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batangbatuganHow To Exaggerate

Published: 2006-10-18 06:53:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 140663; Favourites: 5879; Downloads: 1510
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Description UPDATE: I've realized that this'll help more people if I place it under Tutorials, so there. Thanks to all the deviants who suggested it ^___^ I also moved "WHA-PAK" and Sam: Threefolds to the tutorials section as well.
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A lot of aspiring comic artists seem to focus only on style, and not much on storytelling and characterization. Being a comic book artist not only requires the ablilty to draw, but also, the ability to tell a story. And to be able to tell a story visually, you have to be able to give life to the characters- make them look more animated and energized on the page.

One way to do it is through exaggeration. You can give life and energy to the most simplest and boringest situations, and you can apply this to any style. See above and compare the actions on the left with those on the right. I think you'll agree that it's really not that difficult. And I'm not exaggerating!

This was actually part of my lecture during last week's seminar, but I don't think the audience was able to see these clearly so I'm posting it here for your convenience. ^__^ Hope this helps folks!
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Comments: 660

iammred In reply to ??? [2010-07-20 00:47:41 +0000 UTC]

this will help a lot

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EmbertheAngel In reply to ??? [2010-07-20 00:35:49 +0000 UTC]

omg! Helpful! this is helpful to all!! X3

I got a question...in the two guys fighting, are those Cloud, Sephiroth, and then tifa in the Bg? I was just wondering. XD; I was all like "hahah tifa what the crap? XD"

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batangbatugan In reply to EmbertheAngel [2010-07-20 03:54:37 +0000 UTC]

Could be? Shinra hasn't issued a statement yet

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EmbertheAngel In reply to batangbatugan [2010-07-20 17:07:54 +0000 UTC]

ahhhh~ *nods* oaky

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Fire-Chan9490 In reply to ??? [2010-07-20 00:20:18 +0000 UTC]

Love this. The expressions are wonderful. XD

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DustbunnyPictures [2010-07-20 00:05:28 +0000 UTC]

I think my art is missing some of this, nice tute.

I agree it kicks some emotion and tension into a scene, but is more necessarily better, is there a way to exaggerate the quiet or introspective moments, or is this mainly for action?

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batangbatugan In reply to DustbunnyPictures [2010-07-20 03:59:58 +0000 UTC]

Well, like I said this is only one way to do it This applies best when you want your characters to be more animated and you want to add energy to a scene. For introspection you can use other methods like subdued body language, changing the angle, focusing away from the face, etc.

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neokamatari In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 23:44:04 +0000 UTC]

highly detailed and dynamic ^_^

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mattwilson83 [2010-07-19 23:41:08 +0000 UTC]

THis is brilliant, and useful ^^

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silentbyacutthroat [2010-07-19 23:21:33 +0000 UTC]

Hahahah it is so great! I love overall the girls exagerated expressions! yes, they really make me feel like they both are running in a hurry or arguing with someone [if she was my boss, I would scared to hell if she was shouting at me that way...]

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batangbatugan In reply to silentbyacutthroat [2010-07-20 04:00:50 +0000 UTC]

Then I guess we both fear the same thing

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ZaneEyre In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 23:19:51 +0000 UTC]

very instructive and entertaining as well. i want to know more about each character now. :>

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Wyncandel In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 23:19:45 +0000 UTC]

Oh, this is really helpful! I'll definitely be referencing this.

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Grimaldo-J In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 23:19:19 +0000 UTC]

Love this tutorial

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flutelute In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 23:02:30 +0000 UTC]

i love this, exaggerating is always my favorite thing to do

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kaitastic [2010-07-19 22:43:59 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful examples. These will surely help me when I work on expression pieces for my characters. (:
Congrats on the DD. It is well deserved. <3

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batangbatugan In reply to kaitastic [2010-07-20 04:01:58 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Good luck and have fun

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TehZee In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 22:35:25 +0000 UTC]

Excellent examples.

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TehZee [2010-07-19 22:35:25 +0000 UTC]

Excellent examples.

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BananaYoghurts [2010-07-19 22:33:50 +0000 UTC]

this is really good

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falingard In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 22:30:56 +0000 UTC]

I remember this very well! It should have gotten a DD long ago

Congrats, dude!

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batangbatugan In reply to falingard [2010-07-20 04:03:20 +0000 UTC]

Never thought this tutorial would get one, to be honest Thanks!

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Silveraxe In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 22:25:30 +0000 UTC]

This is pretty awesome and informative! Thanks! <3

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clashdraig In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 22:19:59 +0000 UTC]

This is soo useful, thanks!

