Lineartcentric

Lineartcentric is a term used in discussions of visual art and illustration to describe a style or approach in which line art is the central visual element. Works described as lineartcentric prioritize contours, edges, and line weight over shading or color to define form.

Key characteristics include strong, continuous outlines; varied line weights to imply volume and emphasis; limited shading, often none; use of monochrome or restrained color palettes; clean, high-contrast presentation; a preference for vector or ink-based media.

Techniques and tools: pen and ink, brush, vector software; line weight control; halftone or cross-hatching used sparingly; some artists layer flat colors after line art or color fill.

Applications: comics, animation concept art, branding and logos, illustration, editorial cartoons, UI icons. The term is used in both contemporary and historical discussions of illustration, and overlaps with manga, cartooning, and graphic design.

Reception and critique: praised for clarity, scalability, legibility at small sizes; allows bold, iconic visuals; criticized for reduced shading realism and potential flatness; often used as a base for coloring and shading later but may appear intentionally minimal.