How detailed do you draw backgrounds for your panels?

[DemonzuLucy]

I really love backgrounds in general not only for my story but for my independent pieces in general, in the past i used to make big panels and then cut what i need, but it looked very fake and like it was 3d

but i don't know, i just realized by myself a few years ago that background without line art was the thing i was looking for and worked with my style that also saves a lot of time, now i don't draw a full picture, i just draw everything outside the character for the panels with the size of the panel so i don't have to cut and waste time drawing backgrounds tbat will not be used or seen. Also i don't do a lot of details because when i put it in the full page it loose details, so i use this style that gives the illusion of detail

For me background is one of the most important things, even if obviously takes a little bit more of time than the character or person, it gives life to the scene or piece

[Maxouco]

On my side it depends, I usually go hard when I introduce a place so that the reader understand where the characters are. otherwise I reuse and blur alot because lazy work is the best kind of work right? I once read that it's important to see the feets of the characters on the ground from time to times to actually ''ground them''. I kinda agree with that point.

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[csoo]

I hate backgrounds so much, so I just rip shots from old black and white movies I've seen and integrate those.

Gives it a sort of scrapbook atmosphere.

[emedeme]

I think a good page/episode should balance full backgrounds and just a plain color/gradient. You don't need a fully detailed background in every panel or even on every page, but sometimes they're needed for some context and help the narrative. Especially if you're doing fantasy or science fiction, a general establishing shot is very important now and then.

Because if you only do plain colors it can feel very empty and vague, but too many detailed backgrounds can make the page seem overwhelming and tiring to the eye! Also, an artist friend also told me she treats backgrounds as if they were characters - applying the same care to both characters and backgrounds, even if it takes a lot of time!

[LavenderLeavened]

it varies from panel to panel

i tend to have pretty detailed bgs but some of my panels don't even have any beyond a gradient and text

i tend to have a very stylized bg style so i love showing it off in my panels but sometimes you just need to let the eyes have a break for a panel or two
detailed:

vs simple:

it's important to show your environment every once and awhile otherwise your readers may get lost or confused. besides bgs are great places to hide codes, Easter eggs, and foreshadowing . . .. or if you're like me ominous blocks of text

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[LavenderLeavened]

for bgs i use a lot i generally keep 2-3 variants of it and paste the portions of it i need into my panels. This is such a time saver and allows me to have my detailed bgs without having to sacrifice more time on drawing them over and over again

[jwabeasley]

You were drawing giant backgrounds and then cutting them out? That's a lot of extra work!

[jwabeasley]

I just rip shots from old black and white movies I've seen

That's very creative! Have you ever seen "Night has a thousand Eyes?" There's so many great horror and noir old films that nobody remembers.

[jwabeasley]

some of my panels don't even have any beyond a gradient and text

Your style looks great! I hate having to omit backgrounds sometimes but there's such a thing as a too-busy panel. I try to have those abstract backgrounds express the action somehow, still.

[csoo]

That's very creative! Have you ever seen "Night has a thousand Eyes?" There's so many great horror and noir old films that nobody remembers.

I have not (cause I'm a bit of a coward} but I definitely want to delve into more noir films!

[zeethenecromancer]

Because my art style was influenced by Zac Gorman and his work on Costume Quest (the show), it tends to be very detailed-though my approach is making lower effort panels and then saving my energy for big ones-like this one!