We may also create a dark or light tone by thickening the lines. Tones may also be created by holding the pencil on the side of its lead and running it across the paper, varying its value according to the pressure applied on the pencil. Tones may also be created by the dry brush technique or the split hair technique. Another way of creating a tonal value is the wash technique, where ink or water is lightened or darkened by controlling the mix of pigment with water. Areas of tone may have soft or hard edges.
Color is the next element in the progression from dot to line to tone.
It may be applied in many different ways. The simplest is to lay a flat tone of color on a toned or shaded drawing. Various techniques are offered by the invention of new tools or art instruments like the airbrush and computer. With the improvements in reproductions processes in printing it is now possible to use any of the art techniques to comics. All the things we see around us are based on basic shapes or combination of these shapes.