Re: A very hesitant Attempt...
Have you ever considered simply increasing the image resolution? I sometimes worked on images that were 8000px in length or width. For me, it requires at least 16GB of RAM for the CG work.
Can you elaborate on your own opinion about smooth lines? I think another way to achieve this is to invest on a higher resolution tablet. I have an Intuos 5 and I'm starting to notice its effect on the line resolution in relation to the zoom level. Perhaps you're talking about jagged lines?
Coincidentally, I finished an outline work. I don't use Photoshop tools AT ALL, so I'm extremely dependent on my raw skill (for better or worse).
Well honestly I'm quite satisfied of this last result, considering I did sketch + outlines in barely 20 minutes. That means I can save time for my next attempts and keep improving my skills.
Usually I always used to draw on paper back in the past, indeed the purpose of this whole thread is to recover some self esteem since had stop drawing for a while. It's a hard work for me because isn't about technique only but I also have to work on my own thoughts. However, as I said I am quite satisfied of this last output. I'll attempt more detailed attempts soon when I will find some spare time. Usually I am VERY critic and hard on myself in general but sometimes I must have some little victories too, otherwise I will never grow.
About the issue related to photoshop is the uncontrollable scattering that comes when you try to do clean lines. I mean, photoshop it's absolutely godlike for painting but isn't the best in terms of clean lines and that's why most artists prefer Manga Studio to it.
A good walkaround would be to use Illustrator for the purpose.
So one can draw a rough sketch on photoshop then import the file on Illustrator and outline it using vector brushes and finally re-importing it as a smart object back to photoshop. Honestly these are just too many steps and, at least to me, would make the whole process quite annoying rather than fun.
For this reason I've worked on photoshop settings, brushes presets and on my Intuos sets too. Finally I downloaded a Photoshop plugin that controls the outlining smoothness.
About files size I work on quite big sheets, same as you. A3 at 600 DPI for projects and approximately the half for sketches.
I run a Laptop with 32 GB at 1600Mhz, CL9 RAM with a nVidia Quadro K3100m graphic card specific for workstations purposes with 4GB of dedicated RAM. CPU is an Intel i7 4900QM and I draw on an Intuos 5 Pro M.
File size isn't a big deal but won't fix the issue. It helps reducing it but doesn't fix it. If you draw with fast movements using a brush with Spacing set to 1% it also helps, but fast movements are hard to control, especially for tiny details. For these you have to draw slowly with controlled movements and here comes the scattering. I've attached two lines I've just drawn where you can see it clearly. In this example it's a bit exaggerated but I wanted to point this out.
As you I'm very dependent from my raw skills too but I consider them more when I draw on paper or painting with acrylics or oil. Photoshop is a tool, a computer is a tool, the Drawing Tablet is a tool as well. So I believe that to achieve the best result I first have to master my tools and that's what I am aiming for. Tools aren't doing the work for me but will help me to reach finest result.
If I am able to draw a properly proportioned eye on paper using pencils and ink but then I have troubles doing the same using Photoshop that means I have a tool issue and that what I needed to fix.
And, ofcourse, meanwhile I also have to improve my raw skills as well.
