The Three Act structure is a widely accepted setup for any story that's made to enthrall humans. I'll talk about the few options I've had contact with and end with my favorite to date. I bought models, read articles, taken a large number of photos, watched a season of Moto racing, drew many motorcycles, broke down the design of tires and analyzed what about motorcycle racing was most appealing. As Alan Moore describes in his book Writing for Comics, the process of describing your world in your comic needs to be an intuitive and a subtle one. Like I said, you need to look deep into the theme of your story and find a way to represent it visually. Where do you go from here? Well those notions are your bread and butter; the strongest parts of your story. Mastered Tools: A lot of what makes an artists work so magical is the actual line work. So before you draw comics or even consider pursuing the endeavor you must find your own Why and never forget it. Adobe Photoshop:This is an obvious choice because of its wide range of tools and its constant updates and support. And like I said this can be also broken down into story beats or scenes.
Each conveys a different emotion and should be used to push the story point, so learn their uses and implement them correctly in your story. Either you've picked up a pencil to write down ideas that have spawned from years of reading or started to draw characters from some of your favorite books; in some form or fashion you've taken the figurative and creative leap of faith.
This is about the right time for me to bring up a huge part of writing anything. If you can make the reader feel something without them even knowing the plot, you've done your job well. While I am on the subject of pencils and paper let me discuss some of the supplies that you can use for the writing process. At this time, I place the right perspective grid for each of the panels. Just be curious about the world around you and your mind will take care of the rest.
In order for professional colorists to do their work quickly, they need an easy way to select the objects in the panels.
For Star Circuit I chose Only through struggle can one find what's truly important as my theme. I will shade in the dark black areas and used render lines and hash marks to give volume to objects in the scene. Again, here is mine from SC: A complacent street racer, still scarred from family tragedy, unlocks the secrets of a long-dead racing hero and gets set on a path to not only win in an unparalleled racing league but also find a way to save whats left of his disjointed family. Because of it being a slightly off brand monitor, the price is incredibly cheap for its size. Through trial and error, you will find what paper works best for you and most likely your team. This process involves using tablets, computers and software instead of traditional means. And lastly, the curve or lack of curves with in your line work will also be thrown into this category and evoke different emotions from the viewer. Don't fret, I am going to explain all that you will need to create comics. In comes Flatters. Why did that job become so popular in the first place? I realized I had a lot of family-related internal conflicts and even some external rivalries with my brother that I could draw from. As an artist, you should actively force your mind to remember as much as you can about the world we live in. Design language is the understanding of how different shapes and compositions evoke different emotions in the viewer.
Thumbnailing is just the process of drawing sketches of the pages in a very small form (it doesn't have to be as small as your thumb). Even complex forms like human bodies have these basic shapes and so characters can be very useful when evoking different emotions. Each company that you pitch to will have their own proprietary rules and requirements for submitting. You are resonating with it for a reason. Microsoft Word is helpful but Scrivener is a cheaper option that also allows you to organize your writings in several different ways including a visual cork board. It really works well for us poor folk. Also, the art now cropped at the TRIM line on the artboard. Your Options: Stick erasers (for details), block plastic erasers (for the bulk), electric erasers, kneaded erasers. So, if the design work is done then you are in the clear to actually start. Staging: This skill is just the ability to arrange characters and objects in a shot. While the other camp thinks that using a more intuitive method of letting the artist decide the panels and how to draw them produces better results. Either way, it's money that you get because you have persuaded someone that you deserve it. A grant is just a sum of money awarded to you in which you don't have to pay back. Remember when I had you write a clear list of inspirations and personal experiences. Finally, what I think is the most important reason to create your own comic: Getting invested in your art. From these lists, I naturally started to be pulled to certain ideas and inspirations more than others.
And so, by gaining an understanding for all of the steps in making a comic, you, in turn, understand how to do each part with a better idea of how each step directly influences the other steps. Pin your cards up in the order that best fits and when you need to rearrange or rewrite, it'll be a very simple process. The important thing is to have fun while on the road. I would even make a bet that you are one of the few who actually loves to read comics and that you've been inspired enough to start the journey of becoming a comic creator in some capacity. Here is the link for Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview. Make sure you are not picking these things based on the industry's consensus but rather because of actual connections from your experiences and taste to the subjects. That being said, here is the general list if items to include in your pitch. If you are unfamiliar with a mood board, it is just a bunch of pictures that are collected and placed on a board. The best inkers will also notice mistakes the penciler has made and correct them. Here's where I really show you how to make a comic book. Let's say all you need is 200 dollars to meet your funding goal with only a couple of days left. AI uses vector graphics which give an always crisp feeling to the art. This collection gets very big as you grow older and have more and more experiences. Layouts are will fit nicely on a 5.5 x 8.5 paper (half a sheet of letter size). This option is a more expensive one than that of the Yiynova but you end up with an overall better package and a higher resolution screen.
