Digital Production of comics

Ways I use digital tools for comics:

These are some notes I'm using for my presentation at the 2008 Atlanta Comics Expo. The panel is called "Digital Visions." One day I may expand these rather rough notes, but for now, have at them.

About the only thing I do in the analog world is draw with a pencil, and I'd change that if I could.

Digital Research:

Google (for facts - Grumbles)
Google Images for references

Don't copy images... respect image ownership, just use as reference...
Poser Artist (for figure reference)

Drawing:

Experimented with using Manga Studio for drawing. Still prefer pencil.
Photoshop - good for fixes and minor drawing.

My process:

Scan drawings into Photoshop (usually rough sketches, 150 dpi) as grayscale.

Clean up/Levels
Fix bad drawing
Fix bad proportions
Sometimes figure out layout from separate panels...
Export 150dpi "sketch" for Manga Studio.

Take cleaned drawings into Manga Studio.

Import/scan drawings
Ink on separate layer
Add gray or tones
Work at 600dpi - like working "twice up"
Export finished drawings to Photoshop

Back to Photoshop:

Create panels/layout using layers and layer effects
Import Manga inks - come in as layers
Drag folders/panels into layout document
Turn panels into "Smart objects"

Can resize and apply effects without affecting original

Each "smart panel" is clipped/cropped by panel layer

Text is in separate group

Easy to turn on or off
Balloons are "shape layers" - vector shapes with layer effects
Text fonts generally from Blambot: Zap Raygun, Meanwhile, etc.

Coloring:

Done within each of those separate "smart panels" in Photoshop
Bottom layer holds all the colors (except special effects)
Inks float on top - Black shapes - no white from Manga Studio

(same thing could be done with "Multiply" effect on b/w layer

I work in RGB, and convert to CMYK later.
Preview CMYK while I'm working.
Important to calibrate monitor.

Delivery:

Make Duplicate file (with merged layers
Dispose of any extra stuff like alpha channels
Convert to CMYK
Save as TIFF (LWZ compression or "best" JPG compression).
For Grumbles I have a special action (combined with some scripting) that puts the black text in one file and the colors in another - prints better on newsprint.

My tools: