A clean-inked hero illustration is a work of art in its own right. The high-contrast black and white of ink makes it ideal for comics and print for its strong impact, and in 2D animation, clean ink is a vital ingredient for coloring and separation. Ink lines can taper thin to thick like an old-fashioned quill, or use strict line weights such as pigment liners. Good ink uses placement and weight to create a drawing hierarchy, conveying shadows and crevices, and contours and sections. Through hatching and patterns, it can fully render the light and shadow of a scene all by itself.

First, we will ink the major lines of our alien, paying extra attention to sections that separate major colors, such as the head versus clothing. Then, we'll add smaller lines to aid the eye regarding details of light and form.