Backgrounds and Settings in Comics

[TheGentleArtist]

Oh, most definitely.

[Lady_T_Musings]

You say bad habit I say brilliant idea! I take practical advice too since I do enjoy drawing traditionally as well, my end product is digital though. Even though most every thing is flat down here, there is a stretch of street that has these really cool looking historical houses that at least have nice fronts. I like the idea of drawing a few places in the neighborhood. Sometimes I get so in my head I kinda forget about the references around me.

Also yeah! line wobble is the bees knees!

Them sheets look baller and you're doing a lovely job!!

[Lady_T_Musings]

Gawd I wish this place had nested comments :V... Looks like I'm talking to myself.

[alextsarace]

I HATE backgrounds and I was never ineterested in exceling my bg skills until I started M. A. D. E. comic, yeah... Now I just have to draw at least something to make characters exist in the world, not in the white void. Bgs are always a challenge and I'm starting to whine everytime I see that today I gotta draw page with backgrounds like why all this suffering. Dear God, this is too hard for me...

[Rhonder]

oman, I'm definitely the opposite in some ways! I'm much more comfortable drawing cityscapes than landscapes tbh. I work drawing architectural plans for a living so that might have something to do with it BUT I'm a masochist and like 80% of my comics take place in forests and caves lmao. If I wanted to be kind to myself I'd come up with an urban story someday @u@;;

[Lady_T_Musings]

Ohh yo, I feel you to the max, but also send encouragement for getting through them establishing shots!!

[Lady_T_Musings]

That's pretty amazing that you do that bc I totally admire that kind of technical skill, but just thinking about all the rulers makes my eyes cross lol. The heart er hand er brain (?) wants what it wants lol.

[nickolaidas]

I agree. I think when you begin a scene, or flash forward into another scene, it is imperative to focus on the background in order for the reader to be orientated and know where the characters are - inside a house? inside a classroom? across a mountain?

But for the rest of the panels, especially if you are planning to zoom-in on a character's face, there's no real need to make a background, even moreso to make it really detailed.

Most of us aren't doing this for a living, but as a hobby or side-project. We don't have the time to pour so much time into it, especially when some of us intend to work on a deadline.

That said, a detailed background is the second most important way to separate the amateur artist from the professional. That and shadows.

[monotone_ink]

Don't treat backgrounds as a separate element from your characters--it creates a dissonance between the two and makes the work feel weird.

Think of backgrounds as environments: they're 3D spaces that your characters interact with, and they establish the character of your story's world. Both elements have to work in tandem.

So, never neglect them!

In my opinion, I don't think you even have to be a particularly good draftsmen to make good backgrounds: as long as you draw something that expresses that sense of place, it works. I'll dump some of my favourite examples below:

Source: Blame!

Source: Shimeji Simulation

Source: Shimeji Simulation

Source: Takemitsu Zamurai

Source: Takemitsu Zamurai

Also, if you ever want to do more studies of characters in relation to their environments, study your favourite films--get good screenshots and draw those. Films fundamentally have to tackle this issue, so I think it would be a good idea on your part to try it out.

Source: Manchester by the Sea

I've found that drawing backgrounds or landscapes is something I don't mind doing when they are stand alone (and not based off of anything to grounded in reality), but when they have a reason to exist due to characters and being interreacted with I'm like...do what now?

What's your main problem in this case? Is it keeping characters in proportion to the backgrounds, or the actual design of the spaces you're drawing?

[MeltingCORE]

Thank you so much! I've tried out Procreate but am a massive noob at it - highly respect everyone whose able to work and create amazing works on a iPad like that!

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Settings and backgrounds are still a struggle for me, especially the more complicated they are.
Like I'm leaps and bounds better than I used to be for sure.
These are a couple of the best ones I've done. But I still really really struggle with buildings. In particular making them feel solid. Like..to me it feels like all of my buildings are floating off of the ground. They don't feel anchored. I've got no idea what to do to fix it either XD

[Lady_T_Musings]

I don't think you even have to be a particularly good draftsmen to make good backgrounds: as long as you draw something that expresses that sense of place, it works.

Yasss I can get down with these words of wisdom. And the tip about drawing the scenes from my fav movies is something I haven’t thought about doing so you are totally legit with that rec. Thanks for the supplemental pics. They are all fantastic examples of what you speak bc I can feel the mood in each one!

[Lady_T_Musings]

I’d say it’s what you’re talking about. Making the characters and backgrounds look cohesive. like the characters looking like a natural part of the environment they exist in and not like a theater stage with people in front of it. Since making my comic I believe I’m getting a we more aware of the proportions of people vs the scenery, but it’s still a weakness
:<

[Lady_T_Musings]

Tell me about it :U yo! I feel like I’m pretty much around this to in regards to complex backgrounds. I really dig your last panel with the city in the cave? Not sure of scale though so excuse me if it’s a house, but it’s drawn nice!

[Schwarze_Neko]

I usually struggle with perspective on buildings lmao also when the setting is on a forest or somewhere with trees. I never thought those programs you mentioned could help with making backgrounds Guess I'll have to check them out

[DaysOfLunatics]

I don't mind making backgrounds. There are panels that have taken more time than others, and some... are not as good in quality.

The "laziness" may be on purpose to contribute with the humour in that specific panel and sometimes it's a sloppy background cuz I'm tired and only want the story to continue. (I honestly just want to get this story out of my head since it's a long a** story lol, I can always go back later 'n' update it if it's TOO annoyingly sloppy.)

This one had a little more effort put into it...

Whiiiiile the next panel be lookin' like dis':

Idk if I have any tips, I'm trying to find some myself.... Since I'm working with photoshop cc I ALWAYS save one PSD file to keep all the layers intact in case I want to go back and change anything...
And I often play around with the "render/Lightning effect" in the filter option ;D

Samara Devlin Haugli

[artamazon]

hahah thanks! Yeah, I def spend a good amount of time on scenes, but the time saved later, especially if you draw those props or environments frequently is invaluable!

[CursedBeasts]

I like drawing nature backgrounds way more than city or scifi backgrounds because I have a limited memory for detail. I often re-use a background, or if it's a fairly close-up shot I kinda forego backgrounds entirely.

Altho with one of my comics I made an effort to sort of paint the backgrounds, they're kinda easier cause I can do what i want with them as opposed for my star wars comic which forces scifi corridors on me lmaooo

Perspective and grid tools on procreate are a godsend for city \ technological backgrounds. Medibang has those tools too but procreate's are easier to use for me. I'm sure other apps have similar tools as well.

[Lady_T_Musings]

Preaching to the choir hear, but yeah, due to my need of getting over my aversion I was looking high and low for whatever could be handy. Planner 5D has helped me a ton with buildings and room comp, but it’s a struggle I’m trying to address more. There are some other neat suggestions in the comments section too, like I got my notebook out and everything lol.

[Lady_T_Musings]

Like your backgrounds are totally fitting to your subject matter and that’s what’s up. Like that’s pretty much all I want. Sure it’s be nice to render to the gods the most immaculate cityscapes, but I just wanna make sure the ones I do make don’t look foreign to what I’m trying to communicate. Thanks for sharing :)!