Starting A Webcomic: Can Anyone Help?
- Thread starter Lord Krunk
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I've used one before, and it's exactly what I need.Starnerf said:
But yeah, I'll check Amazon to see what they can offer.
I doubt that. Consider this one as more of a test run for future ones, just so I can see what people like and chop and change where necessary.Irridium said:And if you like to dream big, if its really good, perhaps you can make them for The Escapist
But one can dream.
It doesn't have to be funny. Starkweather, Shadowgirls and FreakAngels are all examples of good webcomics that aren't funny, because they don't try to be. They know they're more dramatic than comedy, and it works for them.coxafloppin said:
Anyway, on topic, try browsing different places like Ebay or Amazon or Play.com for cheap graphics tablets. Or, try by hand and then use a scanner to simply scan it directly onto your computer. I'm sure there's plenty of places where you can use a scanner for free if you don't have one, and it may be cheaper than buying a graphics tablet seperately...
Graphics pads: Wacom or nothing. You'll just have to take my word for it that cheap brands (Medion, Aiptek, others) are a false economy, I wankered 3 between mid 2005 and the end of 2007, when I forked out for a new Wacom Intuos 3, which I'm still using.Lord Krunk said:
Since they're expensive, have a look on ebay for a second hand or cheaper model, any Wacom under 4 years old or so will be great as long as it hasn't been battered. Size and extras wise I would look for an A5 size model, below that it gets tricky to work on a screen. Also be careful about buying A4 or A3 sizes because they needed masses of desk space, they're great, but huge. You can do everything with the normal pen tool, so don't get sucked into any 'special' offers for the airbrush adds on and other stuff.
Alternatively, if you have a scanner you can draw by hand then scan it, hand drawn comics seem pretty rare these days, although it would be more labour intensive (if you think organic media can't match digital, Google
Templesmith [http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/Ben%20Templesmith%20Warren%20Ellis%20Feral%20City%20Fell.jpg], he works almost exclusively with paint).
Templesmith [http://www.hectorcasanova.net/comix/LURKERS4-PAGE02.jpg]
You'll also need some software to edit it, so buget in for that too. ArtRage, Painter and Photoshop being the obvious ones, prices varying depending on how much of the program you buy. Painter XI is the best for drawing with but it costs an arm and a leg.
Don't know there, but there's plenty of free comic hosting sites.Lord Krunk said:
Links to a few [http://www.onlinecomics.net/pages/forums/view.php?discID=6462].
One thing about the actual comic. For God's sake write the whole thing before you start drawing it. So many projects (not just web comics) die a premature death because it get's started and the writers have no idea where they're going. Get it all down and it'll make drawing a hell of a lot easier, you'll have a direction and an end point to aim at.
Also good luck.
Wow. That is extremely helpful, and I will seriously look into the Wacom tablets. By the way, which models would you consider the most worthwhile? Or are they all very similar/samey in function?fix-the-spade said:
And yes, the whole thing has been written up. However, the last 10 chapters haven't been fleshed out as of yet.
But thank you very much for the help.
This I shall also consider. Another thing I should say though is that I've tried using a scanner before. It didn't really achieve the desired result, so I'm avoiding it.Trivun said:
Did you ask your parents to support you? Mine we're happy to provide me with some money to support my creative vein.Lord Krunk said:
Tolkien didn't really know himself where his Lord of the Rings was going.fix-the-spade said:
Admittedly, he rewrote everything from start as soon as he figured he attached something to the story that wasn't okay with the previous stuff.
My... parents?Gladion said:
*glances over*
Nah, they're the sort of parents that just say 'support yourself' and go on their merry way. Not to mention their attitude towards spending money on anything that isn't a holiday...
Anyway, it would be a nice idea, but I doubt it will work. But no harm in trying, eh?
Depends how deep you're getting.Lord Krunk said:
The Graphire range is cheapest, they're pretty basic but work fine, although make sure you get a recent one with USB connectors as they go all the way back to serial. You can't get these new anymore, Wacom recently killed it.
Higher up are the Bamboo range, these ones are more than most people need/are best suited to. Their software isn't as good as the top models but it's not limited. The best one in the range is the Bamboo Fun, which is a silvery white colour and has a slightly different button layout, but it's also the most expensive.