However, this is the information I hear about inking in the industry. Because the area is full of such and such occupation what does that do to the recreational activities?
So with this authentic list of inspirations, you essentially have the secrets to your next story. Each section of the road comes with different challenges and rewards. I usually print out my layouts on an 11 x 17 sheet of paper and then use a lightbox or window to transfer the art to the artboard. My Choice: I am currently using the Epson WF-7710. The momentum of getting your book out there to the fans will most certainly lead you to more success down the road. Make note that this is only my process and it can be added to and subtracted from to create a process that works for you. Just be sure to include all that they request. In order for anyone to write about things that they don't understand, they have to first research it.
Read your favorites, read the stuff you probably won't like but people have recommended, read the bad and the good, read as much as you can. Yiynova MVP 19: This one is a tablet monitor, meaning that it's a screen that you can draw on. It's found everywhere, and I like the feel of it better than the base Strathmore paper. Step one is getting as many peoples eyes on the book as possible.
It's a disclaimer that applies to everything creative not just comics. A great way to do that is to delete about 90% of each days photos. If you can spare the money for such a small screen, you won't be disappointed.
For comics, I do recommend something with a good amount of RAM and most importantly a good size screen. While film has sound and motion and novels have a deep introspective experience, comics have juxtaposition. Blake gives a definitive 15 places the story needs to go for it to really be entertaining. I suggest you learn from one of the best: Peter Han. This approach allows for a more global view of each page. You now will have more confidence that your decisions in each step are the right ones. With a quick search, you will immediately see the huge volume these kind of sites receive. So let's begin, shall we? By the way, I am streaming Tuesday's and Wednesdays at 8 pm EST at https://youtube.com/c/JoeCatapano. This part is all about the things you need to do that has no direct relation to actually drawing. The standard then would have to include one of each type of tool.
Someone writes it, someone else draws it, someone else colors it and so on.
I think you can guess that my favorite drawing experience has been with the iPad Pro. I use a Tuff Stuff Eraser for my fine details andI use a Steadtler plastic eraser for the bulk of the work. One is to set up a reward for doing the work. If you start forcefully injecting extra details about the world inside of average dialogue it will soon take over the plot and the audience will be so distracted from the unnatural verbiage that they will never become attached to the characters.
Flatters are specific people who color the page for the sole purpose of creating selection masks. These scenes will be pillars in which you fill out the rest of the story. I try to look at times of struggle and not being where you want to be, as very special times. From there, I brainstormed my prioritized concepts and started to combine ideas. Consistency:Last but not least, you must value consistency. In other words it is the Before, the During and the After that is based on the theme. Captions and SFX complete.
The more people that you can contact from your mailing list the better so timing when you launch a crowdfund is huge. Here, I advise you to use irony and logic to find your characters ocean. In this program you can draw, color, and letter your comic.
Without these moments of drama and suspense life would be dull. Eventually you will start to see your own connections. The last options you have for getting your comic into the consumers hands is with the help of Publishers and Grants. (Make note that if you buy any other tablet monitor there will be a considerable amount of distance between the pen and the monitor). I am assuming in this scenario that you've already exhausted all of your favors from family, friends, and industry help. For instance, I have one notebook just for world building, one just for each plot and theme, and one for character and environmental descriptions. Bio:This is a few paragraph blurb that should include your background, work experience, previous credits in the industry, and your experience with comics so far. This subject is hugely complex and so I won't get very deep but I will give you a list of things to draw in order to fully realize your designs. This guide was meant to be used as reference and not necessarily one that you read straight through in one sitting. Since the standard comic book format is 11 x 17 it is considered wide format and the printer / scanner has to be able to accommodate that size. With the writing out of the way, we are free to move on to What most people don't realize when reading a comic is all of the preparation work that goes into figuring out the look and feel of the art even before the pages are drawn. The Standard: Id say most professionals with a traditional lightbox workflow have actually spent the few hundred dollars and bought a thin, light pad. It essentially doesn't erase all of the lines but leaves some of my previous underdrawing on the page to be used as a guide. You only lose when you quit. He has a book called Dynamic Bible that focuses on form and proportion when it comes to dynamic sketching. A pitch will resemble something like the following: Start with the title, tagline, and/or the high concept.
When I say famine mentality, I mean it's the belief that for someone to succeed another has to fail. Because if the goal is to make a comic and one that you'd actually want to read, then the entirety of what you create needs to be from a place that you feel rooted in.
If one or more of those social media sites shut down or decide to reformat their structure you want to make sure that your fanbase will not be lost. It is literally why I love comic storytelling above all others.
Most of what we draw as comic book artists are people.
Imagine if you already knew that someday you would be a great storyteller with all the accolades and fame that come with it. Someone once said, Art is something that teaches you something about yourself that you didn't know before. The subjects and artists that you love are a part of you; you just have to discover why. All the while highlighting the strength in mans need for love and fellowship as the counter to pure objective based motives. Why do you want to create comics? Feel free to contact me with any questions about this tutorial on my social media. It can be as simple as telling an art friend about your progress regularly or set up a public deadline that will be hard to move. Let's begin with your heroes and heroines. Take time to learn the techniques with different inking tools. Each eraser has a different purpose but you may be able to get by with just one, if you are careful. Some think that having a script will bring about a more focused and up front a clearer vision for the artist to elaborate on. I am currently using a 27 all-in-one iMac from 2012. You will have a better eye for design and consistency because you'll naturally want your characters and environments to appear as perfect as they appear in your mind. This is the other half of the artists main setup.
And the protagonist is no different. The person will also design the sound effects to help the action. That's not to say that you don't need to be accurate but it's to show the importance and relevance to the main task as storytellers. Here is a part of my mood boards from making Star Circuit. You could take a message from that experience, like say, Everything heals in time and tie that message to a concept from your list. Use trial and error for finding the best paper for you. What has changed within the character to justify the story in the first place? As you can see, there are several here because I've put everything for the first chapter into one sheet.
It is one of the biggest reasons that I have improved in this area of study. I personally am using Clip Studio Paint for all my comic work, including color. Let's start with the hardware. Obviously, there are artists and writers who are biased because of years of experience with either method. I hope you learned that making is a comic very straight forward and if you love coming up with art and stories, this will be really fun. It's likely you already have an account at one or more of these sites but in the case of your book, you may want to create a new account especially for its release. The easiest way to find a theme and a basis for your plot is to prioritize the list you just made.
If you are reading this guide its probably because you like reading comics. The comic will soon start releasing pages for free so please signup for email notifications about dates for that. Next, is creating a logline from your theme and brainstormed ideas. And there are many of these creators that have gotten burned by lack of sales or lists of rejections. And lastly, the main piece should be about that theme we talked about in the writing section.
Every day you open up shop at the same time and do the same work. Please visit starcircuitcomic.com to see all the updates, art and extras. You did finish the project already, so there is nothing to worry about. Your good days will pass just as fast as your bad ones.
If you are making comics and not much else, this I think is the clear winner over Photoshop. Either way, this section is what will sway the majority of reviewers since it will take no amount of imagination to visualize the product further. My Choice: I personally love the feel of quill type nibs. They say something to the tune of: Dont expect to make a living off of making comics. In this example lets just say you also love the conspiratorial and secretive nature of V for Vendatta. Once I have a good underdrawing done, it's time to erase away most of the work with the dry cleaning pad. It's the editor's job to see the book as a whole and make sure it's a sellable product. Speaking of cinema, it's not a bad idea to also find classic movies that are among your personal favorites. Refer to Brian McDonald's book, Invisible Ink to really understand this concept of working from a theme. Whether it be a pencil, pen, nib or brush, having the muscle memory of years of experience is the only way to refine this. You can do this setup just like you would do any reference or mood board. And so, your first step should be To write a story, you must first be inspired to write a story. If you are drawing your own comic book it usually means that you are also writing it as well. And since it's an iPad it's also completely mobile; no more need to attach it to a computer. With your comic being viewed at least a bit on the web and possibly elsewhere, you are bound to gain some amount of fans.
While social media sites are a good way to build a fanbase they are not a great way to store their contacts. Every time you see something in daily life your mind automatically remembers some details about that subject. This is a good time to follow the advice of seasoned professionals. But if you subtly cue your audience to the setting by adding slight bits of detail in the background art and molding the behaviors of supporting characters, you will start to fool the reader into believing the setting is an actual place and time. My Instagram and Twitter handle:@catapanoart, The Step-By-Step E-Book walking you through the making of "Cleineclypto", Figure Drawing Foundations: Proportions Of The Heroic Figure E-Book, Access to subscriber exclusive special offers, promotions and giveaways. I believe they cause fearful mental roadblocks and as Brian Johnson says, Assumption Stacks about the industry.
Perspective: Perspective is seen by many to be one of the more boring parts of the artistic process. Having a large visual library will aid in all of your artistic endeavors.
If you haven't released the book to the public you can still feel confident that the work is already done.
This also breaks down into several smaller sub sets. For example, Star Circuits logline is A complacent street racer, still scarred from family tragedy, unlocks the secrets of a long-dead racing hero and gets set on a path to not only win in an unparalleled racing league but also find a way to save whats left of his disjointed family..
