February 2009
109 posts
It’s amazing what you can do with 3-4 shades of grey
I’m probably spending too much time on background elements, but they look so nice and I think I’m learning something here
Wow, this new working method really lends itself to hiding mistakes and making the process easier over all.
Only two downsides: Drawing takes a little longer, particularly the detailed backgrounds. I’ll work that out as time goes on, though
Flood filling flats. Troo la loo la loo…
January 2009
65 posts
Rendering backgrounds based on reference is a lot of work but rewarding when it comes out right. Hopefully finishing up tomorrow morning
One more set of characters to ink, then I can deal with backgrounds, shading, and lettering on this batch of strips
This is my biggest issue with moving to CS3. I’m working on an ink layer, I undo a stroke, IT BOUNCES ME DOWN TO THE SKETCH LAYER. WTF why?
Dear Adobe: Could you explain to me what logical reason there is for Photoshop to bounce to layers I’m not using when clicking “undo”?
Checking out some sites I’d read about before diving into some morning drawing
I miss how the older version of iTunes would list podcasts in the Recently Added playlist. Now I have to look thru to see what’s new
Hand cramping up a lot, think I better call it a nite and see how much inking I can get done tomorrow
It’s weird drawing older characters from memory and then seeing the design’s different. Some could use a revamp by now, anyway
Straightening out some template files so I can have them ready for tonight. Doing multi-comic templates is harder now
New blog post: Wrecked ‘Em http://tinyurl.com/da4mh2
I think my cat has the right idea. I’m going to go nap and then get into seeing how many comics I can get drawn tonight. Hopefully a lot
Shoveled the driveway, bones are good and cold, still waiting for them to thaw out
I thought I was going to bed early last night but apparently not. I’ve got so much work to do and I doubt staying up all night is the answer
New blog post: Choose Your Own! http://tinyurl.com/dyla6h
New strip, new storyline, new chance to start reading the comic :D http://tinyurl.com/bwfl72
New blog post: Wally World http://tinyurl.com/c6gn3s
It took 2 days to bang this method out but I’m VERY happy with what I’m seeing. It might be more work in the future but time will tell
Oh, oh my gosh. It’s Almost 3:30 in the morning and I just hit THE way to do backgrounds. Oh, this makes all that frustration worth it
Oh, proportions and perspective are so screwed up in this drawing. Still getting used to this new layout
My dad always seems to be waiting for some dipstick to call him back. Next he’ll tell me he’s gotta see a man about a horse
Auditioning replacements for Comic Book Commando. It’s a good font but I’m tired of it
Taking a frustration break, hopefully lunch, then diving back in
Updating the template/way I do the strip has taken way longer than it should have. That’s what I get for sleeping this weekend
Random Photoshop CS3 bug: I shouldn’t have to click the thumbnail of a layer while holding down CMD to select it if there isn’t a layer mask
Random Photoshop gripe in general: Macs have a CTRL key, why is the shortcut suddenly CMD now just to screw with switchers?
Random Photoshop CS3 bug: Using “undo” frequently bounces you to different layers, especially when you’re not expecting it
Random Photoshop CS3 bug: When using Spaces, the Layers menu occasionally goes white and won’t show up unless you click another tab
All in all CS3 is a good upgrade from the version of Photoshop I was running before. But there are all these little tiny bugs and glitches
Buh. Checking legibility with Print Size in Photoshop is a pixelated nightmare. Hate when stuff disappears with different zoom percentages
Well hey, I’m glad I realized the print sizing issue with this template I just made. This could have been 50 comics in D:
Dear people who keep calling asking us to donate money: Stop. It really belittles your cause to harass the same people who’ve said no before
Debating whether I should shade, which method to use if I do, and if color should come into play. Hmm…
Kitty likes to take up one of my hands when she sits in my lap. It’s made me curious how a person with one hand uses shortcuts in Photoshop
I figure they’d change all their shortcuts, anyway, but man, keys are too far away for one hand. I find I need both hands most of the time
Got frustrated last night, working out template issues this morning
Think I’m gonna rework the templates for my comics before I try doing them by hand that way. Moving away from 4 panels messes with my head
Recreating some Photoshop effects on logos I didn’t save in high res or unflattened. Wondering what crazy layer style configurations I used
Ah-ha! Apparently the original font was set to Smooth instead of Crisp or whatever the default was. Maybe that’s from switching PS versions
Oh my gosh, I just realize I’ve become an organizing nerd. Groups in Photoshop, folders in bookmarks. It actually makes me giddy now
Of course, I also dug through one of my old HDs looking for files. EGAD. I wish I could just nuke it but there’s gold in them there hills
New blog post: All the amazing stuff behind the scenes http://tinyurl.com/cmosu4
The thing about hand lettering is you have to think of each letter like you would any other art line. And that screws me up
Tinkering with a handwriting font
I’m somewhat intrigued by art journaling, just not it’s scrapbooking/crafting look. I should read up more on people who do it
Hope had her first visit to the vet with us today. I could tell she was scared but very well behaved :) Such a brave kitty