my process is messy I would like to know how other people do it so I can improve
I'm talking about everything from writing to the final page.
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Nov '23last reply
Nov '23- 18
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my process is messy I would like to know how other people do it so I can improve
I'm talking about everything from writing to the final page.
First I brainstorm my idea by asking questions, how, why, who, what. I write this down until I get a firm grasp of the characters, setting and plot.
Then I build an outline in the form of bulletpoints, to get a chronological view of the events of the story and see if scenes flow naturally from one to another.
After that I start writing the script, which goes through several rewrites.
Once the script is finalized I make a breakdown, I list all the character designs, all the props and scene locations I need to design for the story.
Logically from there, I start the design process, generally I start with characters first, props second and then I make a concept piece for each scene of the story.
After the design stage is done I'll use my script to draw a storyboard.
Once I'm happy with the storyboard, I will set up my workflow. I break up the board pages into individual files with the correct format. Those files I then link to a masterdocument where I can easily access them and track their progress.
After all that I generally design the chapter cover, start to finish.
Then I start actually making the pages, one by one. Workflow for a page is usually as follows.
First I determine whether or not I need some CGI assets for the page (think backgrounds or certain complex props) and set up the final layout of the page (panel frames and text), after which I refine the storyboard sketch into a rough drawing.
Now I'm ready to start the line-art, after which I do the colors, then the rendering and finaly some finishing touches.
After I've completed all the pages, it's time to get them ready for a print version. I will usually make small tweaks and edits to the earliest set of pages and make some behind the scenes documentation as a neat little extra.
And finally, before sending it to the printshop, I design a print cover to finish off the chapter.
My process is very messy too, and for years I was afraid to start my comic because my process wasnt perfect, like i dont write a script, i dont do proper thumbnails, i do somewhat design the characters first but not like a design process - I have been drawing them long enough for their story to be clear to me and then Im like - I want to make a comic of this - and finally I just decided to start making the comic without any clear process.
I have written down something like support words for what needs to happen per chapter, I know the beginning, I know the middle and I know how to end my comic - but the inbetweens is coming while Im drawing it
I usually also sketch out one chapter at a time, when the whole chapter is sketched out I go throught it properly to see if I need any changes or if it feels like it have a nice good flow -
I then lineart the whole chapter and then finally color it and make finishing touches!
Making covers for each chapter is my nightmare, Im horrible at covers- so a friend once gave me the advice of taking a panel from the chapter that would give an insight to what is happening in this chapter and make that the cover - with some minor fixes to it so that it fits the cover size.
Heres my examples of that-
Chapter 1 cover:
I got from this panel
Chapter 2 cover:
from this panel
etc etc xD
I just think the most important thing is to find a workflow that works for YOU and not necessarly get hung up on what others do!
A
B
C
There aren't really any secrets to the above I can share with you beyond PUT IN THE WORK
After the drawing is done comes the hard part: Self-assessment. There are two different branches to how I proceed;
Branch 1
Realize what I made is pretty subpar and stick it back in the oven for more cooking. That happened to this comic;
It was clear my sense of humour stopped growing around the year 2002. And the art is way too sloppy. Right click and open in a new tab if you want to read it.
Branch 2
Realize that my story about peaceful AI being forced to become killers is too similar to Pluto, which just came out to great acclaim. So I stick it back in the oven for more cooking.
The re-cooking is the plan for this week. I do this because a real gangsta doesn't bite someone's style like that.
First I make an outline of the story and episodes, draw the thumbnail sketches of the pages in my comic.
Then I write the dialogue on my phone, put the thumbnail sketch with a low opacity in my drawing app ibisPaint X.
I then put in the panels and draw them on the uppermost top layer, ink the pages on the second layer then remove the thumbnail sketch and color in my pages using previous artwork and pages.
I then add the fine details, glimmer, blushing etc. then I import speech bubbles and place them the best spot I can.
Then I copy and paste the dialogue from my phone, download it, then I have a new page.
95% is writing, 4% is drawing and the 1% is patience.
I do 4-panel gag comics, so each strip is a different little story with the characters. When I get an idea for a strip, I jot it down in a Google doc. If I decide I want to use the idea, I'll make a script.
When I start my comic, I do the speech bubbles first and make any changes to the script if needed.
Then I do a few messy sketches, getting progressively cleaner until I can use one as reference for lineart. Sometimes the sketch looks good on its own, so I just clean it up and use that for lines. Other times, I line over the sketch layer.
Once the lines are done, I do base colors on all the panels, and then render. After rendering, I add the directional lines to the speech bubbles and any other tweaks needed.
I draw my panels individually in a 1080x1080 canvas, so I have to resize them and format them vertically before posting to Tapas
My comics is a weekly comics so I have a very tight schedule. It's 5 books of 25 episodes per book. I know what each book is about so I know where I'm going with my story I just have to get there. Typical week.
First day is a rough script. I use an outline style where each panel gets a panel number. I put basically what is happening and the dialogue for the panel. Usually this is 30 panels so 30 bullet points. I then reread it and tighten up the script dialogue. This usually takes a day.
The second day is rereading the script and seeing how it flows, correcting grammar, and tightening up the script even more.
