One of the biggest misconceptions about creating comics is that you need expensive equipment or a full studio setup to get started. The truth is, great comics have been made with simple tools for decades. Whether you prefer working traditionally with pencil and paper or going fully digital, the most important thing is using tools that support your workflow. This guide breaks down what you actually need to make comics — from the bare essentials to more advanced options.
Sketching and Planning Tools
Every comic starts with a rough idea, often sketched out quickly in a notebook or on loose paper. You don’t need polished tools to begin brainstorming or planning.
For traditional artists, a few essentials are:
- Pencils (mechanical or standard HB/2B)
- An eraser (kneaded or plastic)
- A sketchbook or printer paper
- Ruler for basic panel layout
For digital artists, any drawing software with layers will do. Many use free or low-cost apps like Krita, Autodesk Sketchbook, or Medibang Paint. These allow for early concepting, thumbnails, and scripting all in one place.
Planning is where you build thumbnails — miniature versions of each comic page — which help you understand flow, panel pacing, and story beats before committing to detailed artwork.
Inking Supplies
Inking is what gives your drawings structure and visual strength. If you’re working traditionally, the most common inking tools include:
- Fineliners (Micron, Staedtler, or Copic Multiliners)
- Brush pens (like Pentel Pocket Brush or Fude pens)
- India ink and a dip pen (for a more classic look)
- Bristol board or smooth drawing paper that handles ink well
Digital inking offers a different experience. Programs like Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, or Photoshop provide pressure-sensitive brush tools that can mimic pen strokes. A drawing tablet or iPad with Apple Pencil is commonly used for this purpose.
What matters most is finding the line control and flow that feels comfortable to you. Inking takes time to master, and each tool has a different texture and feel.
Lettering Essentials
Lettering is often overlooked, but it’s just as important as drawing. Clear, readable text is crucial for pacing and emotion.
Traditional lettering can be done with:
- Rulers and lettering guides
- Technical pens
- Hand-drawn word balloons and sound effects
However, most modern comics use digital lettering, even if the art is drawn by hand. Popular digital tools include:
- Comic Life (simple drag-and-drop interface)
- Clip Studio Paint (built-in balloon tools)
- Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop (for pro-level layout control)
- Free fonts from resources like Blambot, which are designed specifically for comics
Lettering should always be legible and well-placed within the panel. Avoid clutter, make sure it doesn’t block important artwork, and match the tone of the dialogue or sound effects.
Coloring and Toning Tools
Color adds emotion and atmosphere, but it’s not always necessary. Many comics use black-and-white with greyscale shading or screentones.
Traditional coloring can be done with:
- Watercolors
- Colored pencils
- Alcohol-based markers (like Copic or Prismacolor)
These give you a tactile look but can be time-consuming and costly. Mistakes are harder to fix, and scanning can be challenging.
Digital coloring is more flexible and widely used in webcomics. Tools of choice include:
- Clip Studio Paint (highly optimized for comics)
- Photoshop
- Procreate
- Medibang Paint (great for manga-style shading)
Digital coloring allows for layers, effects, and easy corrections. Artists can build palettes, reuse assets, and export clean files for print or web.
Layout and Publishing Tools
Once the art is finished, you’ll need to format your comic for print or digital release.
For digital-first comics:
- Save in vertical scroll format if publishing on platforms like Webtoon or Tapas
- Compress files for fast loading
- Use formats like PNG or JPEG
For print:
- Use 300 DPI resolution
- Export to PDF or TIFF format for printing
- Consider tools like Adobe InDesign or Affinity Publisher for page layout
Clip Studio Paint also offers a full comic page layout system with page management, margins, and templates for print-ready files.
Optional But Useful Tools
Beyond the basics, there are a few optional tools that can boost productivity or improve quality:
- Lightboxes for tracing or refining sketches
- Reference books and pose guides
- 3D modeling tools (like Clip Studio’s built-in figure models)
- Asset libraries with backgrounds, effects, or tones
- Time-tracking apps to manage productivity
These aren’t required to make a comic, but they can streamline your process, especially when working on longer projects.