Tips on folds in cartoon clothes.

[MarkMyWords]

This is pretty basic, but I tend to be a basic sort of artist and just build my work up in simple steps. I hope this is of some use.

Folds, a quick and dirty guide to drawing simple folds on cartoon figures.

I tend to try and reduce everything I do to simple principles, so if you have
been having trouble with cartoon folds, be prepared to solve those problems
instantly!

There are two basic types of folds (the way I draw em);

Compression, mostly inside a joint, which are made by the cloth being pushed
into itself, and stretch folds, mostly outside a joint, which are made by the cloth
being pulled from an anchor point (say and armpit or crotch) or over a joint like
a knee or elbow.

Here I've drawn the compression folds in red and the stretch folds in green.
Stretch folds tend to radiate out in slightly curved lines or even straight lines
from the point of stress, an elbow or knee for, instance, and compression
folds tend to 'concertina' in soft bulbous mounds. Notice how the 'secondary
compression folds start off like the main fold but then tend to curve around
the main foild. The further from the point of stress or compression the softer
the effect should be. Simple isn't it?

A great deal depends on how realistic you want to be. If you take a look at real
folds in clothes you will see the same basic principles - just many more folds!
There is also the interaction of different folds, but when in doubt keep things simple.