0 Comments Smoothing Drawn Lines - Comparing Options

To finish off my current round of software reviews the last ones are for drawn line correction, stabilization, smoothing, tracking, altering, and other names given to the same task.

That is any line drawn in software and corrected, rather it be mouse or graphics tablet input.

Reasons to need it range from your hand is shaky, your mouse/tablet drivers are incompatible at some level (common lately even for Wacom), a subpar graphics tablet/mouse hardware issue, art program brush limits, and to whatever else. Sometimes called a drawing crutch, which is humorous in many aspects itself, and the reason for the strange image above (obviously without any stabilization /correction either). 😁

To keep things consistent I wrote another program script to draw the same rough line exactly the same each time, as I did for Dopefish (explained). I have tested two specialized programs just for the line smoothing task (Lazy Nezumi Pro, and Silky Shark), and the built-in options in CLIP STUDIO PAINT (my review).

Or to put it more simply take a squiggly line like the one above-left, and smooth it to look like the bottom-right line. Ideally the smoothed line would work well on rounded and sharp corners without diverging too far from the original - which is itself a balancing act.

The squiggly line is created by my program script itself for testing, and the smooth line was done with Lazy Nezumi Pro's Weighted setting (turned on when drawing the same line).

All lines were created in CLIP STUDIO PAINT on a transparent layer, and exported as PNG files with the best settings. Then the lines were overlaid and final images created in PaintShop Pro and exported for online.

Programs Tested

For this article I have tested three programs as mentioned, and below is a quick run-down of the ones I have used. Of course many other programs include some built-in form of line correction too, with varying options or degrees of success.

Program - Lazy Nezumi Pro (Guillaume Stordeur)
Tested version - v18.04.08.2351
Price - 15-day trial, $35.00 to purchase
Systems - Windows XP/Vista/7/8.1/10
Official website - https://lazynezumi.com

Art Tool - Mouse and graphics tablet line smoother that needs to hook the art program to work (it does not overtake the system controls). Also has ruler functions and more, adding drawing aids to any program that it can hook the window to.

* I will add if Lazy Nezumi Pro is not working ensure that you are running the trial, or purchased copy, downloaded from the author's website. I've seen many people online complaining that it does not work - and it turns out to have been downloaded elsewhere. Sometimes the person did not bother to learn to use it either, simple tutorial. The only program I can not use it with correctly so far is GIMP.

Program - Silky Shark (Stoic)
Tested version - v1.1
Price - Free, open source
Systems - Windows 8.1/10
Official website - https://github.com/stoicshark/silkyshark

Art Tool - Mouse and graphics tablet line smoother. Unlike Lazy Nezumi Pro, Silky Shark takes control of the mouse on your entire system (not just a art program) - which is good or bad depending on your needs.

Program - CLIP STUDIO PAINT (CELSYS Inc.)
Tested version - v1.7.3 PRO

Price - 30-day trial, $49.99 Pro version, $219 EX version, version comparisons
Notes - Internet required to download asset materials, and to apply updates. Formerly resold as Manga Studio by Smith Micro, statement here.
Systems - Windows 7/8.1/10, Mac OS X 10.10, iPad
Official website - http://www.clipstudio.net/en

Graphics Editor - It has two built-in options for line smoothing. Stabilization for graphics tablets only, and due to my automated test not covered here. The other option Post Correction works with graphics tablets and mouse inputs, and what I tested.

* To help judge the line smoothing in the images I have added the default program script's rough line in the light blue color (non-photo blue #A4DDED), which is added behind the smoothed lines.

Lazy Nezumi Pro Test Results

When first opened Lazy Nezumi Pro looks overly simple (1st image), but clicking on the drop-down list (2nd image) shows the range of options. Then clicking the right arrows > allows many additional options to be altered.

LNP's smoothing affect can be adjusted up the amount of 200, double most other programs, but at 50 or above is likely little use.

The quick and easily adjustable angled Parallel ruler (aka digital Rolling ruler style) was reason enough for me to purchase it. 😄 On the "Kid's" blog he talks about lettering the 2000 A.D. comics, and the rolling ruler's function to comic letterers.

In the past I read a great article from a penciller that worked on the TMNT comics that used the rolling ruler. He used it to do crosshatching, ellipses, and drawing the numerous buildings (and explained the various compass, measuring, and aspects of the ruler) - but I can not find it anywhere online. Perhaps it is hidden away in one of the numerous books, related magazines, or even comics I have.

Massive option set to smooth amount 15

Massive option set to smooth amount 30

Massive option set to smooth amount 50

Massive preset - The strangely named Massive preset does less changes than the Pulled String preset below, at the same settings. Position Smoothing Amount set to 15, 30 and 50 respectively.

Pulled String option set to smooth amount 15

Pulled String option set to smooth amount 30

Pulled String option set to smooth amount 50

Pulled String preset - With the Position Smoothing Amount set to 15, 30 and 50 too. Although more controllable when drawing by hand, with the script the changes were much more pronounced.

