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ParaParano — I'll get it eventually. u u
Published: 2010-11-28 22:09:00 +0000 UTC; Views: 1248; Favourites: 16; Downloads: 14
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Description
My confidence in my work is beginning to slip again. The only things I've drawn lately that I think are even half-decent are RAID related spoilers, or part of bigger projects, so I can't post them yet. So I thought I'd post this, which I am semi-pleased with.SOME progress has been made, I guess? I have made quite a few decisions about the comic in terms of "decent art versus time."
I've started using Threshold in Photoshop to harden lines, making the process of flat colouring much faster. I LIKE this. It saves a LOT of time. At first, I thought this technique was only possible if the lines were drawn digitally - hence this test.
It was quick, but there are maaaany problems with that final page that I need to sort out (hence why I left it incomplete).
For one: RAID is a punk-inspired comic. That page is FAR too clean for the style that I want to achieve.
Secondly: it's flat, and boring. Besides the first panel, there is no depth of field. I need to use more backgrounds, and I've been making a MASSIVE render in Google SketchUp to help me with that (I'll be posting more work made using the render later).
Shading: not fond. Again, too clean-cut. Might try some softer brushes instead of the cell-shaded look. A combination of both might be even better?
Noses. Noses why can I not draw them.
Bubbles - still playing around with those. I quite like that font.
And THEN I discovered that it IS possible to scan in pencil lines, Threshold them, and colour quickly.
God knows, my pencil work is much faster, and pencil looks better. I can achieve better movement, etc. If I make any mistakes, I have a brush in Photoshop that mimics pencil - I can also use this for backgrounds that I will not be able to achieve by hand.
I think I got this, guys. It's just going to take a bit more experimentation.
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Comments: 17
Practice, patience, time and detail. Oh, and life study. That's important too.
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8D;; I've been studying life drawing for a very long time, mang.
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Dude, the work you put into this is SO TOTALLY GONNA BE WORTH IT. I JUST KNOW IT.
I really admire how much effort you put into your stuff too, seriously man. It's kind of amazing. D:
Your lines and your characters' expressions are always so incredible, and I seriously can't wait to see this story done. I also know that it totally WILL be done. >8D
But yeah, I do agree, the shading here is kind of clean. I can't wait to see you play around with it more though, and I'm sure that you'll eventually find what's right for you! C:
I look forward to it, man! GO FOR IT. 8C
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... QAQ;; Laaitmaaaaa you are too good to meeee. <3
Thanks, hun. Still trying to find time to do some more tests, but I think I have it pretty much sussed. Here's hoping!
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83 semi-progress is good progress. You're doing good.
Some little suggestions if you'd like:
-If the page is far too clean for your tastes, you could either sketch up your backgrounds or add texture to your tones.
-Background wise there's unfortunately nothing that'll fix that except making actual bgs. It'll be cool to see what you make with Sketchup. I have mine collecting dust in my harddrive as I can't even figure out the correct proportions of one object to another. That and I suck at interior design so very much, hoohah!
-Shading-wise I'm a half suggesting you keep it. 8| If the backgrounds are going to become a lot grittier/ texture, making the characters as 'texturized' runs a risk of blending with the bg (disregarding line weight, color and lighting, etc). I guess all I can say is experiment; add some sketch shading in the characters to break away from the clean look, and see how far you can push it while keeping them in focus and away from the bgs.
-Noses> if you ever figure out the secret behind those, please share it with us *n*
-Bubbles - The font is fine, but I think your texts look a little 'cramped' in their bubbles. You can shrink the spacing between the lines and enlarge the word bubble around the text so it looks a lot tighter. This page of Udon's may be a little bit too much of what I'm talking about, but the general idea's there.
Awesome progress, can't wait to see how it'll all turn out.
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QAQ Kaaaalkiiiiieee. <3
That's some great advice, thank you very much. When I have the time - most likely over Christmas break - I'm going to spend a lot of time playing around with styles. I'm excited to try drawing a page by hand (because, in my opinion, pencil lines look so much better than digital), especially since I want to add cross-hatching. That was something I forgot to add to the description - I think that'll really help the 'grunge' look along.
And thank you for pointing out the font problems. oAo! I really like this font, and would like to keep it, but you're right, there's too much spacing in between. Guess I'll have to get used to creating a new layer for each line, haha. Not a problem.
Thank you so much aaaa. Q___Q You're so helpful.
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You're welcome!
But what kind of program do you use to make your speech bubbles? o.O Photoshop has the option in their Text tool to shrink the spaces between lines and even the letters themselves. It'll be good to at least do the speech with that and save you the hassle of having to put new layers per text line D8.
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... OR I COULD DO THAT YES that's a good idea.
Hooooow did I never find that before I... oohh. OTL
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we all learn something new everyday, and better late than never.
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STOP BEING AWESOME AT SHADING AND NOT LIKING IT!!!!!!!!!1
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NEVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER
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I think it's still pretty good even if it's just practice.
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I was going to suggest textures and... bam! I scroll down and I see Nai suggesting the same XD;
But yeah, textures may help to 'dirten' the shading as well as the atmosphere, probably making it closer to what you want to achieve.
The speech bubbles and font look good, but perhaps you should find a brush or something for you to do the bubbles black and then get them white. I think not so clean outlines for them would also work for the comic.
And don't lose your confidence, this looks really good, and it'll look better. Just as how Nai says (why didn't I get to comment before now I seem a parrot! x.x ) look at how you drew RAID before and compare to the current one ^^
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It's great work so far but I agree it is still too clean cut for the grungey feel of RAID. I'd recommend experimenting with textures and a mix of soft and hard shading? The font is good, though. : D
Don't get disheartened and don't lose your confidence! Look back at the old RAID and then look at this and see how far it's come. It can only get more awesome, OK?
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I'M GON' DO THIIIIIIS. >8C
When I have time again. OTL
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