How do I get from point A to point D
Is it just me? I have had a few emails asking about how I put this webcomic together, as if I am some sort of expert? I am far from being an expert on anything. I hope it is a reflection of their admiration for my work and not some misguided belief in my guru status.
Anyway, Since I have posted something like this on my Deviant Art page, I am re-posting it here. It is a brief, step by step guide of how I approach ideas, and nurture them from start to finish. It also briefly outlines what tools I use along the way.
My webcomic process:
Disclaimer: This is my workflow. I am known to do things brass-ackwards, but it works for me, and I am OK with it. Pick and choose what works for you, and ignore the rest.
Thumbnails: I start everything from thumbnails. Mostly they are digital thumbnails, either from my iPhone (Sketchbook Pro App) or on my desktop. Sometimes, in a pinch, I will actually use paper and a pen, which means I have to scan stuff — YUCK. So mostly, digital is my preferred paperless organizational method. (With the help of Dropbox to keep everything synced.)
Writing: I use a Mac app called Scrivener. Remember in school how they taught you to be organized in your writing as a foundation for cohesive thought? Yeah, well that never worked for me. I function at my best in complete Chaos, following a non linier approach. I have tried lots of different writing software, and all wanted me to operate within their box. Scrivener, lets me organize (or not organize) in multiple associated ways. It give me the tools to write how I write. It should be noted here that sometimes I write first and then thumbnail, and sometimes I thumbnail first and then write. They both draw from a single visual source in my head that doesn’t understand the difference.
Drawing: I use Sketchbook Pro by Autodesk to sketch. I have Painter 11, and Photoshop CS5 and I use them both religiously. However, SBP is slim, fast loading, responsive to my quick line style and has a wonderful out-of-the-box pencil that has a perfect dry-greasy feel. I draw at high-rez (300ppi)
Layout: My webcomic has a particular layout that is panel driven. Rather than set up each panel from scratch, I have created an InDesign doc with a background, and page elements in place. This leaves me free to place art, dump in text, apply styles, and massage the wraps. Because the doc is all set up at commercial print resolution, the jump from here to a book (if and when that ever happens) is easy. I export web images from my single high-rez InDesign doc.
Hope that helps some of you die-hard readers. Thanks for showing an interest and spread the word about AG to your friends.
Thanks for writing about your process. I’m always interested in how people come up with such creative ideas. Just recently discovered your webcomic andI love your drawing and writing style.