An Online Resource for Drawing Manga
Manga Screens
What are Manga Screens?
Manga Screens are transparent films in the form of seals, allowing them to be applied on top of illustrations without obscuring them.
Manga Screen patterns are essentially a collection of dots, with variations in layout and dot size resulting in different patterns.
Manga Screen
There is a rich variety of patterns, from orderly patterns to background illustrations and more. You can choose what you want to use from among hundreds of types.
Applying Manga Screens
Utility knives and design knives are used to cut out Manga Screens.
Blade Angles
30°：The sharp tip makes it easy to cut sections with a lot of details.
45°：It is easy to apply perpendicular pressure and make cuts. It is also suitable for achieving a smooth shave effect.
60°：Most utility knives at stationery stores come with this angle.
Cutters
When creating a manga, knives that are easier to cut with and can make smaller curves than normal utility knives are best. Utility knives and design knives specially made for Manga Screens are recommended as well.
1. Make Large Cuts
With the backing still applied, place it on top of the illustration and cut a space slightly larger than the area you wish to apply it to.
Press too hard and you’ll cut straight through to the Manga screen backing and comic paper, so be careful!
2. Cut Along the Lines
Remove the cut Manga screen from the backing and lightly place it atop the illustration.
Following the lines of the area you wish to apply it to, cut and remove the excess.
For detailed sections such as the tips of hair, it’s easier to use shaving instead of cutting along the lines. Lay the utility knife on its side and move it as if you’re shaving off the dots printed onto the film.
3. Rub and Apply Pressure
Cover the applied Manga screen with a piece of paper (backing sheet, white paper, etc.) and rub it with a Manga screen spatula to apply pressure.
If it does not adhere to the comic paper, it may come off later.
For areas where the edges of the Manga screen look like they may come off, apply mending tape (transparent tape) on top to secure them.
Manga screen Techniques
Shaving Manga screens
When shaving Manga screens, using a 45° or 90° angle will shave along the dotted lines themselves, so avoid using these two angles. Shaving at a 22.5° angle as shown in the top image will allow for a neat finish.
Changing the angle and overlapping lines will create a pleasant gradation effect.
Besides using utility knives, you can also use a sand eraser for a softer shading effect.
Sand Eraser
This can easily gradate a Manga screen with little force.
What is “Moiré”?
Applying multiple Manga screens on top of one another produces what’s called a Moiré pattern.
Take a close look at the number of lines (L) and the density (%) written at the edge of the Manga screen.
If the number of lines is different, or if the number of lines is the same but the dots are lined up at different angles, this will create a Moiré pattern. Using the same number of lines makes it difficult to produce a Moiré pattern, allowing for multiple layers to be applied in neat fashion.
