Dec 2018
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kip
Dec '18

Do you guys make reference sheets or T pose drawings of your comic characters to reference, or freehand it?
Or do you have a different system?

Personally, I've had kind of one of each. For Regression I made full references, for Swapped I drew off previous panels as references, and for Heckin Dead all the characters were pre-existing ocs so I used old refs for the first drawing and then kind of winged it reference-less because I knew the characters fairly well.
For my newest and yet-unpublished comic I have very simplistic chibi references.

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    Dec '18

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    Dec '18
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Rhonder
Dec '18

I made reference sheets for 2 of my characters that I don't actually reference... and there are several without. I find myself often forgetting small details on the characters though, so I often feel like I should have been more thorough with that xD;;

For my next short story I might try adhering to some ref sheets more strictly.

Blue_C3ll
Dec '18

Yup, i do the reference sheets but not with the T pose, instead i prefer to give them a pose that kinda shows their personality and then do front, back, side view. Side views are SO HARD when trying to make them look like the character.

I thought that when doing freehand people would notice something off with the characters but after paying atention and reading again through some of my favorite series i realized that some characters dont look alike in panels but still managed to fool me in the first 3 reads i gave it. So i guess its ok as long as it keeps their most recognizable features.

punkarsenic
Dec '18

i had model sheets for a while, but now im over 2 years in and have accepted that my art style updates too rapidly to keep up the model sheets, i can kinda wing it? i know the landmarks of my characters pretty well. however, when i give a design an update i do have some reference sketches to hand to start off with.

feardeer
Dec '18

Not really. Ok, not at all. I do character design sheet commissions for other folks, but I never do it for my own characters. I don't know why, probably laziness. I just look at older art of them as reference instead.

shazzbaa
Dec '18

I don't like...... Make Official Looking Reference Sheets most times but I do draw the character a whole bunch outside the comic to get a good idea of how they're put together.

racarter
Dec '18

I don’t, cuz I have nowhere to put them clearly in my line of sight, and I’m too lazy to store them somewhere and get them out every day.

I’ve also just decided that, since my characters have magic outfits, that they sometimes change. For example, in chapter one Cassandra wears a long dress with a bandana around her waist and gems dangling from somewhere. In chapter two she wears a shorter dress, tights, her bandana is replaced with a belt, and the gems are now on the belt.

But the basic elements are retained. Another example is in chapter one Annika wears a top hat, but chapter three shows her wearing a bow instead, but her outfit otherwise looks the same.

Because I don’t wanna draw the exact same outfit when I’m feeling like something different. Which made me think “hey the outfits are already based on their subconscious / personalities, so obviously they’d change a bit cuz they feel differently day to day - even just slightly”.

About the only stuff I’m inconsistent on now is accessories. And eye shapes + eyelashes. I like overly long, dramatic eyelashes but the details for each character gets confusing. I should probably make a model for eyes, if nothing else. Lol

imiogri
Dec '18

I only make really poorly made sketches of characters that appear for a short time to remember their colors along with a color palette. I only pose them randomly from one angle because I can figure out the rest from there. I frequently swap my mc's outfits but I usually just take the colors from old palettes and reference from old pages. Otherwise I can draw my mains in my sleep.

vworksart
Dec '18
kip

I probably should but not much at all unless there are specific details I need to remember.
Otherwise they're all in my head for the most part.

DasIstWunderblyat
Dec '18

Note that I am not a comic maker, yet I frequently draw my characters.

For physical features, no. Those things for me should have been memorized beyond my head, and is very essential I should never forget that.

For clothes and accessories I do though, It's one of my favorite part.

MK_Wizard
Dec '18

Definitely especially if they are a work in progress. Yes, they are prone to change as the story goes on especially when you take seasons or aging into account. Plus, there is art evolution. The point is that a reference is always good to have especially if you haven't drawn then in a while.

Spaceburger
Dec '18

I always find it very restricting to design a character from a T pose sheet. I usually put a character I have in mind for a scene, and design it on spot, then I make a character sheet to finalize the design. I know it might feels backward or inefficient but I just can't compromise on my creative process.

Karmillina
Dec '18

I do not do it enough. I always need to get back to past work to nail exactly how a character should look and I do think every artist should have it if they are making a series.

JeanGuillet
Dec '18

yes for every major costume shift or new character introduction. In addition I keep color palettes for every scene and libraries of designs and things that I need for each scene. And STILL my continuity sucks.

So I also keep a running 'fix it' list.

kyurenai
Dec '18

I think I’ll be happy with just front view refs unless there’s something at the back of the character that needs to pay special attention to.

ryoko
Dec '18

No, not unless I'm doing an art trade or something when a reference is needed, but even then I usually just use a panel from an existing page rather than making up an official looking one.

rmdooley
Dec '18

I use reference sheets for new characters or side characters. I know the main characters well enough now I have a vague notion of what they look like