This previous thread of Do's and Don'ts lists quite a few things not to skimp on, such as spellchecking, writing, etc., as well as plenty of things to do.
Now let's introduce a third element... time. Most everyone here would like to get more panels done, finish a story, update more frequently, etc. So, what are everyone's favorite time savers?
I'll start out with one technique I use... when writing a self-contained story with a definite beginning and end, compress the exposition of setting and backstory as much as possible. A few minutes of editing will save days of drawing unnecessary pages.
The art of cutting corners
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Taiwanimation
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Anywherebuthere
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I don't know what everyone else's problem is, I can crank out 10 strips a week easily....
Sometimes 30 if I feel so compelled.
But then again, I tend to cut out backgrounds, shading, color, dialog, deep meaningfull depth, character exploration, any sembelance of artistic merit, and my editor gets pissed because I'm jamming her e-mail box full of meaningless fluff.
But it CAN be done people.
Sometimes 30 if I feel so compelled.
But then again, I tend to cut out backgrounds, shading, color, dialog, deep meaningfull depth, character exploration, any sembelance of artistic merit, and my editor gets pissed because I'm jamming her e-mail box full of meaningless fluff.
But it CAN be done people.
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Christwriter
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I don't cut many corners...unless you count taking time to MAKE SURE THE PAGE LOOKS RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE
...sorry. Irritated at myself today, for some reason.
I cut a lot of corners. Detailed backgrounds being a big one. I'd LOVE to be impressive...I just don't really have the time to do so.
And the mistake-fixing is symptomatic of how much time I have. You can tell how big my buffer is by how good the pages are. If the page sucks, I did it the night before it had to go up. If it looks pretty good, I had a little while to do it.
CW
...sorry. Irritated at myself today, for some reason.
I cut a lot of corners. Detailed backgrounds being a big one. I'd LOVE to be impressive...I just don't really have the time to do so.
And the mistake-fixing is symptomatic of how much time I have. You can tell how big my buffer is by how good the pages are. If the page sucks, I did it the night before it had to go up. If it looks pretty good, I had a little while to do it.
CW
"Remember that the definition of an adventure is someone else having a hell of a hard time a thousand miles away."
--Abbykat, NaNoWriMo participant '04
Coloring tutorial It's a little like coloring boot camp. Without the boots.
<a href="http://blueskunk.spiderforest.com">
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<a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org"> NaNoWriMo </a> --for anyone who has ever aspired to write a novel. Insanity is also a requirement.
--Abbykat, NaNoWriMo participant '04
Coloring tutorial It's a little like coloring boot camp. Without the boots.
<a href="http://blueskunk.spiderforest.com">
</a><a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org"> NaNoWriMo </a> --for anyone who has ever aspired to write a novel. Insanity is also a requirement.
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Polychrome
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Dutch!
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I'll probably get a few dirty looks from some of the purists...but here goes...
I have a strip or two made up which I use every now and then and just replace the dialogue. I can change the joke and what not and put up a new strip. It looks like earlier ones but has a joke or story in it that relates to the current plot. It's set in the classroom...the kids sit in the same place, so it doesn't matter that they are in the same place.
I like cut and paste used properly. I like to have the same picture and just have the eyes move, or a mouth close. Little touches like that amuse me in comics.
I don't have to worry about editing, cos I spell properly the first time
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I have a strip or two made up which I use every now and then and just replace the dialogue. I can change the joke and what not and put up a new strip. It looks like earlier ones but has a joke or story in it that relates to the current plot. It's set in the classroom...the kids sit in the same place, so it doesn't matter that they are in the same place.
I like cut and paste used properly. I like to have the same picture and just have the eyes move, or a mouth close. Little touches like that amuse me in comics.
I don't have to worry about editing, cos I spell properly the first time
.Remember when your imagination was real? When the day seemed
longer than it was, and tomorrow was always another game away?
longer than it was, and tomorrow was always another game away?
haha. i want to be the guy that does Dinosaur Comics. he has it made.
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LibertyCabbage
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i'm not trying to "cut corners" since my art is as much a learning experience as it is its own product. trying to comics done as quickly as possible will result in more comics being made, but your abilities as an artist won't improve as much. although, my comic isn't very popular so i'm not obligated as much as others such as ABH to draw quickly. so i'd rather spend time + effort on it which will be better practice + experience.
"Seems like the only comics that would be good to this person are super action crazy lines, mega poses!"
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Black Sparrow
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I don't really cut corners... I guess that explains why the average page takes me about six hours from start to finish.
The only thing I can think of is when I double colors. On one page, I'll use the same red for someone's shirt as another's tongue. And the same brown for someone's jacket as another's hair.
The only thing I can think of is when I double colors. On one page, I'll use the same red for someone's shirt as another's tongue. And the same brown for someone's jacket as another's hair.
This is going in my notebook titled "Things I Didn't Know about Surface Dwellers."
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Dutch!
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Struth!Col wrote:There, you did it again! Quit being so Australian, dangit!Dutch! wrote:I went and corrected that too! Bloody internet goddamnmongrelcommiereffopoofterbastardpissmeoff!
But yeah...
Hope your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny door down.
(I warn you...one more and I'll have to say Crikey!)
Remember when your imagination was real? When the day seemed
longer than it was, and tomorrow was always another game away?
longer than it was, and tomorrow was always another game away?
Having a palette, like Starline, is one of the best things you can do, as it both saves time and promotes consistency.
I find writing well in advance in a story-comic can help you catch problems ahead of time, before the drawing point comes up, and edit them out.
I find writing well in advance in a story-comic can help you catch problems ahead of time, before the drawing point comes up, and edit them out.
A man with nothing to offer and nothing to lose.
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LoneWolfandCub
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So close... I'm getting so close!Dutch! wrote:Struth!Col wrote:There, you did it again! Quit being so Australian, dangit!Dutch! wrote:I went and corrected that too! Bloody internet goddamnmongrelcommiereffopoofterbastardpissmeoff!
But yeah...
Hope your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny door down.
(I warn you...one more and I'll have to say Crikey!)
