

I was always taught to use an H lead for everything on vellum to keep lines sharp. But I kept getting ghosting on my second and third layers when I needed to make changes. Last month, I tried a 2B for my initial rough layout. The softer lead erases completely with a kneaded eraser, leaving zero ghost lines for the final ink pass. My drawings for the new library annex in Springfield are way cleaner now. Anyone else break the 'hard lead only' rule for certain drafting stages?

2 comments

2 Comments

miles94821d ago

My old drafting teacher would have a fit, but I started using a red Col-Erase pencil for my rough layouts on trace. It's non-photo blue's weird cousin, and it just disappears under ink without needing to erase at all.

eva_rivera4921d ago

Wait, does the red show up on scans if you need to make copies before inking? I've had issues where light blue lines still ghost on cheap office scanners. That disappearing trick sounds perfect for final art, but I wonder if it messes with any digital cleanup steps later.