OK. I am always wondering with webcomics like this, just exactly how it is done.

What is the process to get it onto the computer? 'Sketch, Scan, colour'?

I ask as I am (eventually) starting a WH40K/manga inspired webcomic. have tried sketch and tracing wth a graphics tablet...but it didnt work.

Any help from anyone would be great.

EDIT: if this is in the wrong place (as I have a habit of doing) just move it.

I've been getting a few PM's about that.

I do all my sketches, lineart and shading on Photoshop CS5 and do it with a Wacom tablet. Only recently upgraded to CS5 for peformance boost and the changes they made to shading. Having a tablet doesn't automatically make you better at drawing tho, its only to facilitate the role of an actual pencil and pen. If you want to improve you have to know the basics of anatomy, perspective, etc. It's not quick either and no one is perfect. Even I still have much to learn and improve on.

Heres a rough summary of the process of our comic. I'll use our last page as an example.

Sketches are done roughly on Photoshop based on a storyboard that D.Z sends me showing how he wants to lay out each page, what happens, how it happens, along with text placement. I however am free to change the layout or ask for sentence revisions which I often do. I don't have to concentrate on specific details as the point of the sketch is to lay out everything and to define key parts of each page. In this case, the parts where Kohler gets out her gun, so the text bubbles are placed around it. It's important that everything flows correctly and makes sense as your eyes scan from left to right (or right to left if you're doing it actual manga style).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/ ... G10WIP.jpg

When thats given the ok, everything is redrawn in a new set of layers with the same default brush (size 5-9 depending on how far or close said person or object is), adding in the details left out in the sketch as well as correct anything off. Adding the speech bubbles and text placement beforehand means I don't have to spend too much time on areas no one will ever see.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/ ... PG10BW.jpg

The longest part is the shading part. Each colour has its own layers, and these layers are seperated into different folders for ease of use. I use various custom brushes and settings for different parts. Hard Ragged brush as the main brush for shading clothing, skin, general surfaces. A 3 pin brush for hair. Cloud brush for clouds and tigris and pardus elemental powers. you get the idea. It can take a while as I use multiple shades of the base colour in dark and light tones so you get shadows and highlights. This is only one way of shading however. You can also do cel shading which is quicker and looks just as good being one base colour and one shadow layer. Best example is Issue 1 and 2 of Panthera.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/ ... 0BWCLR.jpg

After shading, I duplicate and merge all layers and blur it and reduce its opacity so that everything blurs a bit better. The comic is also resized to a 707x1000 resolution as all my work is done at 3000x4244. They are then uploaded to our site and archived so they are released on a schedule (which we havent lately).

This process is only my way of doing it, but the basic are there. Do a sketch to define your key parts of the page, line to add details and correct any mistakes, and shade to give the page colour. Remember text placement is just as important as your drawings.

As for the website side of things, that's more D.Z's role. For that, you need to ask him. Hopefully this helps a little. Or maybe not, but at least theres a record of how I do things now, lol.

still looks good without shading.
EDIT:After comparing it, the shading does add atmosphere.

And thanks, I have a crap graphics tablet (and no money for a wacom). I am thinking that if I sketch (pencil) then scan it in, I can trace the lines? Although another option would be to do the sketch, colour and speech bubbles (no text) on paper, then scan. Maybe a bit of a touch up on Photoshop. Viable?

Sketch then scan is the better option, its easier to make changes to the lineart done over it since its on computer.

Course, I know a few comics which are done completely done on paper then scanned in with only minor touch ups, but thats a specific style and confident in their artwork.

It's your comic tho so its entirely up to you.

Hey, welcome, Karachna! You might consider changing that font color, tho--a bit tough to read!

For my part, it's pretty simple. The stories tend to be thought up in the course of my daily routine--I do some work as a lifeguard and I'm walking around campus a lot, which gives me tons of time to think. Nighttime is particularly conducive, and sometimes I find that a half hour has passed without my even noticing because I've been thinking up story ideas.

To start each script, I diagram out what parts of the story will belong on which pages, from 1 to 24 (Panthera chapters have about 24 pages). Then I narrow it down to precisely what events occur on each page. I try to consider both dramatic tension and some humor. Finally, once the whole thing is diagrammed, I start to write. Part of the script for what Jeff posted looked like this:



When it comes time to do the page, I do a rough storyboard of the panel layout in Paint and send it to Jeff. He tends to change things up at least a little bit from the letter of what I write, so he always shows me a work-in-progress before he lines everything.

After the script is done, though, it's mostly about making sure everything stays on schedule, doing promotional work, etc.

Hope this helps from the writing side!

Yeah if you hadn't guessed Karachna's the co-writer of BSM (wait.....shit)

And if Karachnas here...there is no hope for any of us...

but i dont think we will concentrate too much on script...it going to be not-many-panel comics with no story line

Ok, good point. My liking for lime green is not helpful on a white background. And I apologise for the odd arrival, Reedy said this place was friendly (And from a quick read through I would agree) so I decided to arrive with the delicacy of a primed hand grenade to test it.
With the script writing, Reedy does make a good point, however as we may be seeing less of each other soon, I will require a method of transferring comic ideas to him without the use of exaggerated hand gestures and strange faces, so thank you for your help.

Just remember to describe what you want in every panel, otherwise, you're gonna bug you for what you wanted in a particular panel for example. Cause it doesnt help to just go "do what you think looks right" as what they think is right, doesn't necessarily mean its what you think it should be. Good communication is key, either directly, or via msn or skype.

Yeah gag-a-day comics are more our style (well...maybe gag-a-week) but thanks for all the advice guys, been really helpful.

I have a sample comic (kinda) in the blank canvas section, comments please? i know its crap but hey, it is badly drawn