How to Create Manga: Drawing the Human Body. Matsu
: calves : feet = 3:3:1
Face : chest = 4:5
Face : neck = 3:1
Head : shoulder width = 1:2
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Hand and arm lengths
In order to maintain anatomical proportions, the most important ratios to consider are the length of
the hands and the arms. Even if the other parts of the body are a bit off, the overall illustration will
appear to be in proportion as long as these are correct. Use these to design physiques to suit your taste.
Hand, forearm and upper arm ratios
Hand and head ratios
It’s also important to make sure the hand length and the size of the head match up. The hands should
be nearly the same size as the head from chin to hairline.
Pay particular attention to detail when drawing
figures in closeup or from the waist up, as they will
look strange if the balance between hand and face
is not correct.
Helpful Hint
Relationships between feet, face and hands
Here, we look at the relationship between the
feet and face and between the ankles and hands.
It’s not as important as that between the hands
and face, but it’s still important to know.
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The Five Basic Steps
Here, we look at each step involved in the process of drawing a character, with emphasis placed on
the processes of blocking-in and sketching.
The blocking-in stage
Draw the body parts that correspond to the bone structure.
This line drawing is called the blocking-in. Keeping the
anatomical ratios in mind, decide on the length of
various body parts and the character’s pose.
Completing the sketch
Drawing the rough illustration
Completing the line drawing
Filling in the color
Critical Point
Make the blocking-in easier to see
When body parts are
layered one over the
other, use different
colors to make
things easier to see
and understand.
Critical Point
Create realistic muscles
Once you can depict the
shape and size of muscles
in accurate detail, you’ll be
able to draw realistic
human figures.
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Sketching your characters
When you’re just starting out, divide your sketching into two steps. First, decide on the general shape
and size of the body parts and, second, fill in the muscles.
Step 1
As you’re only deciding
the approximate shape
and size of the body parts,
this part can rough.
Step 2
Use Step 1 as a
reference to add
in muscle.
How to think about sketching body parts
The more you keep in mind the body’s details, including muscles, joints and bones, and attempt to
depict a realistic human figure as you draw, the more you will achieve a natural-looking illustration.
Digital Tools
Reduce the degree of opaqueness in each drawing layer
As you complete the blocking-in, sketching and rough drawing stages, select the appropriate layer and
adjust the [opaqueness] bar in the center of the [connect layers] panel to reduce the level of opaqueness.
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Important Body Parts
When sketching, you can avoid making mistakes by paying particular attention to these eight parts
of the body. The explanations in this section are more in-depth than in Part 2, so make sure you get
a basic understanding first before moving on to the more complex renderings ahead.
The clavicle
The pelvis
The clavicle is a reference point when drawing
shoulder width, chest muscles and other upper-
body sections. It also creates a pivot point for
the upper body that informs the direction and
slant of the body.
The pelvis supports the base of the hip joints.
It gives a lot of people trouble when they
attempt to sketch it.
The shoulders
The abdominal muscles
Stretching from the chest to the arms and
connecting to the back, the shoulders often
can present a problem. In order to draw a pose
involving movement, it’s crucial to understand
how the shoulders work.
The abdominals are important as they help
indicate volume around the torso. The
thickness of the upper body is set by the lines
that the abdominals create.
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The arms
The hands
The arms are important for adjusting overall
balance. The length of the arms influences the
balance of the entire body.
The hands highlight one’s drawing ability to
such an extent that it’s said a person’s skill
at illustration can be seen in the hands that
they draw.
The thighs
The feet
The thighs connect the buttocks to the knees.
Depending on the degree to which the legs
are bent, the thighs need to be depicted at
different angles. So in addition to grasping
their structure, you’ll also need to understand
their dimensions.
The feet of course plant your figure firmly on
the ground. It’s important to know