Heres a video where I break down my thumbnailing process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wyU5tNJC8). The storyteller needs to not cross over that line when moving the camera, so to keep the two different subjects from being flipped from the left to the right side of the screen. Hes a lazy, wealthy, over-grown latchkey kid who poses as a slum dweller and secretly uses his over-powered tech to win street races, hook up with girls, and boost his ego. If you are interested in using what I use for making comics you can head to https://starcircuitcomic.com/blog and use the links the My Tools section. Remember to only keep the best pictures. Over time audiences become accustomed to what's come before. Write these scenes on index cards or use programs like Scrivener to organize these ideas.
So youve outlined, mapped out, and world built until no end.
Let's keep each other accountable! But what you need to do as a solo creator, is to figure out what works best for your mind. The job of the editor is to make sure the book is being made to the right specifications and by the deadline. This section is not too important in regards to the main content but it's more to rebut some of the disclaimers that I see brought up in just about every discussion or lecture about how to draw comics and how to break into the industry. But when he unlocks the secrets of a long-dead racing hero, he gets set on a path to not only win in an unparalleled racing league but also find a way to save whats left of his disjointed family. Midday there is usually plenty of light to transform your window into a lightbox. I do not refer to myself as an inker and do not claim to have the best line work with a pen. In order to persuade them, you will need a few things. This is the other side of the creative coin when it comes to drawing comics. And to top it off you can use Clip Studio on iPad Pro. I want to make the idea of starting your own comic a less daunting one. As a comic creator you may already know that Kickstarter has become a mainstay for getting indie comics off the ground. But if you take months to plan and write and flesh out a story that you actually like, I guarantee that you will be exponentially more invested in the final look of your artwork. In my case, I am double checking to see of all of the elements in the art are clear and not missing key pieces. Now, even I have some reservations about doing this type of art. You will need to spend a decent sum of money and get a computer with enough memory and storage space to make the process of digitally creating a seamless one. From this point on, I will start pairing my guidance with an actual example from my personal life. Understanding the many complex systems and intertwining volumes is a must. If all of the writing is done that means you will be able to take the words and start sketching ideas for shots and panel layouts. Let's run through the most popular and useful software to create comics digitally. iPad Pro (2018): The iPad that I used was only 10 inches making it the smallest tablet I've used but surprisingly its also the best. Anatomy: This subject is maybe the most obvious just because it's said so much. With the outline/script and the design work all figured out, you can get down to really creating this thing. There are several ways to get good at composition but they all come with time. You just need to put some of the pieces together.
I use a different notebook for each area of writing. Procreate: This is a great piece of software used on iPad.
And who knows maybe they will take a look at your other work and see the book you've just self-published. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles like Photoshop but it does illustration amazingly well. My suggestion is to allow your characters to be partially based on an archetype.
The good games are the ones where you can lose, and the best games are the ones that stack the odds against you. I will also give examples for each category pulled from Star Circuit. The penciling stage is, of course, the time to draw the final pencil work on the real artboard. In the case of Star Circuit, I am skipping the inking stage and going straight to color. The art of writing an engaging story is arguably harder than drawing one and so the sooner you start to unravel the random ideas in your head and turn them into something coherent the better. The road is what makes you an individual in this business.
Now, I use strong and confident lines to finish the page. Here is my version of these for Star Circuit: A cyberpunk racing adventure with a strong family element. This stage is the most tedious and also the most important. Another great way to grab peoples attention is to draw some fan art. My second suggestion is to set up a system of accountability. With the tools having been explained, we can get to the training of the most effective tool: yourself. And for this reason, the emphasis on the many potential hardships ahead of young creators is not as helpful as one might think.
Techniques like using speed lines for fast motion, panel border integration on a single environment to show the movement within a still camera, and collages of interconnected imagery for montages are all examples of comic book language. My Choice: I enjoy the seamless nature, superior quality and resilience of Apple products. This is mostly juxtaposition of images but also can be of words in their graphic forms. Here are several that I found to be extremely helpful: A Writers Guide to Characterization by Victoria Lynn Schmidt. They are usually one or two sentences with an ironic emphasis based on the great change that needs to take place within the story. To start this step, I make a rectangle on half of a sheet of paper.
Use these resources as I have and begin to develop ideas in a notebook. I set up a live streaming time to do art a few days a week just so I am more motivated not to cancel and let down a viewer. When it comes to mood, you will be ignoring the actual content and subjects of the pictures and instead focus on the feelings and emotions triggered when viewing them. Comic Juxtaposition: This skill is a big one and my personal favorite. The best way to understand the medium is to read constantly. No one expects that its ok to steal peoples wealth of money but it somehow has become ok to steal their wealth of time. The story beats are best summarized by Blake Snyder in Save the Cat. Yes, you are slightly misleading people here but it's in a way that won't affect or hurt anyone. My Choice: Just like with pencils, I use a combination of erasers. How do you get people to read this gem of literature? Taking photographs whenever you have a chance is a great way to slowly build up a hard drive of your own reference material. This list is what I call the Legends of Comic Storytelling.
