Does anyone have a production roadmap/checklist they use when making comics?

[aqua03]

So... I've finally decided that I'm gonna get back to making webcomics and reviving the Dragoons as a comic, hoping to get it started sometime this year for the Year of the Dragon. However, I do have a bit of a problem of being very overwhelmed and disorganized on where to start, so i think making a checklist and/or a roadmap for myself to plan things out as I work on production would be a good idea for me.

What should I have in a production checklist to do so I don't miss a step or get things mixed up? Do you have a production roadmap for your projects? What steps do you have on yours?

Thanks in advance.

[JoshRaed]

I guess the list is...

Pre-creation

1. Set up character designs.
2. Work out the script.

Creation

1. Set up the panels.
2. Place the character and background shapes.
3. Draw the body and objects in sketch form over that shape.
4. Draw the finalized version with the clothes on them.
5. Color it all in.

Then you post it.

[igneriss]

I'm planning to start a new story in sometime the middle of the year, so here's how I'm going about it:

• prepare an outline of all main events and scenes from the beginning to the end of the story;
• group/separate main events / scenes into chapters or updates;
• look for plotholes and potential problems, re-check the timeline and characters' ages;
• prepare all characters' designs;
• make sure all characters have names (...usually I leave 'X' as a name till the very last minute )
• make a list of main locations;
• prepare designs for main locations (I'd say it's time to make 3D models as well if you're planning to use them);
• plotholes check again!
• prepare a cover illustration;
• prepare banners for tapas & webtoon;
• prepare a colour palette;
• prepare 2-3 promo illustrations;
• prepare a series summary;
• write a detailed script / thumbnails for several first episodes;
• prepare a buffor before posting (I plan to post first three episodes at once, so I'd probably prepare at least 7 episodes before I start posting, to be a month ahead)

anddd I think the rest is just drawing

[KevinReijnders]

Hell yeah I do! I use an excel spreadsheet to keep track of everything:

[IndigoShirtProd]

When I first started making my comic, I wasn't that organized, but if I could go back. I would organize like this

• General brainstorming and Character creation
  • Character design is my fave part of the process, so I'll usually start there and build ideas around the characters and further develop them.
• World building
  • Just minimal world building so to not get carried away.
• Outline
  • Writing a general outline hitting the major plot points from start to finish. This is a great place to state who and where the characters are at the start of the story and how you want them to be at the end . That way, you never forget where the character arc are heading.
• More development
• Scripting
  • Preferably, several passes over the course of weeks to months.
• Thumbnailing
  • Smaller, looser sketches planning page layouts. This allows you to makes edits to the panel layouts and speech bubbles placements before you get to the final pages
• Page creation
  • Sketching, lining, color, and rendering. I usually work in batches of 10 pages. Build a buffer.
• Marketing material
  • If your goal is to build an audience, then I say prepare marketing materials. Videos, extra art, banners, posters etc.

And lastly, build a buffer. That's the one thing I wish I did before posting my comic.

[aqua03]

Turns out that as of now, this thread is the first Google Search result for asking about making ap roduction roadmap for your comic. So... That'scool.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I don't have any sort of checklist or organizational tools. I prefer to just wing everything.
The only productivity boost I use is a thirty minute timer when I sit down to work on my comics. That way I can track how much I got done in a space of time.

[Leyelle]

I'm an author but working with an artist so she made one for our series "Hushabye Prince"

1. character design
2. location drafts

(these came before the sheet)

1. script
2. storyboard
3. backgrounds
4. sketch
5. line
6. review/edit
7. base colors
8. shading/rendering
9. final review
10. schedule for upload

[HarryM]

I recently started using a weekly planner (that I'm personally calling a TIME JOURNAL), and I've found it to be really helpful in navigating/organizing my day. I used Jake Parker's Planner and modified it for my own needs. Here's a link to his (much better!) planner: https://mrjakeparker.gumroad.com/l/Project-Focused-Planner

[JoshRaed]

Good for you. I hope one of my posts is like that in some way.