Top range is Intuos/Cintiq, they come numbered (Intuos 2/3/4) which denotes the age, obviously higher numbers do more stuff. Don't go older than Intuos 2 as the 1 was pre USB and needs an adaptor, they'd also be getting very old by now. Realistically, unless you're swapping between lots of different graphics/editing packages and want custom key/gesture/sensitivity settings for all of them you don't need an Intuos.
A Cintiq is an Intuos3, but built into a 17 or 21inch LCD monitor, it costs the proverbial fuckton.
Ultimately though they all do roughly the same thing, you move the pen it moves the cursor, you press harder it does whatever you set it to do.
Fair enough about the scanner, that method's not for everyone.
Tolkien was a bit special though, there's not been another like him since...Gladion said:Tolkien didn't really know himself where his Lord of the Rings was going.
Say, a couple of hundred ($200-400) $AUS. It's very similar to the US dollar at the moment, so I hope that helps.Tenmar said:
Tolkien had a pretty awesome writing technique though. He writes a 50 word summary, then fleshes it out to epic proportions. You could say that's what I'm doing, but on a smaller scale so to speak.Gladion said:Tolkien didn't really know himself where his Lord of the Rings was going.
Okay, possible Intuos, don't bother with the Cintiq, Graphire and Bambo are the best bets for a man with little cash, but I have to make sure of the Graphire's specs.fix-the-spade said:
Thanks for the help, everyone.
I have a graphics tablet which works fantastic if all you want it for is drawing. I bought it reduced to £17 at Asda last year, and never stopped using it. Better then using a mouse for designing and things...
Argos do reasonably cheap decent ones if you have one local (my tablet would have been £35 from Argos had i not got it cheaper)
Argos do reasonably cheap decent ones if you have one local (my tablet would have been £35 from Argos had i not got it cheaper)
So here's two ones at alright prices with reasonable shipping to Australia (I think, it's pretty confusing):
http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-CTH661-Bamboo-Fun/dp/B002OOWC4C/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263782474&sr=8-6
http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Intuos4-Medium-Pen-Tablet/dp/B001TUYTZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263782940&sr=1-1
Thoughts?
http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-CTH661-Bamboo-Fun/dp/B002OOWC4C/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263782474&sr=8-6
http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Intuos4-Medium-Pen-Tablet/dp/B001TUYTZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263782940&sr=1-1
Thoughts?
fix-the-spade said:
That Tolkien-thing was meant to be just a fun-factLord Krunk said:
nothing serious. But did he really have this technique, since I use that myself, but didn't know he did the same? Nice to know, now I can tell myself I'm like one of the most famous writers of our age. Thanks!
getting a domain is, as far as i know very non-expensive. one of my friends has several, and he doens't veen have money for his rent, but he pays like 40$ a year, so it's nothing thats going to break even the most fragile budgets.
As for the credit card, just get your parentd to pay for you and give them the money in cash.
As for the credit card, just get your parentd to pay for you and give them the money in cash.
Well, everything else I was going to say has already been said so I'll say what has not been said yet. There are two things, relatively easy to do, that I would recommend EVERY credible webcomic should do if it actually wants to collect and keep a fan base:
1) UPDATE ON A REGULAR BASIS. If you say when you start the comic that it's going to be updated weekly, then by fucking god update once a week. A good majority of starting comics I see fall for the trap of the over-ambitious update schedule, realize they can't keep up with that, and then become sporadic at best taking long hiatuses between short bursts of frantic updates. THIS IS BAD. From the word go determine what pace you can actually keep up without burning yourself out or getting bored of it, and stick to it!
2) Actually acknowledge and interact with your fans on some basis. I don't mean kowtowing to their every shrill whiny demand, but they'll be a good barometer if something is being poorly received. Also people will care a lot more about your comic if you the creator actually have some sort of personality they can relate to and you're not just some nameless faceless comic-factory.
1) UPDATE ON A REGULAR BASIS. If you say when you start the comic that it's going to be updated weekly, then by fucking god update once a week. A good majority of starting comics I see fall for the trap of the over-ambitious update schedule, realize they can't keep up with that, and then become sporadic at best taking long hiatuses between short bursts of frantic updates. THIS IS BAD. From the word go determine what pace you can actually keep up without burning yourself out or getting bored of it, and stick to it!
2) Actually acknowledge and interact with your fans on some basis. I don't mean kowtowing to their every shrill whiny demand, but they'll be a good barometer if something is being poorly received. Also people will care a lot more about your comic if you the creator actually have some sort of personality they can relate to and you're not just some nameless faceless comic-factory.