Essential Tools for Crafting Your Manga
What tools do I use to create this manga and how do they effect my work?
Pencils
For sketching, I use two mechanical pencils:
A Staedtler mechanical pencil loaded with thicker leads — I use both 4B and 2B. Thicker lead is great because you can sand it down to a fine point when you need precision, and once it dulls slightly, it shades beautifully.
A standard fine-tip mechanical pencil with thin lead. Since it stays sharp longer, it's great for clean outlines and doesn't need constant sharpening — perfect for laying down character sketches.
Rulers
I use two rulers, each for a different job:
A flat metal ruler with no bevel — just a simple straightedge. It's great for really straight lines and stays put when you press down with pencil, which matters when you're sketching perspective lines or hard architectural edges.
A clear transparent ruler, about 8 inches long. The advantage here is that you can actually see through it to line up exactly where your next line needs to go — the visibility is fantastic for precision. The downside is it's slick. Barely nudge it and your line shifts. I wish it had more grip, but the trade-off is worth it for the visibility.
Erasers
Nothing too fancy here:
A putty eraser for general, gentler erasing.
A hard white eraser, usually a Japanese-grade one. I like these because they give sharp, precise erasing pressure exactly where I need it — solid and reliable.
Putting It All Together
Everyone's setup is different, and what works for me might not work for you — that's the nature of art tools. But if you're curious where to start: a Staedtler fineliner, a Zebra brush pen, some 4B/2B mechanical pencils, and paper heavy enough to actually hold up to ink is a pretty solid foundation. From there, it's just a matter of testing things out and figuring out what feels right in your own hand.
My Tools of the Trade: The Pens, Pencils, and Paper Behind My Art
Okay, I'll admit it upfront: when it comes to drawing, I love tools. I probably spend way too much money on pencils, pens, brushes, erasers, rulers — basically anything an artist could imagine needing. Maybe I'm overcompensating for something, but honestly, I think it's mostly just that I love trying new stuff. It's expensive, sure, but that's where all my money goes. No regrets.
If you've followed my detailed ink work on YouTube or Instagram, you've probably seen me bounce between a dip pen, brush felt tips, and all kinds of other pens. But these days, I've narrowed things down to a setup that feels really satisfying to work with — and I want to walk you through exactly what I use and why.
A quick side note: I was recently in Korea, and their art stores are incredible. Between the quality and the exchange rate, I was paying a quarter to half the price of what the same pen costs back home. Highly recommend stocking up if you're ever there.
Here's my disclaimer before we dive in: every pen is personal. What works for me might not work for you. This is just what I've landed on after a lot of trial and error.
Why I'm Using Different Tools Now
I've been shifting from highly detailed ink illustration into manga-style art, and that shift changed what tools make sense for me. Manga traditionally uses dip pens, and I get it — there's something about that old-school, original feel that just looks cool. But dipping and cleaning a pen constantly is a hassle when your drawing time is limited. These days, with a newborn at home, I'm lucky to get 15 minutes to draw in a day. Some weeks I don't get to draw at all. So a brush-tip pen that gives me those same weighted, expressive lines without the maintenance has become essential.
Paper First
Before the pens, let's talk paper, because it matters more than people think. I use heavier weight paper — comic paper like B4 Deleter paper, or a nice 300 GSM stock. Thicker paper absorbs ink and marker without warping, which is exactly what you want for real ink work.
I also stick to white paper instead of toned. Toned paper has its benefits — some artists like the built-in mid-tone and use a white pen to pull out highlights — but for me, white is cheaper, more standard, and just works.
Thin paper vs. thick paper: Printer paper is fine for sketching and doodling, but I wouldn't put heavy ink on it. Thin paper absorbs ink and starts to warp and buckle from the moisture. It also tears easily, and erasing too hard can crease it — and once your paper creases, that drawing basically feels ruined unless you're fixing it digitally.
If you do need to ink on thinner paper, tape it down flat first — use something gentle, like a low-tack tape, since regular tape will rip the paper when you pull it off. But really, thin paper is best saved for sketches and rough ideas, not finished ink work.
Thicker paper handles erasing, ink, and pressure so much better. When you erase, you're technically pulling up tiny layers of the paper's surface — thin paper can't take much of that before it thins out or tears. Thick paper gives you room to work. That's why I save the good, heavy stock for pieces I actually care about, and use cheap paper for sketching and doodling only.
For my manga specifically, I use Deleter paper. It absorbs ink and marker beautifully and has a smooth surface — which matters because tiny grooves and crevices in rougher paper catch shadows and show up in fine detail work, especially if a metal pen tip ever digs in.
The Pens
Micron — 7/10 Microns were my go-to for a long time. They're affordable, everywhere, and universally used. Some people don't love them because the felt tip can push in or wear down faster than other brands, but overall I think they're a solid, standard choice.
Molotow Blackliner — 8/10 I switched to Molotow after a YouTuber I watch (who does a lot of drawing content) recommended it. I love how dark the line comes out — it's similar to a Micron but a touch thicker and noticeably darker, which is great for shading. The tradeoff is it can bleed a little more than a Micron in certain spots. Still, it's a genuinely great felt tip pen.
Staedtler — 9/10 (my favorite) If I had to pick one, it's the Staedtler. It doesn't bleed much, the black is rich without being as heavy as Molotow, and it just lasts longer in my hand — literally and in terms of comfort. The barrel has a slight grit texture, so it doesn't feel slick like a Micron's glossy coating or even Molotow's matte finish. That little bit of grip makes a real difference during long drawing sessions.
Copic (0.003) — 8/10 I only use Copic for the absolute finest detail lines, not for regular line work. The barrel has a glossy coating that gets slippery if your hands are sweaty, and the pen itself is really light, which means it doesn't rest naturally in your palm the way a heavier pen does. The bigger issue: because the tip is so fine and delicate, it's easy to accidentally push the felt tip back into the metal barrel. Once that happens, you end up dragging the metal tip against the paper just to get ink down — and that scratches the paper permanently. Once you shade over those scratch marks, you'll see little divots forever. Not a great feeling.
I've tried other brands too, like Uniball, and they're fine — there are techniques that work with almost anything. But if I'm ranking them for what I reach for most: Staedtler, then Molotow, then Micron. Right now, for this manga project specifically, Staedtler is doing most of the work.
The Pens
Micron — 7/10 Microns were my go-to for a long time. They're affordable, everywhere, and universally used. Some people don't love them because the felt tip can push in or wear down faster than other brands, but overall I think they're a solid, standard choice.
Molotow Blackliner — 8/10 I switched to Molotow after a YouTuber I watch (who does a lot of drawing content) recommended it. I love how dark the line comes out — it's similar to a Micron but a touch thicker and noticeably darker, which is great for shading. The tradeoff is it can bleed a little more than a Micron in certain spots. Still, it's a genuinely great felt tip pen.
Staedtler — 9/10 (my favorite) If I had to pick one, it's the Staedtler. It doesn't bleed much, the black is rich without being as heavy as Molotow, and it just lasts longer in my hand — literally and in terms of comfort. The barrel has a slight grit texture, so it doesn't feel slick like a Micron's glossy coating or even Molotow's matte finish. That little bit of grip makes a real difference during long drawing sessions.
Copic (0.03) — 8/10 I only use Copic for the absolute finest detail lines, not for regular line work. The barrel has a glossy coating that gets slippery if your hands are sweaty, and the pen itself is really light, which means it doesn't rest naturally in your palm the way a heavier pen does. The bigger issue: because the tip is so fine and delicate, it's easy to accidentally push the felt tip back into the metal barrel. Once that happens, you end up dragging the metal tip against the paper just to get ink down — and that scratches the paper permanently. Once you shade over those scratch marks, you'll see little divots forever. Not a great feeling.
I've tried other brands too, like Uniball, and they're fine — there are techniques that work with almost anything. But if I'm ranking them for what I reach for most: Staedtler, then Molotow, then Micron. Right now, for this manga project specifically, Staedtler is doing most of the work.
Brush Pens
Brush pens are what really replaced the dip pen for me. They give you that natural thick-to-thin line variation a dip pen produces, without the mess. A traditional dip pen will always have a certain organic, flawed beauty that feels genuinely handmade — professionals swear by it for good reason. But for my workflow right now, a brush pen gets me close enough while saving a ton of time.
I use the Zebra brush pen, which comes in three tip variations — a navy blue hard tip, and gray and light gray soft tips (all of them lay down black ink; the barrel color just indicates brush softness):
Light gray — very soft brush, great for shading
Dark gray — also soft, slightly firmer than the light gray
Navy blue — hard tip, and honestly my favorite pen to draw with. If you control your hand pressure, you can get fine detail lines, then gradually push harder for thick, expressive strokes. It's incredibly versatile.
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