How is CG?

Ataraxia · Post by **Ataraxia** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:19 pm

NakedElf wrote:
Scanning art is much much better than using the mouse to draw. It's not at all difficult to use- just plug the scanner in, press the "scan" button from any paint program, and try it out.
Or you can do like I do and press the 'scan' button on the scanner.

Bah. You kids and your new-fangled technology.

VincentHunter · Post by **VincentHunter** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:56 pm

ataraxia wrote:
NakedElf wrote:
Scanning art is much much better than using the mouse to draw. It's not at all difficult to use- just plug the scanner in, press the "scan" button from any paint program, and try it out.
Or you can do like I do and press the 'scan' button on the scanner.
Bah. You kids and your new-fangled technology.

There's a scan button on the scanner? The things you learn...

NakedElf · Post by **NakedElf** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:01 am

It probably depends on the scanner.

Paul Escobar · Post by **Paul Escobar** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:22 am

Yeah. Not all scanners have a scan button - some you can only use via the scanning software.

But it's like with the CG account - just read the instructions. A scanner is considerably less complex to operate than a computer, so it shouldn't give you any big problems.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:03 pm

If your scans are too small, you need to increase resolution (dpi) which is an option you'll probably find somewhere in scanning dialog box. If your scans are messy then you can
a) make your drawings less messy, that is, if you sketch with pencils and then ink over it, erase pencils before scenning, if you scan pencil artwork, try to erase excessive lines and smudges, etc... generally having clean artwork
b) fix messes in some program later. Generally you'll need a program like Photoshop (expencive), Photoshop elements (less expencive), Gimp (free), Paintshop Pro or some other of that kind. I don't know how it goes for other programs but in Photoshop you then tamper with Levels option until greys of your messy scan became blacks and whites.

You have loads of tutorials about that on net, actually.

Redtech · Post by **Redtech** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:04 am

For Paintshop Pro you can fiddle levels. Then reduce to 2 colours, select lines, invert and nuke those blotches with "delete selected"!

It isn't bad for the Intermediate user, but the newer versions are a tad excessive on bloatware.

As mentioned, having a high DPI helps, but remember what size you want to end up with when you're finished!

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:07 pm

NakedElf wrote: He asked if it *mattered*. Of course it matters. He may decide he doesn't care if anyone reads his comic. He may decide that doing a comic is the best way to get better at art and thereby attract readers. He may decide or want any number of things, but the art still matters.

Even if we assume that most people don't start comics with the intention of becoming super-popular, I think it's fair to say that a lot of us would like it if other people liked our comic. So if you care even a little bit, then you need to care about the art.

To say that the art *doesn't* matter--that's like saying the writing doesn't matter, or the panels, or readability... of course not. It's a comic. All of the parts matter. Some matter more than others, and you can decide you don't care about something, but they all matter.

Quoted for emphasis. Expel any thought that you'll make up for weak drawing with your writing. Get better at both and make a good comic.

Noise Monkey · Post by **Noise Monkey** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:42 pm

Better yet, just find someone who already does a good comic and paste in text from popular novels over their art.

Jackhass · Post by **Jackhass** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:22 pm

Pros - It's free, you are given tons of freedom to do pretty much whatever you want, the various Autokeen features are helpful, good forums and a generally fun community.

Cons - It's unreliable (particularly lately), it's not overly user friendly (you'll need some html knowledge if you want to make anything), you're going to find yourself lumped in with a *huge* field of largely crappy other comics and promotion is pretty much all up to you, so it can be easy to get lost in the mix.

All in all I'd give Comicgen a thumbs up, but it definitely has it's flaws.

Corgan_dane · Post by **Corgan_dane** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:58 pm

Short answer: It's good.

Long answer: Yes. It's good. Sign up.

Noise Monkey · Post by **Noise Monkey** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:43 am

It's good....so don't crap it up!

You know...like I did.

Jae87 · Post by **Jae87** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:36 am

Comicgen is the best webcomic host i've seen, assuming you know HTML.

If you just wanna do the comic and not bother to learn HTML for your site, Drunkduck would be my suggestion.

Either way, good luck with your soon-to-be comic- be sure to give us a link wether or not it's comicgen

Tarts · Post by **Tarts** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:32 am

You'll hate the first week or two.... or five.
*waits for people to laugh at the in-joke*

Noise Monkey · Post by **Noise Monkey** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:58 am

*puts Tarts in the toaster*

*ding!*

Tarts · Post by **Tarts** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:34 am

Toasty!

Stinkywigfiddle · Post by **Stinkywigfiddle** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:57 pm

Dutch! wrote:It's a good stepping stone to take your first step from.

It's also not a bad place to camp if you decide you don't want to step anywhere else too.

It suited me for the first few years. Now I wander back just to keep tabs on the place.

Were is a good second stepping stone?

NakedElf · Post by **NakedElf** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:45 pm

I think generally paying for your own website and hosting is the second stepping stone.

Stinkywigfiddle · Post by **Stinkywigfiddle** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:01 am

Oh...
I can't afford that

NakedElf · Post by **NakedElf** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:51 am

Then you aren't ready for the next step--it all works out ^_^

Eff · Post by **Eff** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:56 am

If you just want the hosting, it's great.

If you want anything more, like .. say... cross promotion. Well they're probably not gonna bother to approve your POG or newsbox image for FOUR @$!#ING MONTHS. In spite of multiple upload attempts, and no email feedback from administration.

Not that I'm bitter or anything. Not that I moved to effer.ca or anything.

>:3

>:3