It's the biggest problem with amateur art and I believe the number one thing to work on when learning how to draw. I generally don't ink my own work and with Star Circuit, I am not inking at all and just using software to darken my pencil work. However, I still really do like what I started on: Canson Comic Book Art Board.
Each conveys a different emotion and should be used to push the story point, so learn their uses and implement them correctly in your story. Either you've picked up a pencil to write down ideas that have spawned from years of reading or started to draw characters from some of your favorite books; in some form or fashion you've taken the figurative and creative leap of faith.
This is about the right time for me to bring up a huge part of writing anything. If you can make the reader feel something without them even knowing the plot, you've done your job well. While I am on the subject of pencils and paper let me discuss some of the supplies that you can use for the writing process. At this time, I place the right perspective grid for each of the panels. Just be curious about the world around you and your mind will take care of the rest.
In order for professional colorists to do their work quickly, they need an easy way to select the objects in the panels.
For Star Circuit I chose Only through struggle can one find what's truly important as my theme. I will shade in the dark black areas and used render lines and hash marks to give volume to objects in the scene. Again, here is mine from SC: A complacent street racer, still scarred from family tragedy, unlocks the secrets of a long-dead racing hero and gets set on a path to not only win in an unparalleled racing league but also find a way to save whats left of his disjointed family. Because of it being a slightly off brand monitor, the price is incredibly cheap for its size. Through trial and error, you will find what paper works best for you and most likely your team. This process involves using tablets, computers and software instead of traditional means. And lastly, the curve or lack of curves with in your line work will also be thrown into this category and evoke different emotions from the viewer. Don't fret, I am going to explain all that you will need to create comics. In comes Flatters. Why did that job become so popular in the first place? I realized I had a lot of family-related internal conflicts and even some external rivalries with my brother that I could draw from. As an artist, you should actively force your mind to remember as much as you can about the world we live in. Design language is the understanding of how different shapes and compositions evoke different emotions in the viewer.
Thumbnailing is just the process of drawing sketches of the pages in a very small form (it doesn't have to be as small as your thumb). Even complex forms like human bodies have these basic shapes and so characters can be very useful when evoking different emotions. Each company that you pitch to will have their own proprietary rules and requirements for submitting. You are resonating with it for a reason. Microsoft Word is helpful but Scrivener is a cheaper option that also allows you to organize your writings in several different ways including a visual cork board. It really works well for us poor folk. Also, the art now cropped at the TRIM line on the artboard. Your Options: Stick erasers (for details), block plastic erasers (for the bulk), electric erasers, kneaded erasers. So, if the design work is done then you are in the clear to actually start. Staging: This skill is just the ability to arrange characters and objects in a shot. While the other camp thinks that using a more intuitive method of letting the artist decide the panels and how to draw them produces better results. Either way, it's money that you get because you have persuaded someone that you deserve it. A grant is just a sum of money awarded to you in which you don't have to pay back. Remember when I had you write a clear list of inspirations and personal experiences. Finally, what I think is the most important reason to create your own comic: Getting invested in your art. From these lists, I naturally started to be pulled to certain ideas and inspirations more than others.
And so, by gaining an understanding for all of the steps in making a comic, you, in turn, understand how to do each part with a better idea of how each step directly influences the other steps. Pin your cards up in the order that best fits and when you need to rearrange or rewrite, it'll be a very simple process. The important thing is to have fun while on the road. I would even make a bet that you are one of the few who actually loves to read comics and that you've been inspired enough to start the journey of becoming a comic creator in some capacity. Here is the link for Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview. Make sure you are not picking these things based on the industry's consensus but rather because of actual connections from your experiences and taste to the subjects. That being said, here is the general list if items to include in your pitch. If you are unfamiliar with a mood board, it is just a bunch of pictures that are collected and placed on a board. The best inkers will also notice mistakes the penciler has made and correct them. Here's where I really show you how to make a comic book. Let's say all you need is 200 dollars to meet your funding goal with only a couple of days left. AI uses vector graphics which give an always crisp feeling to the art. This collection gets very big as you grow older and have more and more experiences. Layouts are will fit nicely on a 5.5 x 8.5 paper (half a sheet of letter size). This option is a more expensive one than that of the Yiynova but you end up with an overall better package and a higher resolution screen.
However, this is the information I hear about inking in the industry. Because the area is full of such and such occupation what does that do to the recreational activities?
