Working Digitally

Artwork © 2011 Gene Gonzales

I only had a couple of hours to work today before I headed out to stand/sit in line for the iPad2. But I did finish up the panel this image is in and since I shared the rough, I thought you might like to see the finish. :)

Have a good weekend everyone!

This is Post #1251

Working Digitally. No, wait. Working traditionally.

Artwork © 2011 Gene Gonzales

I am still working on my own project when I have the time. I had hoped to be further along than this, but these things take time. One part of the process that has been frustrating for me is the drawing. Not drawing in and of itself, more to the point, digital or traditional.

The digital process explained: The above image is a good example of how I am working on my pages. I do a rough layout (blue) of all the panels for the page in Photoshop. I then put in the rough dialog. After that I take different elements from the page, in this case the main character, and put them in their own file/document. I tighten it up just a bit using a different color line than the initial rough. I keep doing this until I am happy with the final line art. I will then copy and paste that figure back into the panel of the page. Later it will be colored with the rest of the page. When I don't feel like messing with line art, I paint the backgrounds. In this case, I have digitally painted the backgrounds in all the panels for this page. I shared this part of the process here.

The traditional process explained: Rough layout at actual print size. A lot of erasing. Scan. Enlarge. Print out rough layout on tabloid paper. Using my light table, light pencil transfer of the layout. Erase. Tighten it up. Erase. Ink. Erase. Fix ink smear. Scan. Digitally clean up (Erase). Letter. Color. Save. No surprise here.

Depending on the day of week, I want to draw digital. Other days I want to draw with a pencil.  Both have it's positives and it's negatives. Some times the two can work hand in hand. Other times, not so much. And so goes the inner battle of creating.

This is Post #1249

Background? Check!

Artwork © Gene Gonzales

I am working on my own comic today for a few hours. I thought I would share a panel from it. Just a jungle setting, you are probably thinking to yourself. But it is much, much, more. :)

I am doing all the pages digitally. Building backgrounds on one layer, characters on another and writing rough dialog on another. If I haven't mentioned it before, the story stars my space girl and her three tiki partners. Fun and adventure for all.

Enjoy your Saturday!

This is Post #1224

Diary of Night - Digital Comic

I am very excited by this news! We just went live with it today...

Diary Of Night, the four issue mini-series by writer/creator Will Allred and myself is now available for download for the iPhone and iPod Touch through Comixology.com and the iTunes Store.

A duel between vampires leaves both crumbling into dust. In the aftermath, a plot is hatched and a trap is laid. And Catherine Morrison, a 927-year old vampire, is smack in the middle of it all! Diary of Night is a creator owned series © 2007 Will Allred and Gene Gonzales

The first issue is free! That's right, F-R-E-E! If you enjoy it and want the rest of the story, the other issues are 99¢ each. A four issue, full color mini-series for under 3.00? Yup!

The series is published by Bloodfire Studios and is being released digitally by them and Comixology.

I hope you will check it out. Thanks!

This is Post #733