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Feb 2018

I agree with what Spudfuzz and WednesdayAsh said.
Sketchup allows you to use the models for your comic, as long as you don't use it for commercial use (unless you purchased a license).

Aditionally, I've made 3D models before (although I don't post them online, since it's simply not my focus), so I'd be flattered if they were used in someone's comic to be honest.

And pros use Sketchup all the time. Yuumei169, Tsulala109, Feigap95, and many more!
If you learn how to use the program, it's a skill and not a crutch.
A lot of anime artists also use 3D programs to draw backgrounds, so use any programs available to your advantage. I'm not a big fan of those who don't trace the backgrounds (they just take the model and put it in their comic) because things just feel out of place. Of course, that's just my preference and some comics can make it work better than others, such as Killing Stalking.

However, I would also recommend learning perspective, since it will also be helpful to you when you want to add extra details to your buildings and such.
Or maybe you want to slightly exaggerate some buildings proportions just to match the atmosphere or a certain scene and such. So learning both would be good. \o/

hell yea go for it. if it saves you time then do it.
ive been thinking of building my own things using sketchup but the program has changed so much over the years i remember using it back in 2016 and it was so difficult to use. maybe ill use blender next time.

I'm not really into making a 3D modeling portfolio like what you said, so definitely not :sweat_smile:
Also I wonder if it's okay to use a free model (like the interior of a room) then tinker it a bit here and there and claim it as your own ...? And I definitely do need some models, its great that SketchUp has a lot of furnitures. Since the both of you recommended Blender, I'll make sure to learn about that, same with Maya.

You make games? thats cool :smiley:
I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so definitely it'll take time. Welp, time to go to youtube for tutorials :smile:

Uwah, I didn't really look through the Terms of Use so thanks for reading it for me, haha. I guess I could just trace the model and make it look a little bit different then credit the creator or... just seriously learn how to use SketchUp so I don't need to use existing models.

That is so true! I've seen some comics like that and looking like it was out of place :open_mouth: but its just that there are also other ones that looks like it fits just right too (webtoons like untouchable, noblesse etc.) But yeah, I'm gonna go for tracing instead just in case -.-

Yep, definitely gonna learn it. And tracing is a really good strategy 'cause I could just add things i want and it wouldn't look out of place if it was with 3D. But thats kinda sad though that mix media still isnt accepted.

i don't know what program what this artist uses but she makes really good 3D backgrounds for her COMIC253. i've seen rough sketches but never the process

Thanks for the encouragement on using SketchUp :slight_smile: and ooooh fellow Killing Stalking reader, nice to meet you :grin: And yes, I know how to draw in perspective (learned it from school) though its not exactly my forte. I'm also into exaggerating drawings like foreshortening (but have yet to learn 3rd point perspective tho)

Really? I read this webtoon from time to time :joy: Can you give me a link of where you've seen her rough sketches?

she doesn't post them and she only streams when drawing characters after all the backgrounds are complete. sometimes she hides the finished bg and switches to rough.

Hmmm seems like she wants to hide her secret :confounded: Jk. But thanks for telling me anyway! :slight_smile:

i've been asking her but she doesn't respond. can't blame her though. the bg is an important recipe of her masterpiece xD

Yaaaas. She wouldn't want anyone stealing her precious. I'd do the same if I we're her :joy::joy: and where are you trying to contact her? From what I know god-level artists are really hard to get to talk to :hushed:

This artist also uses Sketchup.
Their backgrounds look exactly like Sketchup's style and I see them using some models I've found before on Sketchup. It seems a lot of people hide the fact that they use a program for their BGs (like this artist) probably because they might feel uncomfortable about letting people know. Especially since when you posted this, you felt that using 3D models was "not nice", until people started commenting that using the program is a skill and nothing to be ashamed about.

I do like 100-200 panels a week depending, and I don't use sketchup.
(Then again I don't have backgrounds in every panel because I feel like it would steal attention away from the dialogue.)
I have considered it tho because fuuuuuck backgrounds. But at the same time eh I dunno if I can be assed to learn to use sketchup.

Don't worry if perspective isn't really your thing! We can't all be a master at everything. As long as you make an effort and know the basics, I think it's fine.
That's why studios have massive amount of people for their companies, because everyone has a specialty (some artists are good at anatomy, others good at BGs, others good at coloring, etc) ! But since most webcomic creators are one-man teams, we have to do the sketching, lining, coloring (if applicable), writing, and so much more! So it's normal we would be weaker at some things than others. But always keep in mind that if there are programs there to help you, use them! They are there to help improve the quality of your work if you're lacking on a certain aspect, and that's okay. Of course, you want to make sure you only use work that's OK to use. Like, you don't want to trace or use a photo that isn't your own (since it's not your own work and that's not cool), unless you bought the license to use it.

100-200 A WEEK?!
That's insane! Most pros can only do a max of 70 panels a week or so.

I also don't think "fuck backgrounds" is the way to go about it. Backgrounds can actually be fun once you know some of the basics and beyond, plus it helps improve your story by letting the reader know where the characters are, so it paints a nice picture in their minds and of the world you want them to be absorbed in.

Haha 70 panels a week would feel like vacation to me. I'd only have to work 3 hours a day.

Backgrounds are fun sometimes but more often than not I find them to be a nuisance. The world I want them to be absorbed in is the social and psychological one, not the physical/objective one.

I do understand the basics, I just feel like it's a drag to exercise them xD