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Fun Stuff => MAKE => Topic started by: mosfet on 30 May 2005, 05:52

Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: mosfet on 30 May 2005, 05:52: I just did a major experiment in my comic layout style.

Previously I used Freehand to make "hand-drawn" looking borders.
This comes out to a 739 pixel wide (or smaller) image as my final product.

This weekend, I did the framing in Photoshop with hard straight edged borders, but ots done on a full size 8.5x11 Letter Size image. (Good for future printing?) Single frame comics might be done as 8.5x6 or about.

Which do you like better?
A. Freehand Multi-Frame (http://www.podmonkeys.com/comics/2005/20050425.jpg) and Freehand Single Frame? (http://www.podmonkeys.com/comics/2005/20050523.jpg)

B. Hard/Straight Style? (http://www.podmonkeys.com/comics/2005/20050530.jpg)

I'm not asking about the content, although constructive criticism is welcome. Mostly I want to know about the look of the bordering. Which do you enjoy looking at more? Which is easier to read? etc.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: thehoopiestfrood on 30 May 2005, 06:07: A definitely.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: Primate on 30 May 2005, 06:12: After decades of reading comics, I know that I tend to read ruler-straight panel frames as emotionally neutral, and the wavy hand-drawn frames as emotionally unstable or nervous. Which means I usually prefer the straight frames, since the emotional setting of the frames may undercut the emotions of the pictures and words. I can't tell you just how universal that reading would be though.

The robots are seriously odd. Fun though. And isn't phornicate usually spelled with a 'f'?
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: mosfet on 30 May 2005, 06:17: I've usually seen if "f" but the lyrics I found showed "ph"

I wonder if the "unstable" part is why I kind of like the wavy style. :) I don't think I'll personally have a good sense of which I like better until I do a straight edged single-frame version. then I can compare both multi-frame and single-frame versions.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: Sideways on 30 May 2005, 07:24: A, but make it even more rough/jagged. The lines themselves can be of varying thickness, and I think that would look cool.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: Sideways on 30 May 2005, 08:13: Quote from: James
Everyone is wrong, it's B. A (in this case) undermines the art, while B makes everything look more slick.

Or, it could be that - rather than being 'wrong' - we just happen to like different things?

Perhaps?

Perhaps what's right for you, is ONLY right for you?

Just a thought. :)
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: Sideways on 30 May 2005, 11:40: I see...
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: thehoopiestfrood on 30 May 2005, 11:48: I just think the wiggly complements the art nicely.

Maybe try saving your pictures as PNGs instead of JPGs if at all possible. That can make everything look just a little bit cleaner.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: Kai on 30 May 2005, 12:06: I personally thought the single frame was better, but I think that the Far Side is the best comic ever and I'm a tad biased towards the single panels.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: cacahuate on 30 May 2005, 12:23: I'm not a huge fan of the font...

I pick A...
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: mosfet on 30 May 2005, 13:04: I'll more than likely be jumping back and forth between single and multiple frame, since thats just how my humor works. some days its farside-ish, and other days require 3-4 frames.

Heres another question I forgot about.
3 frames side-by-side? or vertical?

I personally like side-by-side. I think because it reminds me of all the good comics I used to read on paper as a kid, but that makes for some very small and cramped graphics.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: cacahuate on 30 May 2005, 16:18: It's personal preference, I think... QC is vertical, CAD is 2x2, and a lot of comics are horizontal. One of mine is vertical, one is horizontal...

All in all, you learned nothing from this post. Thumbs up!
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: mosfet on 30 May 2005, 17:12: heh. I learned that theres truth in the saying of "Opinions are like..." :P

Actually I got some ideas, and I think I may stick with something similar, but probably change it still some more.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: Primate on 31 May 2005, 05:42: Quote from: mosfet
I've usually seen if "f" but the lyrics I found showed "ph"

That would explain it.

Since your comics are first and foremost for an internet audience, I would format the strip so your readers only have to scroll down to enjoy it. Your current horizontal strips work fine on my piddly 800x600 screen. If you want more room, you should probably consider expanding down.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: keithcsmith on 04 Jun 2005, 03:12: Well I'm going to go with B, I like the wavy style in A but it seems to detract from the art. perhaps the panel space is a bit too tight there.

Keith
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: yelley on 04 Jun 2005, 05:44: i like a better. the little cthulu in b made me smile a lot though. ^_^
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: mosfet on 07 Jun 2005, 04:56: Thanks! I'm hoping on having more tiny-Cthulhu in the future. :)

I just posted another multi-frame (http://www.podmonkeys.com/comic.php?cid=18).
I think it turned out better than last week's. Its more of a dynamic looking, or less boring looking frame change.

I think this one should make a better comparison to previous styles. I'm definately sticking to the new layout. It seems to have quite a few benefits:

- One less application involved
- I like the Comic book style
- More room for things
- Final image is a full 8.5x11" Letter sized at 5900x6600 pixels (or about)
- End product is bigger making it easier to read. (no squinting)

So is the new style working for you all?
I'm particularly liking it myself.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: Primate on 07 Jun 2005, 05:34: The comic page layout looks good. It'll give you a lot more flexibility in choosing your panel arrangements, too.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: happybirthdaygelatin on 07 Jun 2005, 11:32: I prefer A. Though like James points out the straight lines are slick. Jumping around format wise doesn't bug me but from what I've read in several different inertnet comics it makes it hard later on if you're ever doing a book format collection of them all.

Man, nine really reminded me of The cats of Ulthar (http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/thecatsofulthar.htm) by Lovecraft.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: mosfet on 07 Jun 2005, 11:52: For some reason I take that as a huge compliment when something I made reminds someone of a Lovecraft story, and it wasn't even my intent! :)

Thanks!

Even tho I doubt I'll ever publish a book, I like to plan for the future, and decided a more book friendly format would be better. I may also just drop all the early strips, or place them in an appendix of sorts. But again, thats highly unlikely, not for at least a couple years! :P
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: happybirthdaygelatin on 07 Jun 2005, 13:04: It was meant as a compliment, for sure! You're welcome.

The strip is improving quite a bit as you go along. I don't know if droping the strips is a good idea though I do understand the appeal of it. The idea of an appendix or some other place for them is a better idea I think.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: Primate on 08 Jun 2005, 05:51: Just do what everyone else does with their oddball sized strips when it's time to publish and add author's commentary to them.
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: mosfet on 08 Jun 2005, 06:08: Haha!

"This is the one where I drew like crap...."

"This is the one that looks like it was drawn by some crap..."

:)
Title: I'd like some opinion on my comic layout style
Post by: crazybritishsteve on 08 Jun 2005, 07:20: Deffinately prefer straight edges. It does make it look tidier. As for layout, straight down is how i always prefer it.