Backgrounds ans Interior Settings

[KSlinger]

I tend to free hand in Photoshop because if I use lines/guides things end up looking really stiff and horrible (plus I don't know the first thing about proper perspective and stuff, eek).

[AnnaLandin]

I draw them by hand in Clip Studio, and eye the perspective tool and consider learning how to use it - and then just go back to doing it the old-fashioned way I learned in art class.

I usually do layout and concept sketches of important locations before I start drawing the scene, though, so I know where things are in relation to one another.

[apurviance]

I use photoshop's line tool to make a perspective grid because I hate rulers, and then I draw them by hand over that!

After struggling with perspective grids in Photoshop a friend showed me a really easy method: Use the polygon tool to make 100 point stars and place one at each vanishing point.

[KSlinger]

@apurviance Wow. You know those colourblind tests where some people can see a picture inside the squiggles and others can't? This is like one of those for me. I can't visualize a single thing inside that grid, it's like my brain switches off.

[shazzbaa]

Oh man, I'm glad that's workin for you! I tried that a few times a while back when I saw it on tumblr, but if your vanishing points are really far away, there's too much space between each "line" of the star for me.

I just extend a couple lines of my rough sketch to figure out where the vanishing points are, then set two guides to intersect over that point, set my line tool so that it snaps to guides automatically, then just drag a bunch of lines towards the vanishing point!

also, since we're talkin' about it, here's my favourite guide I've ever seen for tackling perspective for anyone that's useful for! I think fancy tools to draw perfect grids aren't super useful if you don't have a solid feel of what that grid is indicating, so Jake Wyatt's tips for getting a feel for perspective without worrying about rulers struck me as a good place to start.

[spadesart]

i draw them by hand and pray to the good Lord it turns out legible

[doctorglasgow]

I use this technique for all my backgrounds. With this and references, backgrounds are pretty easy to do. It still requires a working knowledge of perspective, but with a little time this way makes it MUCH more accessible.

[apurviance]

@ScampiCub lol. You can't see the matrix when you still in it. Mwahaha.
Honestly, I roughly sketch the scene first, then add a perspective grid to match the view in the sketch so the little details all match up. Similar to the example in Jake Wyatt's tutorial @shazzbaa posted. I love his work so much it hurts!

[Michelle]

I use a combination of 3D models for some shots and eyeballing the perspective for others. Very seldom do I ever lay out a perspective grid anymore >u>;; Though I spent a ton of time learning that stuff and I'd highly recommend anyone to learn perspective and not rely only on 3D models.

3D models are great if you have recurring locations, because it ensures consistency from shot to shot. I've build a few models for my comic for specific locations so I can make sure size and spacial relations stay relatively the same. It also makes doing layouts WAY faster when I can experiment with a ton of different camera angles and field depths within a 3D environment.

That said, I always draw over the models and completely change them, so I only use the 3D base as a jumping off point.

[gateofselidor]

I draw mine by hand. I pencil traditionally, so I draw out perspective grids manually, with a ruler, when I need them. I generate another one in Photoshop when I'm inking, to make sure it's accurate.

[alaingrey]

I draw floorplans of long term interior locations, otherwise I just freehand everything. I think my totally-wrong-perspective drawings work for the story I'm telling and sometimes have a way of feeling more 'real' than something traced or extensively modeled. I have a notion that sometimes the way to make a background convincing is less through perspective and structure and more through details. A green glass knob on a door tells a different story than a brass one, or a handle. Materials, interesting architectural notes and specificity can make a location into a character, which is really important.

I've been reading lots of interior decorating blogs and landscaping blogs and its done a lot to improve the ways I draw settings, just because I have way more ideas.

[Ambat]

I make simple mockups of my sets in Maya and use them to help me out! I have a hard time determining spacial relationships between objects in perspective even though I understand how to make and use perspective grids, so using the Maya models helps me stay consistent.

Usually my Maya models are literally just the barebone structures of the set and I add embellishments myself, such as small items on counters and tables, signs, detailing, etc.

[indagold]

It varied for a lot of my comics. I'm actually pretty competent in my backgrounds, not so much with my characters. I'm like an artistic rarity since every artist I know complains they can't draw backgrounds.

Garden Of Mold was purely vector, backgrounds done kinda with cartoony perspective that was done in photoshop. I did add some 3D I modeled for one scene that was a maze using maya.

Welcome Back was weird. I took photos, edited photos, used a lot of 3D and did some hand drawn backgrounds. I'd say it was a weird mixed media approach.

I'm currently working on the pre-production of a comic where It's a mix drawing my backgrounds, modelling them with toonshading/textures in maya and painting on 3D models.

[ToonDoctor]

Since we are discussing comics backgrounds, here is me reminding everyone of the master of the simple comic background. Study Carl Barks's work. He will teach you a lot about how to suggest a background and an environment without drawing for days.

[TrustyShamrock]

i just draw by hand. or by hand on photoshop. sometimes i use references but not as much as i probably should be. for the main house tho i made it on the sims so that id get a good idea of its layout and junk

[Puppisama]

I use Manga Studio, but break my brain thinking the background, and then fail trying. My backgrounds arent as nice I want them to be, but at least I tried XD.

[Kura]

Draw by hand in clip, use either rulers (the ones you hold) or the line tool depending on how straight I want the line to look.

[rainbowolfe]

If it's gonna be a recurring room, I usually just model it in Sketch Up >3< And then draw over it in Clip Studio Paint. Otherwise I just do it by eye XP

[SpavVy]

I use grids and I go over it with my light pad. Sometimes I draw the entire thing on computer paper and trace it onto the final.

[okellymx]

I usually draw out a floorplan/blueprint of the room before drawing it. I sometimes use Clip Studio paint's perspective ruler to draw an impromptu grid and then remove the ruler. I don't like drawing the whole scene using the ruler, this makes my lines look too artificial. If it is an easy perspective, I won't use a grid at all and just do it by hand with just a horizon line.