Click to see the epic suckage!
21 August 2009
Dimfall - Issue 019
Apologies about the first two frames in advance. I was experimenting, and it turns out that colouring a mere sketch sucks. Not only does a coloured sketch look pants, it also takes much longer than my usual method to do.
Click to see the epic suckage!
Click to see the epic suckage!
6 August 2009
Dimfall - Issue 020
I'm still working on issue 19
As ever, clicky to expandy!
It's in pencils - since I'm still experimenting - which made it nice and quick to do (8 frames in two days is quite good), but it's not as nicely done as a proper issue. The traditional undo function is rather limited, and cartridge paper is a bit too grainy for scanning.
Normal paper on the other hand sucks for drawing on (with pencils)
:/
Leave comments please, because comments = win!
As ever, clicky to expandy!
It's in pencils - since I'm still experimenting - which made it nice and quick to do (8 frames in two days is quite good), but it's not as nicely done as a proper issue. The traditional undo function is rather limited, and cartridge paper is a bit too grainy for scanning.
Normal paper on the other hand sucks for drawing on (with pencils)
:/
Leave comments please, because comments = win!
21 July 2009
Still experimenting
I'm still experimenting with ways of improving on my method of drawing Dimfall. I have to find a more efficient way of doing this.
The reason I usually halt work on Dimfall for months on end is because I get bored with all the black-lining and colouring that has to be done. It takes an age.
Take the last issue for instance. The fun part - ie the sketching/drawing - took less than two hours for the two frames. But the lining, colouring, shading and highlighting - though crudely done - still took many times that to complete.
I hit upon the idea of dropping the blacklining phase, and instead beefing up the final sketch so it would have nice solid lines, then painting on (well ... under, really) the sketch to get the same result. The problem with that is I can't use flood fill anymore (a great time saver) so colouring will take longer.
The two pics above shows you what I'm trying. I've used mutiple colouring techniques on Heartflame, if you're wondering why she is inconsistant. Even the left side of her hair is done differently to the right. I'm trying to find some method that is quick ... and looks good.
Yes ... I suck at drawing
:p
EDIT - I'm still experimenting as I start the next strip
The reason I usually halt work on Dimfall for months on end is because I get bored with all the black-lining and colouring that has to be done. It takes an age.
Take the last issue for instance. The fun part - ie the sketching/drawing - took less than two hours for the two frames. But the lining, colouring, shading and highlighting - though crudely done - still took many times that to complete.
I hit upon the idea of dropping the blacklining phase, and instead beefing up the final sketch so it would have nice solid lines, then painting on (well ... under, really) the sketch to get the same result. The problem with that is I can't use flood fill anymore (a great time saver) so colouring will take longer.
The two pics above shows you what I'm trying. I've used mutiple colouring techniques on Heartflame, if you're wondering why she is inconsistant. Even the left side of her hair is done differently to the right. I'm trying to find some method that is quick ... and looks good.
Yes ... I suck at drawing
:p
EDIT - I'm still experimenting as I start the next strip
18 July 2009
Muffins says ...
... Just one more!
lol
EDIT - I have a 1680 x 1050 desktop background of this image if anyone wants it. Just click to expand then right-click the below image and select 'save as'.
lol
EDIT - I have a 1680 x 1050 desktop background of this image if anyone wants it. Just click to expand then right-click the below image and select 'save as'.
16 July 2009
Muffins says ...
I picked up an actual pencil and sketch pad yesterday - for the fist time since mid 2007-ish – and was genuinely surprised that I could still use the damn things (I've been using graphic tablets solidly since '07 … not that I draw much anyway).
Another thing I noticed was that it didn't feel like trying to draw with a blunt crayon, which is largely my experience with tablets, and I could sketch much, much faster than in the past.
I also found myself subconsciously reaching for the 'undo' button on the sketch pad.
Lawl.
Anyway, that got me thinking about why I started Dimfall in the first place … to improve what little drawing ability I already had. Looking back, it's interesting which particular things have improved and which have not.