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MadRatBird [2010-07-19 22:19:13 +0000 UTC]

I love this. XD. It's useful and funny. .

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blasianonna In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 22:13:56 +0000 UTC]

This was actually very helpful! Congrats on the DD!

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batangbatugan In reply to blasianonna [2010-07-20 04:04:03 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! Fee free to apply to your own work

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Mishikaiya In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:57:52 +0000 UTC]

Wow. Very awesome and helpful.

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CruzRobin In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:57:36 +0000 UTC]

That's not only inspiring. It's full of excellent skill. o_o

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batangbatugan In reply to CruzRobin [2010-07-20 04:03:41 +0000 UTC]

Thank you^^

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CruzRobin In reply to batangbatugan [2010-07-20 07:22:24 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. I learned a lot. (oh, and it's DD now? Well deserved! )

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LtlDevil In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:56:26 +0000 UTC]

I love this!
I always have trouble with expressions... Thank you!

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kinimoto7 In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:54:08 +0000 UTC]

AWESOMENESS!

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JediAnnSolo [2010-07-19 21:51:19 +0000 UTC]

I have learned so much today.

Congratulations on your Daily Deviation!

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batangbatugan In reply to JediAnnSolo [2010-07-20 04:04:48 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear, thanks!

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ChrisP-Design In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:51:06 +0000 UTC]

The exclamation point makes a very big difference.

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clippys In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:47:39 +0000 UTC]

fantastic work!

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FelipeChoque In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:38:36 +0000 UTC]

THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!!!!
AWESOMEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
people better think about this!

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batangbatugan In reply to FelipeChoque [2010-07-20 04:07:06 +0000 UTC]

Yep, that's just it. Changing the way you think makes a big difference

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SolanumNigrum In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:31:44 +0000 UTC]

This really inspires me to start drawing again! Granted, I'm not the best artist in the world, but hey, that's what practicing is for, right? This tutorial can only help me in that endeavor!

Thanks for the great tips in body language! This is an instant fav for future reference!

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batangbatugan In reply to SolanumNigrum [2010-07-20 04:06:07 +0000 UTC]

Glad to know that this one still inspires a lot of folks, feel free to share it with others, too

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AriadneArca In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:29:12 +0000 UTC]

Personally, I don't really like this sort of exaggeration in comics - the only thing that's surer to make me wince is when they start using bold to emphasise every second word, as if the characters are really being portrayed by bad actors. It's freaking annoying. And, with exaggeration of movements and bold writing alike, it really snaps me out of the story and reminds me that it's a comic I'm reading, to uncomfortable effect. We don't go that far in real life, and I prefer to read stuff where, even though two characters aren't going as far as TWO GUYS ARGUING!, you can see from their facial expression that it's taking everything they've got to stop themselves.

But the artistic merit of this tutorial is undeniable, and you're the professional comic artist here. Whatever my preferences, I can see lots of advice that I'm definitely going to keep in mind the next time I tackle scenes like this. Congratulations on the DD!

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batangbatugan In reply to AriadneArca [2010-07-20 04:14:54 +0000 UTC]

Well I'm sure if I read somthing like that I'd be wincing too Exaggeration helps a lot in certain situations, but not ALL the time. Using it in inappropriate moments is downright hilarious(unless that is, you meant it to be). And of course this is just one way of doing things, there are a lot of other tricks you can use like subdued body language and facial expressions, use of mood and lighting, switching the angle of the panel, etc.

Thanks!

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Sachi-pon In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 21:14:32 +0000 UTC]

really good drawings and smart advice for fellow comic-makers like me!! and this is funny too! good job, you deserve the dd!!!

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batangbatugan In reply to Sachi-pon [2010-07-20 04:17:49 +0000 UTC]

Thanks fellow comic maker

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Kerowin4Moons In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 20:55:26 +0000 UTC]

Hahaha, your comments are really funny. A lovely tut.

And congrats for the DD ^^

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TheDarkAce101 [2010-07-19 20:30:53 +0000 UTC]

CLOUD & SEPHY!

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Rosaka-Chan In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 20:19:01 +0000 UTC]

your comments are so hilarious. ^^
I'm sure people love this and find it as a great help!

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MiyaYoshi In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 20:09:57 +0000 UTC]

Good point, and great drawings! I totally cracked up. XD

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ShinyAquaBlueRibbon In reply to ??? [2010-07-19 20:08:00 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!! I'm a comic artist too, and this is reeeeaaaally helpful!

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