How do you create comics?

[monsenart]

I've been trying to create a comic all day, and all I'm getting is, "Image is too large." It won't let me add pictures of characters to begin my comic. How do I get it to a low enough resolution to do so? I'm completely confused.

[VeloursRose]

First of all, what program are you using to edit your artwork? Also, are you doing everything traditionally and scanning it onto your computer or are you doing it digitally?

[codesurfer23]

I scan my comic in as a huge jpg and then use GIMP to scale down its width to the 940 pixels limit and have the width automatically scale to keep up.
Also it would say image file size too large if that was the problem.

[monsenart]

Okay, thank you. I'm scanning it in. Now that I'm viewing the picture, because it let me post it, it does look pretty large. Are there any other programs I can use to change the size? Or should I just draw smaller?

[Raven_C]

If you have Photoshop or even SAI, you can change the size of your page. And nah, even if you try to draw smaller, I'd imagine scanning it would still result in a very large page, so you'd have to resize for web anyway.

[monsenart]

Ugh, that's frustrating. So I have to download a program no matter what? There aren't any programs that can deal with this that were put on my computer in the first place?

[Raven_C]

I'm not familiar with other programs that can resize other than the ones already mentioned. GIMP is a free program you can try out.

[DavyJones]

My strip is called Charmy's Army.... http://tapastic.com/series/CharmysArmy

It takes several steps to create one of my strips...

Step 1: Writing
I use my lunch hour at work to write my stories. I am about six months ahead with my stories... which is awesome. My writing process is hard to explain because it just happens, Basically I daydream about my awesome cast of characters and write down everything that happens. Writing is easy for me... but impossible to explain.

Step 2: Lettering and Layout
These two tasks go hand in hand. I use Photoshop to layout the text and frames. Once a strip is lettered, I print out the panels full size (17 inches wide by however tall) and move to the next step.... Sketches.

Step 3: Sketching
Each panel is loosely sketched out. Once the characters are sketched in, I tighten up the pencil work until I am happy with the casts' expressions and body actions.

Step 4: Inking
I take the sketched strips to my light table and use a smooth bristol paper, placed on top of the sketches, for my inking. I use a variety of pens and brushes for my line work.

Step 5: Scan and Color
I now finish up by scanning in the art into Photoshop and I color the art using the software. This step alone can take up to two hours!!!!!

All in all, each strip takes me 4-6 hours to produce. I love every second of it.

Please subscribe to Charmy's Army here on Tapastic!!!!!
http://tapastic.com/series/CharmysArmy

[kurisquare]

Pixlr is a REALLY GOOD online image editor - basically a lightweight Photoshop of sorts, no install required! I don't know if they have limits for the images you open there, but you could try using it (:

[monsenart]

Okay, that's helpful. Thanks everyone! And DavyJones, it's good to hear how much you like your work. Keep at it!

[codesurfer23]

MS paint works in a pinch, but there's no guarantee on the image quality.

[petepalmiotti]

Sizing images in MS paint isn't the answer (Always pixelates images.) GIMP is the best and like everyone has said its free.

Even professionals in Photoshop I know use GIMP to resize images.

[monsenart]

That makes sense. So, just another quick question: is there a possibility that GIMP could bring a virus to my computer?

[codesurfer23]

Technically just connecting to the Internet can give you a virus, but as long as you go from the official website, gimp.org, you should be safe as it is an upstanding member of the web.

[monsenart]

Thanks! You're right about the virus thing. I think I get too paranoid about these kinds of things.

[Mozu]

So codesurfer23 I wanna create a comic using magna studio 5. So do I just create a new page then set the width to 940? If so what about the height? Or that's not important? Its just the width alone makes the page look so huge lol

[PotooGryphon]

@Mozu
You could do that or draw using vector layers, and when you're done with the comic you can export it at a custom size. The export menu with give you options to resize the exporting image, and as long as you keep the scale uniform it won't deform, and vector layers with keep it from pixelating whether you scale your image up or down. (that way I always draw in vector. Vector love)

I have the size highlighted in the screenshot. You can tell it to export a jpg image at 940 px wide. The original image size (you can see in the title bar at the very top next to "Halloween 2014") is 7 in wide x 10.5 wide (standard comic size for print) 600 dpi (300 dpi is really all you need for print and 72 dpi is the best for web/computer use, 600 is a bit overkill). And drawn completely in vector.

[TheWhiteRose]

I lack drawing talent so I use Manga Maker ComiPro.

.-.

[Mozu]

Oh cool another manga studio artist haha. Great stuff, just one more question what should i do about the bleed guides (im still new to manga studio) But if anything would it still be needed for a webcomic? If so what stats would you recommend i use for them : )

[PotooGryphon]

@Mozu
Even with web, I think it's still good to use bleed/trim guides just so then you know where the edges of your canvas are. That way, you can keep word bubbles and important elements safely away from the edges, and inside the shot.

Now what I do (there are several other ways to do it and really anything goes), I size my canvas 7 in. wide x 10.5 in. height, because I print my comic issues, and that's the size the print shops need so they can trim the book. Trim is usually about .25 of an inch in wards, making the trim size (or the "Basic Frame(inner)" as Manga Studio calls it) is 6.75 in. x 10.25 in. And then, I like to set an additional guide another .25 inches in, so I don't accidentally put my word bubble or faces too close to edges that will get trimmed after print. So the additional guide is set at 6.5 x 10 inches.

Important things to keep in mind is placement of important page elements (text and faces) and keeping some space between the edge of the page and these important things the reader needs to see.

Even though these webinar videos are on Manga Studio 4, these have helped me a lot. Especially, Doug Tennapel's video:
http://my.smithmicro.com/webinars/manga-studio/

Also this might be a good read on Manga Studio and Trim/Bleed guides:
http://www.clip-studio.com/site/gd_en/csp/manual_V131/CSP_C131_Global_En_UserGuide_1402/500_menu/500_menu_file_new.htm

Hope this helps more than confuses