So with this authentic list of inspirations, you essentially have the secrets to your next story. Each section of the road comes with different challenges and rewards. I usually print out my layouts on an 11 x 17 sheet of paper and then use a lightbox or window to transfer the art to the artboard. My Choice: I am currently using the Epson WF-7710. The momentum of getting your book out there to the fans will most certainly lead you to more success down the road. Make note that this is only my process and it can be added to and subtracted from to create a process that works for you. Just be sure to include all that they request. In order for anyone to write about things that they don't understand, they have to first research it.
Read your favorites, read the stuff you probably won't like but people have recommended, read the bad and the good, read as much as you can. Yiynova MVP 19: This one is a tablet monitor, meaning that it's a screen that you can draw on. It's found everywhere, and I like the feel of it better than the base Strathmore paper. Step one is getting as many peoples eyes on the book as possible.
It's a disclaimer that applies to everything creative not just comics. A great way to do that is to delete about 90% of each days photos. If you can spare the money for such a small screen, you won't be disappointed.
For comics, I do recommend something with a good amount of RAM and most importantly a good size screen. While film has sound and motion and novels have a deep introspective experience, comics have juxtaposition. Blake gives a definitive 15 places the story needs to go for it to really be entertaining. I suggest you learn from one of the best: Peter Han. This approach allows for a more global view of each page. You now will have more confidence that your decisions in each step are the right ones. With a quick search, you will immediately see the huge volume these kind of sites receive. So let's begin, shall we? By the way, I am streaming Tuesday's and Wednesdays at 8 pm EST at https://youtube.com/c/JoeCatapano. This part is all about the things you need to do that has no direct relation to actually drawing. The standard then would have to include one of each type of tool.
Someone writes it, someone else draws it, someone else colors it and so on.
I think you can guess that my favorite drawing experience has been with the iPad Pro. I use a Tuff Stuff Eraser for my fine details andI use a Steadtler plastic eraser for the bulk of the work. One is to set up a reward for doing the work. If you start forcefully injecting extra details about the world inside of average dialogue it will soon take over the plot and the audience will be so distracted from the unnatural verbiage that they will never become attached to the characters.
Flatters are specific people who color the page for the sole purpose of creating selection masks. These scenes will be pillars in which you fill out the rest of the story. I try to look at times of struggle and not being where you want to be, as very special times. From there, I brainstormed my prioritized concepts and started to combine ideas. Consistency:Last but not least, you must value consistency. In other words it is the Before, the During and the After that is based on the theme. Captions and SFX complete.
The more people that you can contact from your mailing list the better so timing when you launch a crowdfund is huge. Here, I advise you to use irony and logic to find your characters ocean. In this program you can draw, color, and letter your comic.
Without these moments of drama and suspense life would be dull. Eventually you will start to see your own connections. The last options you have for getting your comic into the consumers hands is with the help of Publishers and Grants. (Make note that if you buy any other tablet monitor there will be a considerable amount of distance between the pen and the monitor). I am assuming in this scenario that you've already exhausted all of your favors from family, friends, and industry help. For instance, I have one notebook just for world building, one just for each plot and theme, and one for character and environmental descriptions. Bio:This is a few paragraph blurb that should include your background, work experience, previous credits in the industry, and your experience with comics so far. This subject is hugely complex and so I won't get very deep but I will give you a list of things to draw in order to fully realize your designs. This guide was meant to be used as reference and not necessarily one that you read straight through in one sitting. Since the standard comic book format is 11 x 17 it is considered wide format and the printer / scanner has to be able to accommodate that size. With the writing out of the way, we are free to move on to What most people don't realize when reading a comic is all of the preparation work that goes into figuring out the look and feel of the art even before the pages are drawn. The Standard: Id say most professionals with a traditional lightbox workflow have actually spent the few hundred dollars and bought a thin, light pad. It essentially doesn't erase all of the lines but leaves some of my previous underdrawing on the page to be used as a guide. You only lose when you quit. He has a book called Dynamic Bible that focuses on form and proportion when it comes to dynamic sketching. A pitch will resemble something like the following: Start with the title, tagline, and/or the high concept.
When I say famine mentality, I mean it's the belief that for someone to succeed another has to fail. Because if the goal is to make a comic and one that you'd actually want to read, then the entirety of what you create needs to be from a place that you feel rooted in.
If one or more of those social media sites shut down or decide to reformat their structure you want to make sure that your fanbase will not be lost. It is literally why I love comic storytelling above all others.
Most of what we draw as comic book artists are people.
