Switching Styles and Hiatuses

[Valkyrk]

I have two topics which I'd like you to consider.

Firstly, what do you think of style switching in the middle of a comic? For example, what if I draw the first few comics in a semi-realistic style, but then suddenly switch over to a sprite comic style? Would that distract the reader a lot, or would the benefits (presuming I'm an absolutely awesome pixel artist and can't draw reality very well,) outweigh the negatives?

Secondly, this is something I'm going through now. A hiatus. You see, I recently discovered this wonderful program called "Photoshop", and decided to switch over from Microsoft Paint. Then I kinda realized you can't go from doing comics in MSPaint to doing comis in Photoshop in a day. So, I'm taking some time off to learn the ins and outs of layers, shading, using text, and whatnot. However, instead of leaving a message saying "CYA L8R, HIATUS!" on my website, I instead decided to get funky with it. I update every Monday, without fail, so I use my old sprite characters to do filler. But in my hiatus, they've officially decided to take over the webcomic and do it THEIR way.(These sprite comics take all of 50 minutes to make, and I made them all two years ago, so doing them once a week doesn't take time away from my real work.) Is it okay to have an imaginary "hiatus" storyline as just a bit of fun while I get the ball rolling again? Or would my readers look upon this as WORSE than just saying "Gone until June"?

My webcomic is http://valkyrk.comicgenesis.com

[Boozeathon4billion]

First, to make your signature show up, copy the code below and drop it in your signature in place of the HTML you have currently. Only the BBcode will show up. Thats why yours isn't working right.

Code: Select all

[url=http://valkyrk.comicgenesis.com][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/Clincher/advisementpad3Small.png[/img][/url]

As for the actual topic of this entry, my usual take on these issues is to do what is most comfortable for the artist because otherwise it gets frustrating to write and draw the comics and you'll burn out faster. However, I think your original artwork does more justice to/for your comic than the sprite comics you've moved to. Part of that is the plain backgrounds you've switched to. Another part is that the text is harder to read on these newer sprite ones. So, if anything, at least make the Sprite comics more detailed and easier to read.

[Rhenny]

I must agree, There was a time when I considered doing mine in poser artwork. But I feel flawed or not, my work is getting better page by page and is much better than the artifical (to me) feel of poser. I think I would feel the same way long term on using spites.

No offense to those who use either, I just think in my case thats how I feel over all...

[Rhenny]

First, to make your signature show up, copy the code below and drop it in your signature in place of the HTML you have currently. Only the BBcode will show up. Thats why yours isn't working right.

Code: Select all

[url=http://valkyrk.comicgenesis.com][img]src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/Clincher/advisementpad3Small.png[/img][/url]

As for the actual topic of this entry, my usual take on these issues is to do what is most comfortable for the artist because otherwise it gets frustrating to write and draw the comics and you'll burn out faster. However, I think your original artwork does more justice to/for your comic than the sprite comics you've moved to. Part of that is the plain backgrounds you've switched to. Another part is that the text is harder to read on these newer sprite ones. So, if anything, at least make the Sprite comics more detailed and easier to read.

leave off this part....
******************src="*********************** That's how it works for me anyhow.

[Harishankar]

Within the same comic switching to a totally different style = confusing and probably not recommended.

Evolution of a single style? That's different and in fact, encouraged.

[Boozeathon4billion]

leave off this part....******************src="*********************** That's how it works for me anyhow.

Whoops. Thanks for catching that. I corrected it above so you can just click copy again and this time it will work.
god i need more sleep... lol

[Rhenny]

leave off this part....******************src="*********************** That's how it works for me anyhow.

Whoops. Thanks for catching that. I corrected it above so you can just click copy again and this time it will work.
god i need more sleep... lol

Aint Insomnia great!?? Wheeeee!

[Paul Escobar]

If there's something in your story - like a change in point of view - that'll get enhanced by a change in style, that's cool. If not, then it'll probably only confuse, annoy or alienate some readers. Bottom line is, are you doing the comic for your own sake? If yes, do what you like. But be aware that being visually inconsistent within the same comic is usually not seen as a positive thing.

Doing special hiatus-but-not-really comics is a good idea. It's certainly better than just leaving a sign saying "on hiatus" and not updating for a while, because it means your readers will have a reason to check each Monday as usual.

[Valkyrk]

I just saw a REALLY good use of style change in a comic recently in College Roomies from Hell!!!(http://crfh.net/). In this comic, dream, flashback sequences are drawn vastly different from the regular comic strips, to differentiate from when someone is dreaming, flashbacking(?), etc, or going about their normal life. The way I suggested in my original post was a bit dramatic, but I've seen that in the first cases, a style change can be useful.

[Lance]

Firstly I must admit I'm pretty prejudiced against sprites in general. Can't help it.

OK, while there's clearly room for growth, I think your original drawing style is waaaaay better than the sprite alternative of the recent pages. I want to point out in particular the facial expressions and eye movements: the way the characters show emotion and engage each other. This is the bedrock of comix storytelling to me and with the sprites you basically lose all of that.

But I'll admit I'm oldschool, a luddite, and I totally think people should draw.
PAPER IS COOL!
One other thing I like to say (endlessly and to whomever will listen):
Computers are awesome but
if the power went out forever tomorrow
I'd still be able to draw on paper and play my acoustic guitar.

[Valkyrk]

Yeah, don't worry. I'm just using this as kind of an...extreme filler...until I get back into gear. It takes me FIVE TIMES as long to do a comic in photoshop as it did to make a comic in paint. So, I just decided to use all my sprites as a subsititute until I'm able to make a comic in photoshop within a time period of 12 hours. So, I already have two comics made, but am holding off until I can make them faster. Now, to find how to make a box.....yeah, I've got a long way to go.

[Prettysenshi]

It takes me FIVE TIMES as long to do a comic in photoshop as it did to make a comic in paint.

That's only because you're still getting the hang of it. It was the same thing for me in the beginning, as for many of us. Trust me, when you get more familiar with photoshop, it'll be much quicker.