With Dimfall, every frame is a separate picture that has to be sketched, blacklined and coloured, and I've done a lot of frames. So though I've improved when drawing people for instance – going from initial skeletons to finished sketch – the speed and confidence that I do that now bears no resemblance to my pre-Dimfall squiggles. I've learned to be more efficient and to use shortcuts - like drawing hands as hand-shaped blobs for instance rather than fully fingered – and to embrace sloppiness. It rarely matters exactly where a line goes.
As I doodled I started drawing some of the Dimfall characters. Did I mention that drawing with an old-school pencil doesn't feel like trying to draw with a crayon? Yeah. For all it's advantages in lining, colouring and editing, the Cintiq has drawbacks. When I 'zoom out' with a pencil (ie – moving my head away from the pad) I don't have to worry about my strokes being pixelated when I zoom back in.
Paper resolution > Cintiq resolution.
So I'm going to experiment with scanning in pencil sketches for a while, and using the tablet from there for the lining and colouring and stuff.
Hence this post.
The below pic is just one frame I've done from a strip I've been thinking about doing for a while. I'm not doing the strip … just experimenting. You'll probably see more experiments too.
Anyway, the cartoon. Clare and Gankis are arguing about which is more efficient at killing mobs, ranged or melee. To settle the matter they decide to attack the next troll they come across. The one who kills the troll proves their case and wins the argument. They spot one and Clare charges forth with her mourning star raised.
“Raaaaaaaaaaaar!”
But she is surprised to see dozens and dozens of arrows fly over her head and strike the poor troll. “OMG!” As Clare gets closer the the troll falls to his knees with a silly number of arrows embedded in his hide, and more still flying overhead at him. Clare closes the gap with a sprint of speed, a snarl and a mourning star ready to inflict some pain.
“BAM!”
A sharpened fence post impales the troll in the chest, sends him flying backwards and impales him against a tree. Clare turns around, and ...
Another thing I noticed was that it didn't feel like trying to draw with a blunt crayon, which is largely my experience with tablets, and I could sketch much, much faster than in the past.
I also found myself subconsciously reaching for the 'undo' button on the sketch pad.
Lawl.
Anyway, that got me thinking about why I started Dimfall in the first place … to improve what little drawing ability I already had. Looking back, it's interesting which particular things have improved and which have not.
With Dimfall, every frame is a separate picture that has to be sketched, blacklined and coloured, and I've done a lot of frames. So though I've improved when drawing people for instance – going from initial skeletons to finished sketch – the speed and confidence that I do that now bears no resemblance to my pre-Dimfall squiggles. I've learned to be more efficient and to use shortcuts - like drawing hands as hand-shaped blobs for instance rather than fully fingered – and to embrace sloppiness. It rarely matters exactly where a line goes.
As I doodled I started drawing some of the Dimfall characters. Did I mention that drawing with an old-school pencil doesn't feel like trying to draw with a crayon? Yeah. For all it's advantages in lining, colouring and editing, the Cintiq has drawbacks. When I 'zoom out' with a pencil (ie – moving my head away from the pad) I don't have to worry about my strokes being pixelated when I zoom back in.
Paper resolution > Cintiq resolution.
So I'm going to experiment with scanning in pencil sketches for a while, and using the tablet from there for the lining and colouring and stuff.
Hence this post.
The below pic is just one frame I've done from a strip I've been thinking about doing for a while. I'm not doing the strip … just experimenting. You'll probably see more experiments too.
Anyway, the cartoon. Clare and Gankis are arguing about which is more efficient at killing mobs, ranged or melee. To settle the matter they decide to attack the next troll they come across. The one who kills the troll proves their case and wins the argument. They spot one and Clare charges forth with her mourning star raised.
“Raaaaaaaaaaaar!”
But she is surprised to see dozens and dozens of arrows fly over her head and strike the poor troll. “OMG!” As Clare gets closer the the troll falls to his knees with a silly number of arrows embedded in his hide, and more still flying overhead at him. Clare closes the gap with a sprint of speed, a snarl and a mourning star ready to inflict some pain.
“BAM!”
A sharpened fence post impales the troll in the chest, sends him flying backwards and impales him against a tree. Clare turns around, and ...
12 May 2009
Issue 017 - OMG! RELEASE!
Clickus to expandus
If ImageShack is playing up you can click the faster loading, lower quality version below.
If ImageShack is playing up you can click the faster loading, lower quality version below.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
