The Concept of Line Quality- Illustration

Weight

Value

Perspective

Texture

Thicker, darker lines are used for distant objects.

Thinner, lighter lines are used for objects closer to the viewer.

Thicker, darker lines are used for objects closer to the viewer.

Line quality does not affect the illusion of depth.

Using thick, heavy lines on the shadow side

Using thin, faint, or broken lines on the light side

Using only one type of line for the whole drawing

Varying line thickness depending on the light direction

Varying Pressure

The "Ghosting" Method

Speed Control

Chicken Scratching

Line Weight

Line Length

Line Direction

Line Symmetry

With thin, light lines

With fluid, curved lines

With thick, dark lines

With jagged, broken lines

On the top edges where the light hits

Equally around the entire perimeter

In the center of the object

On the bottom edges and in the shadows

A mistake by the artist

Areas of highlight or disappearing form

High tension and energy

A sharp, metallic edge

It makes the lines too thick

It is a technique only used by masters

It makes the drawing look furry and indecisive

It takes too much ink/graphite

Wispy, light lines

Thick, rugged, and textured lines

Thin, perfectly smooth lines

Curved, fluid lines

How long it is

How light or dark it is

The speed at which it was drawn

The price of the pencil used

Direction

Continuity

Subject Matter

Texture

A dead line

A mechanical line

A tapered line

A cross-hatched line

To hide their lack of skill

Because they are in a hurry

To capture the essence of movement

To make the drawing look like a photograph