Imagine if you already knew that someday you would be a great storyteller with all the accolades and fame that come with it. Someone once said, Art is something that teaches you something about yourself that you didn't know before. The subjects and artists that you love are a part of you; you just have to discover why. All the while highlighting the strength in mans need for love and fellowship as the counter to pure objective based motives. Why do you want to create comics? Feel free to contact me with any questions about this tutorial on my social media. It can be as simple as telling an art friend about your progress regularly or set up a public deadline that will be hard to move. Let's begin with your heroes and heroines. Take time to learn the techniques with different inking tools. Each eraser has a different purpose but you may be able to get by with just one, if you are careful. Some think that having a script will bring about a more focused and up front a clearer vision for the artist to elaborate on. I am currently using a 27 all-in-one iMac from 2012. You will have a better eye for design and consistency because you'll naturally want your characters and environments to appear as perfect as they appear in your mind. This is the other half of the artists main setup.
And the protagonist is no different. The person will also design the sound effects to help the action. That's not to say that you don't need to be accurate but it's to show the importance and relevance to the main task as storytellers. Here is a part of my mood boards from making Star Circuit. You could take a message from that experience, like say, Everything heals in time and tie that message to a concept from your list. Use trial and error for finding the best paper for you. What has changed within the character to justify the story in the first place? As you can see, there are several here because I've put everything for the first chapter into one sheet.
It is one of the biggest reasons that I have improved in this area of study. I personally am using Clip Studio Paint for all my comic work, including color. Let's start with the hardware. Obviously, there are artists and writers who are biased because of years of experience with either method. I hope you learned that making is a comic very straight forward and if you love coming up with art and stories, this will be really fun. It's likely you already have an account at one or more of these sites but in the case of your book, you may want to create a new account especially for its release. The easiest way to find a theme and a basis for your plot is to prioritize the list you just made.
If you are reading this guide its probably because you like reading comics. The comic will soon start releasing pages for free so please signup for email notifications about dates for that. Next, is creating a logline from your theme and brainstormed ideas. And there are many of these creators that have gotten burned by lack of sales or lists of rejections. And lastly, the main piece should be about that theme we talked about in the writing section.
Every day you open up shop at the same time and do the same work. Please visit starcircuitcomic.com to see all the updates, art and extras. You did finish the project already, so there is nothing to worry about. Your good days will pass just as fast as your bad ones.
If you are making comics and not much else, this I think is the clear winner over Photoshop. Either way, this section is what will sway the majority of reviewers since it will take no amount of imagination to visualize the product further. My Choice: I personally love the feel of quill type nibs. They say something to the tune of: Dont expect to make a living off of making comics. In this example lets just say you also love the conspiratorial and secretive nature of V for Vendatta. Once I have a good underdrawing done, it's time to erase away most of the work with the dry cleaning pad. It's the editor's job to see the book as a whole and make sure it's a sellable product. Speaking of cinema, it's not a bad idea to also find classic movies that are among your personal favorites. Refer to Brian McDonald's book, Invisible Ink to really understand this concept of working from a theme. Whether it be a pencil, pen, nib or brush, having the muscle memory of years of experience is the only way to refine this. You can do this setup just like you would do any reference or mood board. And so, your first step should be To write a story, you must first be inspired to write a story. If you are drawing your own comic book it usually means that you are also writing it as well. And since it's an iPad it's also completely mobile; no more need to attach it to a computer. With your comic being viewed at least a bit on the web and possibly elsewhere, you are bound to gain some amount of fans.
While social media sites are a good way to build a fanbase they are not a great way to store their contacts. Every time you see something in daily life your mind automatically remembers some details about that subject. This is a good time to follow the advice of seasoned professionals. But if you subtly cue your audience to the setting by adding slight bits of detail in the background art and molding the behaviors of supporting characters, you will start to fool the reader into believing the setting is an actual place and time. My Instagram and Twitter handle:@catapanoart, The Step-By-Step E-Book walking you through the making of "Cleineclypto", Figure Drawing Foundations: Proportions Of The Heroic Figure E-Book, Access to subscriber exclusive special offers, promotions and giveaways. I believe they cause fearful mental roadblocks and as Brian Johnson says, Assumption Stacks about the industry.
Perspective: Perspective is seen by many to be one of the more boring parts of the artistic process. Having a large visual library will aid in all of your artistic endeavors.
If you haven't released the book to the public you can still feel confident that the work is already done.
This also breaks down into several smaller sub sets. For example, Star Circuits logline is A complacent street racer, still scarred from family tragedy, unlocks the secrets of a long-dead racing hero and gets set on a path to not only win in an unparalleled racing league but also find a way to save whats left of his disjointed family..
Heres a video where I break down my thumbnailing process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wyU5tNJC8). The storyteller needs to not cross over that line when moving the camera, so to keep the two different subjects from being flipped from the left to the right side of the screen. Hes a lazy, wealthy, over-grown latchkey kid who poses as a slum dweller and secretly uses his over-powered tech to win street races, hook up with girls, and boost his ego. If you are interested in using what I use for making comics you can head to https://starcircuitcomic.com/blog and use the links the My Tools section. Remember to only keep the best pictures. Over time audiences become accustomed to what's come before. Write these scenes on index cards or use programs like Scrivener to organize these ideas.