Subtle option set to smooth amount 15

Subtle option set to smooth amount 30

Subtle option set to smooth amount 50

Subtle preset - Again with the Position Smoothing Amount set to 15, 30 and 50 (I'm noticing a pattern 😀).

Weighted preset - Using it's default script settings. I personally think this was the best preforming option for keeping the same basic line while smoothing out the majority of the squiggle (In the program script tests, or in my own personal use).

Silky Shark Test Results

When Silky Shark is switched on it actually makes the lines worse. At any setting not only does it not smooth the lines it even adds more squiggle to them, and seems to be a anti-smoothing tool.

Besides making the line worse the lag is horrible too, and is not just the typical stabilization /correction delay as some suggest. This is a small line, not a large or even page filling one. I have only experienced such stabilization lag on very few CPU heavy programs.

Strength set to 15

Strength set to 30

Strength set to 50

Searching online for other's results seems to mirror what Silky Shark did in my tests as well. I found one user who not only said it worked, he made a video too (showing the problem with a system wide control take-over in Inkscape). After watching it and cranking up the Strength to 75 as he did I put together a few more test images...

Strength set to 75

Strength set to 100

...Which was not any better, and still made the lines worse than before. The 2nd image is of Silky Shark at 100 the maximum Strength setting and still lots of squiggle added to the line (and more issues). Perhaps Silky Shark works better in other programs, but I have yet to find one. Hopefully if you try the program you will have better results.

CLIP STUDIO PAINT Test Results

By default in CLIP STUDIO PAINT Stabilization is on, which is a graphics tablet only option.

For the test using my program script controlling the mouse, Stabilization is turned off and the other smoothing option Post correction is switched on (2nd image). Post correction is found under any brush, pen, pencil, etc. tool options (the wrench icon).

Once turned on and shown in the Tool property window, the amount can be adjusted easily as I did for the tests (3rd image).

Post correction amount set to 15

Post correction amount set to 30

Post correction amount set to 50

As the name suggests, the correction is applied after the line is finished (mouse button released). It does however easily smooth lines, and if the mouse is released through corners allows better edges too (similar to Lazy Nezumi Pro or any smoothing tool).

Smoothing Verdict

Several variables to consider - primarily what art program you use, the amount of smoothing needed (related to your skill and tools), and how much money you want to spend.

If your art program offers some form of stabilization then you may not need anything else.

Even the free program FireAlpaca offers line correction (up to 40), as does several other free programs. Of course if you already paid for a commercial program or plan to, like I did (CLIP STUDIO PAINT among several others I bought), then it costs nothing to use it's options either.

In fewer instances anymore some programs do not offer any stabilization (at least adjustable), such as Painter Essentials and Paint.NET. Or for various reasons the program's stabilization has limited use, lags badly (Artweaver), or is simply horrible - then in either case you will have to use a option like Silky Shark or Lazy Nezumi Pro.

A unexpected bonus though when using a program like Lazy Nezumi Pro, all tools smooth the same in nearly any program. That is if I disable the program's stabilization options in ArtRage and Affinity Designer for example, when I switch back and forth on a project then the tools smoothing behavior is the same (as Lazy Nezumi Pro controls them both).

Without worrying about how each program will stabilize corner lines to compared to another program (among various other things), it allows drawing more freely. Also accessing the built-in rulers and other options from Lazy Nezumi Pro (available from shortcut keys even) allows the same drawing aids in any program too.

I recommend you to test your program's smoothing options on a project to truly know your needs. Simply drawing a few random lines does little, as I can tell you from the many hours spend on each review/test.

Final Thoughts

All artists use some form of a crutch, drawing aids, techniques, whatever you want to call them - to the same effect. A true artist crutch is the undo button.

Those that draw the same line seemingly a dozen (or more) times and keep hitting undo until they settle on a line, often doing so for nearly every line, is even beyond a crutch. And no, those that do that typically continue to use undo as frequently or even more so as time goes on.

Another technique (aka cheat, crutch, etc.) to achieve the smoothing effect is to draw the art much larger (often twice the size) then shrink it. That trick is used both traditionally and digitally for the same effect - the lines are shrunk making them appear much smoother and better drawn.

Programs themselves also can have a inherit crutch built-in, even with everything turned off and equal as possible.

In the above image are 6 different program images, of cropped portions of the Dopefish. If you click to view it full-size it becomes apparent that the top-left one is smoother on the head's outer line than all the others.

They were chosen at random, but there are some that are drastically different too. If your programming inclined use my program script to see it first-hand. Or simply load some of my reviews and download the main screenshots (right-click them and select Save Image As...) at the top of the pages, and load them as layers in a program yourself to see it.

Besides that anyone who uses a french curve, ruler, compass, text tools (fonts), many uses of layers, or a slew of other options traditionally or digitally are line smoothing crutches as well.

In the end everyone uses crutches, or drawing aids, of some sort (knowingly or not). Just enjoy creating art.