I have to say, while the new comics look good, something seems off about them compared to older (that is, just before the hiatus) comics–which actually might just be that they were rougher, which seems to fit this comic with its oft-gritty, uh, roughness?
That might just be the B/W ones, though; a single new color comic might not be enough to tell.
Of course this is really only over a type of style that may not have ever been a conscious decision. Looks good regardless.
Thanks for commenting, Duth, and this is as good of a time as any to explain a couple of the new differences in drawing these comics.
The big change is that I’ve gone all digital: the comics prior to the hiatus were penciled and inked on cardstock and then scanned, with the coloring and lettering done in Photoshop. I chose to stop doing this for the simple matter of time and expenses.
Time is saved because any mistakes that are made in the drawings can be fixed instantly, as opposed to patching up with erasers and white-out. Extra time that is spent cleaning up the scanned artwork (fixing rough linework or edges, and eliminating random flecks of dust that somehow get in there) can now be used for better purposes.
Money is saved on buying new supplies, of course, but the supply situation has also changed. Heavy-weight cardstock, which I had previously used for both comics and caricatures, is no longer carried by most art or office supply stores for some odd reason. It’s almost like the market was telling me to go digital.
I love drawing traditionally, and don’t foresee myself ever giving up good ol’ pen and paper, but for the extra workload of SCAPULA is easiest on me to go this route for now.
Now everyone fling paint at me and call me a “sell-out”!
I’m old school in many ways. I really like your pencil and ink and color work. I understand the bit about materials and how hard it is to get them. I had to learn CADD drawing and CNC machining. I miss the old ways but I can also see the advantages of the new tools. It’s good to have the option of working in different styles and methods. “Sell- out” never, adapting to the situation, yes. Survival of the Adapters. Hey, that sounds like the title for a cheesy movie.
It’s more about picking and choosing which method (traditional or digital) I want to use, and I still use both quite a bit.
I had to do some character design work yesterday, but no matter how many times I tried to draw it digitally it came out pretty lifeless. I finally grabbed a piece of typing paper and a pencil and, in less than a minute, drew out the characters and they came out great.
I can’t explain why drawing on paper works sometimes and drawing on a tablet works on other projects, but I choose to go with my gut on what will work best. If nothing else, it means I still get to use all of these art supplies I’ve accumulated!
Considering the differences between looking at your hand while you draw, and looking at a screen while you draw (okay, a Cintiq kinda muddies that line, but you know what I mean), anyone who calls you a sell-out is an idiot.
Trust me, I’m hoping that my days with my tablet (great as it has been) will be ending soon in favor of making these with a Cintiq (or it’s cheaper nemesis, the Yiynova).
Well, when you need dirty work done, you can’t get much dirtier than Hypnausea. An asset to any grubby mess of a villain team!
Good times for all it seems, especially the Governor! Sex is always the answer it seems. Not that I’d touch the guy even in a hazmat suit, but then again I’m not a politician so I have standards!
Not every supervillain needs to destructive powers to be effective, and Hypnausea’s methods of persuasion are already coming in handy (…did I just make the most inappropriate and yet appropriate pun of all time?).
A politician in a sex scandal? Some things are too unbelievable, even for comics!
San Francisco, yes, but this is a fictional San Francisco, so the governor can be anyone.
Maybe it’s Jerry Brown, maybe Charlie Brown, maybe Charlie Chan, maybe Francis Chan, maybe Francis Bacon, maybe Kevin Bacon…hey, whaddya know? That six degrees thing works!
D’ohhhhhh! I’m never going to live this one down, am I? A word of warning to cartoonists: give your readers a hand-job joke, and they’ll run a mile with it.
Thanks, Mark! I guess it’s all in the program, and so far, Sketchbook Pro is the only program I’ve used so far that has a good “realistic” brush and pen tool.
This might also explain the revolving door on Arkham Asylum.
Hey, Commissioner Gordon needs his fun, too!
I have to say, while the new comics look good, something seems off about them compared to older (that is, just before the hiatus) comics–which actually might just be that they were rougher, which seems to fit this comic with its oft-gritty, uh, roughness?
That might just be the B/W ones, though; a single new color comic might not be enough to tell.
Of course this is really only over a type of style that may not have ever been a conscious decision. Looks good regardless.
Thanks for commenting, Duth, and this is as good of a time as any to explain a couple of the new differences in drawing these comics.