So youve outlined, mapped out, and world built until no end.
Let's keep each other accountable! But what you need to do as a solo creator, is to figure out what works best for your mind. The job of the editor is to make sure the book is being made to the right specifications and by the deadline. This section is not too important in regards to the main content but it's more to rebut some of the disclaimers that I see brought up in just about every discussion or lecture about how to draw comics and how to break into the industry. But when he unlocks the secrets of a long-dead racing hero, he gets set on a path to not only win in an unparalleled racing league but also find a way to save whats left of his disjointed family. Midday there is usually plenty of light to transform your window into a lightbox. I do not refer to myself as an inker and do not claim to have the best line work with a pen. In order to persuade them, you will need a few things. This is the other side of the creative coin when it comes to drawing comics. And to top it off you can use Clip Studio on iPad Pro. I want to make the idea of starting your own comic a less daunting one. As a comic creator you may already know that Kickstarter has become a mainstay for getting indie comics off the ground. But if you take months to plan and write and flesh out a story that you actually like, I guarantee that you will be exponentially more invested in the final look of your artwork. In my case, I am double checking to see of all of the elements in the art are clear and not missing key pieces. Now, even I have some reservations about doing this type of art. You will need to spend a decent sum of money and get a computer with enough memory and storage space to make the process of digitally creating a seamless one. From this point on, I will start pairing my guidance with an actual example from my personal life. Understanding the many complex systems and intertwining volumes is a must. If all of the writing is done that means you will be able to take the words and start sketching ideas for shots and panel layouts. Let's run through the most popular and useful software to create comics digitally. iPad Pro (2018): The iPad that I used was only 10 inches making it the smallest tablet I've used but surprisingly its also the best. Anatomy: This subject is maybe the most obvious just because it's said so much. With the outline/script and the design work all figured out, you can get down to really creating this thing. There are several ways to get good at composition but they all come with time. You just need to put some of the pieces together.
I use a different notebook for each area of writing. Procreate: This is a great piece of software used on iPad.
And who knows maybe they will take a look at your other work and see the book you've just self-published. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles like Photoshop but it does illustration amazingly well. My suggestion is to allow your characters to be partially based on an archetype.
The good games are the ones where you can lose, and the best games are the ones that stack the odds against you. I will also give examples for each category pulled from Star Circuit. The penciling stage is, of course, the time to draw the final pencil work on the real artboard. In the case of Star Circuit, I am skipping the inking stage and going straight to color. The art of writing an engaging story is arguably harder than drawing one and so the sooner you start to unravel the random ideas in your head and turn them into something coherent the better. The road is what makes you an individual in this business.
Now, I use strong and confident lines to finish the page. Here is my version of these for Star Circuit: A cyberpunk racing adventure with a strong family element. This stage is the most tedious and also the most important. Another great way to grab peoples attention is to draw some fan art. My second suggestion is to set up a system of accountability. With the tools having been explained, we can get to the training of the most effective tool: yourself. And for this reason, the emphasis on the many potential hardships ahead of young creators is not as helpful as one might think.
Techniques like using speed lines for fast motion, panel border integration on a single environment to show the movement within a still camera, and collages of interconnected imagery for montages are all examples of comic book language. My Choice: I enjoy the seamless nature, superior quality and resilience of Apple products. This is mostly juxtaposition of images but also can be of words in their graphic forms. Here are several that I found to be extremely helpful: A Writers Guide to Characterization by Victoria Lynn Schmidt. They are usually one or two sentences with an ironic emphasis based on the great change that needs to take place within the story. To start this step, I make a rectangle on half of a sheet of paper.
Use these resources as I have and begin to develop ideas in a notebook. I set up a live streaming time to do art a few days a week just so I am more motivated not to cancel and let down a viewer. When it comes to mood, you will be ignoring the actual content and subjects of the pictures and instead focus on the feelings and emotions triggered when viewing them. Comic Juxtaposition: This skill is a big one and my personal favorite. The best way to understand the medium is to read constantly. No one expects that its ok to steal peoples wealth of money but it somehow has become ok to steal their wealth of time. The story beats are best summarized by Blake Snyder in Save the Cat. Yes, you are slightly misleading people here but it's in a way that won't affect or hurt anyone. My Choice: Just like with pencils, I use a combination of erasers. How do you get people to read this gem of literature? Taking photographs whenever you have a chance is a great way to slowly build up a hard drive of your own reference material. This list is what I call the Legends of Comic Storytelling.
It's the biggest problem with amateur art and I believe the number one thing to work on when learning how to draw. I generally don't ink my own work and with Star Circuit, I am not inking at all and just using software to darken my pencil work. However, I still really do like what I started on: Canson Comic Book Art Board.