From Sketch to Screen: My Cartooning Workflow and Tools
“A cartoon starts with a whisper—a loose idea scribbled in my sketchbook—and ends as a published image seen by thousands. What happens in between is part ritual, part chaos, and part digital magic.”
— Arifur Rahman, cartoonist, writer, and founder of Toons Mag
Introduction: Why Workflow Matters
Whether you're drawing political satire, serialized webcomics, or daily gag strips, your workflow is the bridge between imagination and impact. As a cartoonist who publishes regularly in multiple languages and formats—and someone who has faced both censorship and international recognition—I've learned that an efficient, flexible, and emotionally satisfying process can make or break your creative career.
In this article, I’ll walk you through my cartooning workflow from sketch to screen, the tools I rely on (both traditional and digital), and share honest advice on what works, what doesn’t, and why. This is not just a tech tutorial—it’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how real cartoons are made in today’s digital world.
1. Concept & Idea Generation
For me, the idea is the soul of the cartoon. Sometimes it hits me in the shower. Sometimes I have to chase it down.
Where I Find Ideas:
Daily news & political headlines (especially for editorial cartoons)
Reader feedback or trending hashtags
Conversations, books, even overheard jokes
Sketchbook doodles with no specific intent
🧠 Pro Tip: Keep a running idea bank. I use Notion to jot down one-liners, punchlines, or visual metaphors. On paper, I also keep a small notebook with crude thumbnails.
📓 Real Example: The cartoon that got me arrested in 2007 came from a simple pun involving a child’s name—illustrating how even innocent wordplay can become politically charged.
2. Thumbnails & Rough Sketching
Once the idea feels solid, I begin thumbnailing—small, fast, messy sketches that test layout and pacing.
I usually draw 2–3 thumbnail variations per idea.
These help with composition, flow, and panel design.
I do this either on paper or digitally on Procreate or Clip Studio Paint.
🎨 Tip for Beginners: Don't worry about anatomy or perfection. Focus on clarity of idea and emotional expression.
3. Linework & Inking
Once I’m happy with a thumbnail, I scale it up for the final sketch and inking stage.
Traditional or Digital?
I’ve used both over the years:
✏️ Pencil + ink on Bristol board for expressive control
🖊️ Digital inking with Apple Pencil for speed, precision, and undo magic
My Digital Inking Tools:
Clip Studio Paint: Excellent stabilization, G-pen brushes
Procreate: Natural hand-feel, great for on-the-go
Wacom Intuos (for desktop work): Still reliable after all these years
🔍 Workflow Tip: I usually sketch in blue (non-photo blue tone), then ink over in black. This gives me clear layering.
4. Coloring & Shading
Not every cartoon needs color—but when it does, it enhances the tone, clarity, and emotional depth.
My Coloring Workflow:
Flat colors first – Use lasso fill or magic wand
Add shadows and highlights – I use a single light source rule
Use adjustment layers for hue/saturation tweaks
Color psychology – Red for urgency, blue for calm, yellow for absurdity
5. Lettering & Dialogue
Words are half the cartoon. The wrong font or speech bubble placement can ruin your punchline.
How I Handle Lettering:
Hand-lettering for unique style (especially for editorial work)
Fonts for consistency: I often use Blambot, Anime Ace, or CCMeanwhile
Balloon placement: I draw them after the character art but before background
Text first or image first? → I always finalize dialogue first.
🧠 Tip: Read your cartoon out loud. If the dialogue doesn’t “snap,” revise it.
6. Final Touches & Exporting
Before publishing, I run through this quick final checklist:
✅ Clean up stray lines and edges
✅ Check color balance on multiple screens
✅ Resize for web and social (1080px wide minimum)
✅ Add signature and watermark
✅ Export as PNG (transparent background if needed), JPEG for blog, TIFF for print
🎯 I also keep a layered PSD or CSP file archived for future edits or translations.
7. Publishing & Archiving
Once exported, it's time to publish and promote:
Where I Publish:
🖋️ ToonsMag.com – My own platform, safe for bold political content
📷 Instagram – Best for engagement and story sharing
🧵 X (Twitter) – Effective for news-tied cartoons
🖼️ CartoonistNetwork.com – For networking and visibility
I also:
Upload high-res versions to Google Drive
Archive date-wise on external SSDs
Update my online portfolio monthly
📩 Bonus: I include select cartoons in my Substack newsletter, with commentary and behind-the-scenes sketches.
8. Essential Tools I Use
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| Hardware | iPad Pro + Apple Pencil, Wacom Intuos, Canon LiDE Scanner |
| Software | Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, Photoshop, Notion (for idea logging) |
| Fonts | CC Meanwhile, Anime Ace, Custom Handwritten |
| Cloud & Backup | Google Drive, Dropbox, external SSD, Notion backups |
| Publishing Platforms | Toons Mag, Cartoonist Network, Instagram, Webtoon (for longer comics) |
🎒 Optional tools: Canva for promotional graphics, Substack for newsletters, Trello for managing multi-panel projects
9. Lessons Learned (The Hard Way)
1. Never skip thumbnails.
I once fully inked a cartoon only to realize the visual punchline didn’t land. Had to redraw from scratch.
2. Backup. Everything. Twice.
A corrupted hard drive once wiped 20 pages of a comic project. Since then, I back up every day to both cloud and local drives.
3. Simpler is stronger.
I used to over-render my editorial cartoons. But the best ones—often black and white—were also the most impactful.
4. Workflow ≠ Routine.
Give yourself room to experiment. Try new brushes. Use different panel grids. Don’t become a machine.
10. FAQs
Q1: How long does it take to complete one cartoon?
Anywhere from 2 hours (for a single-panel gag) to 2–3 days (for a complex multi-panel editorial comic).
Q2: Should I start with traditional or digital tools?
Start with what’s accessible. Fundamentals matter more than format. Many great cartoons were made on paper napkins.
Q3: What brush settings do you use in Procreate?
I customize from the “Studio Pen” brush—lower opacity pressure, higher streamline, and slight texture.
Q4: How do you deal with creative blocks?
I switch mediums, revisit old sketchbooks, or draw something absurd and silly. The goal is momentum, not perfection.
11. Conclusion & Call to Action
Every cartoon you see online was once a messy idea in someone’s head. The tools help. The platforms matter. But it’s your voice, vision, and workflow that make the journey from sketch to screen meaningful.
My process isn’t perfect—but it’s mine. Over the years, I’ve refined it to balance speed with expression, relevance with integrity.
If you’re a cartoonist, ask yourself:
🎨 What does your workflow say about your creative identity?
✅ Your Turn:
Try documenting your own cartooning process.
Share it with fellow artists on CartoonistNetwork.com.
Or submit your latest cartoon to ToonsMag.com for global visibility.
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