08-03-2012, 01:38 PM
(08-03-2012, 11:31 AM)Gaia Wrote: I use a mechanical pencil (plus side: refillable, downside: thickness), and this must be the scanner brightening the image.
I started using these a lot and pretty thick ones too!
Just do yourself a favor and grab some high grade sand paper and a paint stick. Gorilla glue the sand paper to the paint stick(cut a strip of it that is the length of the paint stick but leave the handle alone, so you can still hold it) Stand over a trashcan so the shavings go into it (trust me thy are a pain in the ass to clean off the floor and smear and can leave permanent marks!). All you have to do is rub the sides of it down the paper and you can an incredibly sharp point. Actually I think they sell mini ones with a stack of paper on them, so once the paper is all dirty just rip it off and throw it away and use a fresh piece. This is the best way to get quality tips for precise and fine line work! I used it for years, and was never disappointed. Oh and don't forget to bang it out on the side of the can when done so no extra shavings are left over and dirty up wherever you keep it.