Batches vs One Page at a Time

[thel3tterm]

Hey all!
I'm in the process of working on my comic buffer, and experimenting with creating pages 'batch style' for the first time.
In other words, I sketch all of the pages in the batch, then line them all, then color them all etc. etc.
Previously, I worked in the style of completing one page at a time, and this is a pretty different sort of workflow for me.

I was curious what sort of work process other comic artists here used. If you've attempted both, which process do you prefer, and why?

[a.g.meade]

@thel3tterm- I tried 'batch style' when I first started, thinking that it would be a time-saver. It probably was, but I also found that it didn't leave much wiggle room. If I wanted to add some extra dialogue or an extra panel, I couldn't unless I wanted to redo an entire page (I'm a traditional artist, haha). Nowadays, I go one page at a time for the flexibility. It's a much better fit for me - plus, instant gratification!

How has 'batch style' been working for you so far?

[thel3tterm]

I haven't gotten very far with it yet, but I might give an update on my progress with it soon!

I can see how it'd be a bit frustrating with traditional artwork for sure. I couldn't imagine doing it with some of the traditional comics I've made in the past.

Up until now, I worked on them one at a time for instant gratification as well hahaha. Though, after hearing how much faster batching can be, I decided to give it a shot.

[Freemints30]

I do batch style. I sketch an entire chapter and then go back and finish them one by one. It kinda allows me more time to have my structure sit there and look fresh and new when I come back to actually finish with teaks.

[allenT]

I do batch. Because my traditionally drawn comic will contain spread-pages, I cook up a format of drawing 2 pages on a single A3 paper. 95% of the time I would scan the paper when 2 pages are done inked. The rest are digital processes until a cycle is complete. (from sketches to finalized digital outputs). I currently do 2~4 pages in a cycle, and then repeats again for the rest of comic pages.

[a.g.meade]

@thel3tterm Oh, I would definitely be interested to hear updates about batch work! Hopefully it goes smoothly and is a good fit for you.

[liamnaughton7]

I draw whole chapters in one go, myself. They were of varying lengths until I settled on 28 pages for my 3rd and 4th chapters.
I tried a four page batch method but I hated it. Could never get a good rhythm going. More used to working in whole chunks as all my previous stuff was made that way.

[ninjashira]

I definitely do batch style and knock out like 10-15 pages at a time. I'll usually pick one scene that has the same setting or lighting and do those all together to ensure the lighting and colors are the same.

[Ayumi]

I do mixed
The traditional part I do batch. I draw the whole chaper, than line the pages. Sometimes when I have difficulties with a panel or page, I work on easier pages. Than I go back to these parts with more determination.
At coloring I do the pages one by one, so I can upload the finished pages. This way I can note my readers that I am alive, and I am working on the comic.

[kaetana]

I've done various degrees of batching and it does often help my speed. I started out doing just a page at a time and then switched to doing 4-6 page batches for a while. But as I've gone on and started spending more time and effort in certain areas, I need to do shorter batches so I'm not working on the same step for too long at a time. Spending multiple days in a row doing the steps that are harder for me, like shading, tends to burn me out. Nowadays I usually will do my layouts for most/all of a scene as a batch, but after that work on finishing the pages in batches of two. I think it's maybe slowed me down a little, but it does let me focus on the specific pacing of each two page update, so that's nice.

[HGohwell]

I do a mix. I sketch out the entire chapter first and then line and colour section by section. I don't know how much time it actually saves, but it feels like it saves time and having the entire chapter sketched gives me a lot better chance at editing properly but given how doing the lines kills me I definitely couldn't stand doing an entire chapter of lineart at a time.

[rolypolyphonic]

I do things one page at a time since I don't really plan my comic, I make the story up as I go.
I'm quite indecisive with the story so doing things by batch is difficult for me as I always end up changing my mind about where the narrative goes lol

[feuersichel]

I also do kind of a mix. Also traditional artist, working with ink and Markers. The sketch-lines I do pretty much, whenever I like (mostly, when I should go to bed x,D ). The rest I do as batches à 4-6 Pages (mostly who are in the same color-sceme). This especially helps when coloring, as I have the right markers directly in my hand and don't have to change them every-time. Like, when I'm doing my charas hair I have the correct tones in my left hand and then draw the hair in all of the prepared pages. This safed me alot of time. Also I don't have to remember, which of my x-brown tones I used for this random background-object nobody cares about anyways...

The other good thing I figured out: I have to finalice every page of the badge. For example: before that, I was sometimes stuck in doing mini-corrections, wait as I didn't feel comfortable etc. Now it kinda forces me to get my butt up and finish it xD

But in the end it depends on every artist itself. I haven't done my pages batchwise until very recent and for me, it works out.

[Rhonder]

Having tried both, I personally prefer the batch method. I'm definitely in the group that finds myself working somewhat faster/more efficiently that way! I only ended up reverting back to page by page for my previous comic towrds the end because I burned through my buffer and didn't have time to both complete batches and meet my weekly deadlines lol. That said it was a mistake on my part not to just take a break and rebuild a buffer to the point where I could do batches again Live and learn, I suppose.

[allenT]

Hehe same here. I ink my favorite parts first (facial expressions, not counting panel frames) to boost my confidence on the pages. The boring, difficult parts will have to wait. Also a bad inking on the pages would destroy my art mojo.

[gempompadour]

I wish I could do batches, but it just doesn't suit my style, so one page at a time it is. I constantly change my mind on the composition, dialogue and flow of the pages that if I had ten pages inked I'd have to redo some of them.

I always have rough sketches of a chapter ready but allow the pages room to live. If I get a new idea or something else seems better than what I have on the sketch, I can easily change it.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I prefer one page\panel at a time. It's a little slower, but I like to get it all done so I don't have to go back.

[kennielacroix]

Wow I really love your art. (: Gunna have to take a read of Magicians of Megatron when I get home from work!

[thel3tterm]

Oh wow, its pretty interesting hearing all of these different approaches and perspectives here! I might try a mixed approach if the 'classic' batch work doesn't go so well for me.

[cleo_san]

I do mixed =) I sketch a few pages, and when I have had enough of sketching (mainly around 3-5 pages) I start inking. While inking, I usually do 2-3 at the same time (the ink has to dry #traditionalartist XD) and when I'm bored of inking, I sketch again or do the screentones digitally =P

...Basically my workflow is complete and utter chaos °_°"""