The big change is that I’ve gone all digital: the comics prior to the hiatus were penciled and inked on cardstock and then scanned, with the coloring and lettering done in Photoshop. I chose to stop doing this for the simple matter of time and expenses.
Time is saved because any mistakes that are made in the drawings can be fixed instantly, as opposed to patching up with erasers and white-out. Extra time that is spent cleaning up the scanned artwork (fixing rough linework or edges, and eliminating random flecks of dust that somehow get in there) can now be used for better purposes.
Money is saved on buying new supplies, of course, but the supply situation has also changed. Heavy-weight cardstock, which I had previously used for both comics and caricatures, is no longer carried by most art or office supply stores for some odd reason. It’s almost like the market was telling me to go digital.
I love drawing traditionally, and don’t foresee myself ever giving up good ol’ pen and paper, but for the extra workload of SCAPULA is easiest on me to go this route for now.
Now everyone fling paint at me and call me a “sell-out”!
I’m old school in many ways. I really like your pencil and ink and color work. I understand the bit about materials and how hard it is to get them. I had to learn CADD drawing and CNC machining. I miss the old ways but I can also see the advantages of the new tools. It’s good to have the option of working in different styles and methods. “Sell- out” never, adapting to the situation, yes. Survival of the Adapters. Hey, that sounds like the title for a cheesy movie.
It’s more about picking and choosing which method (traditional or digital) I want to use, and I still use both quite a bit.
I had to do some character design work yesterday, but no matter how many times I tried to draw it digitally it came out pretty lifeless. I finally grabbed a piece of typing paper and a pencil and, in less than a minute, drew out the characters and they came out great.
I can’t explain why drawing on paper works sometimes and drawing on a tablet works on other projects, but I choose to go with my gut on what will work best. If nothing else, it means I still get to use all of these art supplies I’ve accumulated!
Considering the differences between looking at your hand while you draw, and looking at a screen while you draw (okay, a Cintiq kinda muddies that line, but you know what I mean), anyone who calls you a sell-out is an idiot.
Rock on, sir!
Trust me, I’m hoping that my days with my tablet (great as it has been) will be ending soon in favor of making these with a Cintiq (or it’s cheaper nemesis, the Yiynova).
“hand job” “realease” all in the same sentence.
…and right next to your comment, in my queue of comments awaiting approval, was spam for Viagra.
It’s like the planets are aligning to make the dirtiest joke in the universe.
Did Hypnosea meant that frase literally? I hope not, but knowing him it’s a fifty-fifty chance at best…
Some things are best left unseen (or just unverified).
With Hypnausea, however, it’s best to assume the worst!
Well, when you need dirty work done, you can’t get much dirtier than Hypnausea. An asset to any grubby mess of a villain team!
Good times for all it seems, especially the Governor! Sex is always the answer it seems. Not that I’d touch the guy even in a hazmat suit, but then again I’m not a politician so I have standards!
Not every supervillain needs to destructive powers to be effective, and Hypnausea’s methods of persuasion are already coming in handy (…did I just make the most inappropriate and yet appropriate pun of all time?).
A politician in a sex scandal? Some things are too unbelievable, even for comics!
I can’t even imagine how hard you tried to type that without laughing.
The setting for this webcomic is San Francisco, right? So the “governor” mentioned is Jerry Brown, right?
I just want to construct the appropriate mental image.
San Francisco, yes, but this is a fictional San Francisco, so the governor can be anyone.
Maybe it’s Jerry Brown, maybe Charlie Brown, maybe Charlie Chan, maybe Francis Chan, maybe Francis Bacon, maybe Kevin Bacon…hey, whaddya know? That six degrees thing works!
Your insight into that six degrees just sent tremors through out my body. You are spooky that way.
Don’t thank me, thank the power of Google searches! Up, up, and awaaaay!
I’d totally vote Charlie Brown for governor, and Snoopy for president.
That’s definitely an offer that CAN be beat. It’s good to see that he’s taking matters into his own hands. 🙂
D’ohhhhhh! I’m never going to live this one down, am I? A word of warning to cartoonists: give your readers a hand-job joke, and they’ll run a mile with it.
…and I should have rephrased that.
Interesting to know this is digital, Aidan, it looks like pen and ink. Nice to see you’ve got things well in hand.
Thanks, Mark! I guess it’s all in the program, and so far, Sketchbook Pro is the only program I’ve used so far that has a good “realistic” brush and pen tool.
A well-done handjob joke, drawn digitally, is hard to beat.
::smirk::