Webcomics, How I Make Mine.
Really, this is not a tutorial on how you should make them, but it is an insight to how I make them.
So I’ll briefly touch upon plot, I could go on and ooon about it, but in short: It is not a quick process and it should not be rushed.
Important notes: Figure out what the beginning, middle, and end is going to be. Spend a lot of time and care in developing characters and setting, make it unique and stand out.
Once I had that all that figured out, I began writing a script, with notes on setting, character dialogue and proposed actions and notes on what their facial features/emotions will be:
I also highlight the pages, note which dialogue or actions will be on which panel, etc.
After that is figured out, i do very rough sketches on what the comic may look like, then I make the ACTUAL sketch on paper: (Rough sketch on left, Final sketch on right.)
After that, I transfer the final sketch into my art program (Manga Studio) and begin creating separate layers, and inking:
(Notice how the last panel is empty, since all I really have to do is slightly the same picture, I just copy and paste the same outlines and colors into that panel)
Then I color in the background, and foreground (characters).
BUT what’s important to remember is that the characters, or foreground objects HAVE to contrast with the background, either a little or a lot. I try not to have them blend with each other.
Then you have shading, I simply create another layer, put it on ‘multiply’ mode and shade the colors in with black or grey:
Now the text! I have a specific font called ‘Anime Ace’ where you can download on many sites. I make sure the font isn’t too big and ESPECIALLY not too small so people can read it, I type down the text first, THEN create a new layer, draw the word bubbles (with white behind it.)
“AAAAH HOUSE!”
Now, after putting down your signature and date (important) it seems done, but you know it doesn’t look manga enough for me.
This is where the screentones effect comes in.
This can be achieved in many ways, you can download a page-sized picture of a screentone pattern, put it over the entire comic page you made, and put that image on ‘overlay’ mode. Or you can take that screentones pattern, and put it into Photoshop as an editable pattern (tutorial here) (also you can create a pattern with a large image too, it’s what I did.)
Now, you should get a result like this, before & after:
Then final product!!
Then save it! Name the file in an easy way to find, like: “Comic2_Page3″ or in any way you want
Also SAVE ALL YOUR WORK IN AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE/DEVICE.
Whether it be USB, a drive, a CD or anything, just to be on the safe side in case anything happens. (I have an archivist type mind when it comes to this, it makes me so paranoid.)
Hopefully this was interesting or insightful, thanks for reading ^w^
