Vectorization graphics approach

Could you advise,please, what approach to use in following situation:

i'm gonna draw simple comics and ,as I see ,there are two ways:

1. make hand pic. ,scan it and vectorize with Corel Trace or some other tracer (don't know exactly yet) or


2. use graphics tablet,if it saves vector graphics;

So, the problem is to get quite good vector output from handmade pic.

Your opinions and experiences?

Answer

Here's how I've done it before:

1. pencil sketch


2. scan


3. Adobe Illustrator -> select image -> Live Trace. I start with the comic setting. Tweak threshold, blur, and path to get the image you want. Don't click strokes; fills scale much better.


4. Convert to Live Paint. Coloring is trivial.

In this image, my Live Trace wasn't quite closing some gaps so I went back and redrew some lines. The white dots are touch ups with Fireworks, post-scan, to make the Live Trace more accurate. There's probably a way to do this with Illustrator, but I'm a novice.

(Please refrain from upvoting based on this incredible display of fine art.)

I've tried a Wacom Graphite 2 drawing tablet but it was a little slippery and sensitive and required some kind of drawing adjustment for me to get used to. Plus, I couldn't draw as fast as I can with pencil and paper.