Have you been putting your creative talents to use during the lockdown? It’s been a time when many people have taken the opportunity to start the novel they always wanted to write, or to polish up their neglected art skills. But what next? How about combining both those skills and creating your own graphic novel or comic?
This year marks the 42nd anniversary of Forbidden Planet, the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror book and comic shop (and the reason for the 42nd celebration is in honour of Douglas Adams, who often did signings at the store!), so we wanted to look at tips and hints to consider before you start your own comic, and maybe one day you’ll be having your own signings at the famous store!
If you’ve got a project in mind, and you’re ready to get stuck in, there are some rather important considerations to bear in mind before you get going, so here’s our list of things to think about.
1. Study up on the subject first
It would be of great benefit to read books on the subject and find interviews with established graphic artists on how they work, as well as studying up on the subject of your creation.
2. Create a model sheet
Plan out all your characters, and create a style guide on how they should look, so you have a reference to go to. You do not want to have to start redrawing your characters halfway through your graphic epic!
3. Have an idea you believe in
Start with an idea you really believe in and want to share with others. Any work of similar scope will take hard work, so it’s important that you love and believe in what you’re doing and trying to say.
4. Write your story before you start drawing it
It might sound obvious, but the last thing you want is to spend maybe years drawing your graphic novel before realising you have no idea where it’s going.
5. Develop your own style
Whatever your preferred medium is, be that pen, pencil and paper, or purely digital, or a combination of both, make sure that your work method is doable and isn’t going to take a million years to accomplish.
6. Know your strengths
Focus on your abilities, and draw what you love to draw. Maybe avoid a fantasy story if you’re terrible at drawing dragons. Writing a graphic novel is not the best time to start learning how to draw something.
7. Know your anatomy
If you plan on drawing realistic human (or humanoid) characters, it’s important to know your anatomy. There are many guides to drawing anatomy and perspective, but be sure you’re confident before you get started on your project.
8. Set some rules
Set rules for yourself to follow, similar to your character guides., You do not want your graphic novel to look vastly different at the end than it did when you started. Examples of which could be sticking to the same colour palette, the same number of panels per page, etc.
9. Work in RGB mode, but print in CYMK
When you’re working digitally, whether that’s digitally drawing or scanning your hand-drawn pages, work in RGB mode, but ensure that the files are all CYMK when it comes to printing, as that’s the preferred format for most professional printers.
10. Work at 300dpi
This is important for printing as well. 300dpi (that’s the resolution of the image) is the minimum you should work at, or your printed pages will not look as sharp as the images you created. Most Marvel and DC writers work at 450-600dpi which gets reduced at print.
Most of all, have fun, and make it enjoyable! For printing a comic book for your magnum opus, get in touch!
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