■ Details and Layers 143Line weight is a design term. It refers to the relative heaviness of one line when compared
to another. In Figure 4.54 are two lines: notice how line A is darker and thicker than line B.
Because of this it can be said to have a heavier weight. Lines with heavier weight seem to advance
in front of thinner lines. They also tend to command more attention and seem more important.
In a design sense, the heavier line has more visual impact.
When detailing your characters, let some wrinkles have more line weight than others
(Figure 4.55). This helps add variety and realism to the surface. The manner in which the skin
wrinkles can also reveal a lot about a character. If there are prominent frown lines, a character
appears to be angry. Skin wrinkles can be considered more than just a polishing pass on the
character. Use them as a design tool and guide the eye around the face. See Figure 4.56 for an
example of how wrinkle patterns can be used as a design element.
Figure 4.53 Crosshatching the mouth wrinkles Figure 4.54 Line weight comparison
Figure 4.55 Crosshatched wrinkles with varied line
weight. Notice the wrinkles that radiate from the mouth
have a heavier weight than those that crosshatch them.
Figure 4.56 Wrinkles can help guide
the eye around the face and have a
logical flow that is determined by the
character, underlying anatomy, and
aesthetic choice.