Third day is layouts. As I write in a movie format, I basically storyboard the whole episode with roughs. I don't use a separate thumbnail stage as with digital this is a waste of time. I work as a scrolling comics so each page is the max length and width of the format needed but 3 times as big. I will reduce it myself before uploading to webtoons or tapas. This way I control the quality and don't rely on their compression system for their website. This is where I also place all the dialogue. This allows me to do two things. One, is to make sure the panel works with the dialogue I need to place there and Two, know what will be covered by the dialogue so I don't waste my time drawing stuff that will never be seen anyway.
4th day is roughs. I work over the top of the layouts, erasing them as I turn them into pencils. I don't go directly to inks over layouts as this allows me to be very loose with my drawing to push poses and have fun.
5th day is inks. If I'm lucky some flats (The only part I hate of making a comics is flats.)
6th day is finish color, check all the dialogue once again to find any mistakes my brain has glossed over from reading it to myself too much (CSP has a story editor that will bring up only the dialogue from the pages, pretty nice.) and then you use the export to webtoon feature of CSP, cutting it up into the size needed for the websites as PNGs. (never use jpegs. garbage compression system.)
While I am doing all of this, save your work. On my computer I have CSP saving every 15 minute automatically (it's in the options)., I also save when ever I'm done doing something I don't want to do again or took some time to do. My save procedure is as follows. I have the basic folder with each episode saved. I then copy/paste that episode to a secondary folder on my computer. This is the none working image incase something happens to the save I'm working on. The final place is the backup episode is saved to an external hard drive. This is an archived save. So I have 3 copies of every episode I do, one being not even on my computer. This might seem excessive but wait til you have a corrupted file or your computer dies. You will thank me.
Episode is uploaded and I start on the next script.
I'm mostly an artist for hire but, overall process is:
The only difference from a independent author who creates both the story and drawing, is that in between each step, there are revisions where the author checks what I made and we fix each part before advancing more, to avoid redrawing and such.
I believe everyone already gave a very detailed explanation, so mine is actually just a summarized one.
This lil sneak peak of one of my future pages shows my process pretty well.
First I make white squares for the panels (I make everything on each panel a clipping mask) then I create a sketch layer and plan out my page. After that I start with the line art. Sometimes the line art gets too hard and I end up skipping around coloring the easy stuff this page is actually a really good example of that uhhh-
For my shadows I get a light redish color to fill the layer and set it to multiply. From there I just erase where I want light.
My process is chaotic too and that´s something I would like to change.
One of the problems is that I skipped thumbnails and I think that they
are an important building block like the script when you want to do
longer stories which are not a complete chaos.
The process I´m aiming for looks like this at the moment:
-script (I write the complete dialogue)
-quick thumbnails
-refined thumbnails
then I prepare the backgrounds, check if I got all the
character sheets I need etc
-sketches where I put in the dialgue and eventually
change it to fit the panel
-inks
-color
I can't say I have the greatest method either. I come up with major plot points, decide where in the story they will fit best, then crunch a bunch of details between. Realistically, I have major plot points for at least 10 different series, collectively over 30 volumes of graphic novels. Over 30 years of work that can be done. I've established this as a lifetime gig, even if it never pays.
I donât think anyone has a perfect method for creating their comics lol, at least from what everyoneâs said here haha.
Mine too, is kind of all over the place
Writing:
â˘First, I start out with an idea. Might be a single character, a plot point, a scene, a setting, something that gives me an idea to write a new comic.
â˘Then I proceed to spend several months to several years writing and rewriting and writing more to get a story I generally like. Usually itâs just me putting down scene after scene until I get to some place that feels significant to the plot, then I go back and edit, add, or remove scenes and characters to make the story feel more concise and seem like I knew what I was doing from the beginning lol.
â˘Then Iâll look over my story and ask âwhat does this say to meâ and find a general theme as well as symbolism that I can enhance and make a larger point of the story. I tend to naturally write those things in without even thinking, so itâs easy for me to pick out moments within my writing that âsayâ something to which I can expand on.
â˘At this point, I donât make a legitimate script. I just take what I write and use my visualizing skills to imagine what it would look like in comic format.
Preproduction:
â˘At this point, I start finalizing things, character designs, settings etc. Usually iâll do some drawings of my characters and create a simple character sheet that I can use as a reference.
â˘Iâll go ahead and download the 3D models and assets or create my own to assist me in my comic. Usually this includes backgrounds, background brushes (foliage, flowers, textures, etc), or props. For my current comic, I downloaded some 3D ice skates as I have no idea what Ice skates look like or how to draw them and if i had to try and find references online of every angle i needed it would take me way too long.
â˘I also tend to get feedback and critiques from my friends and family members, or whoeverâs willing. itâs always good to get an outside perspective.
Drawing:
â˘I usually start off with very messy and simple thumbnails to test our pacing and composition. This is my favorite and fastest step of the process. This is when I tend to do speech bubbles and speed lines or things like that.
â˘Then I do a much cleaner and more detailed sketch that I can send off to my assistant, who does the line-art and flats.
â˘Once i receive my page back, I do the backgrounds, then character shading, then add details and finishing touches
â˘And finally I publish and advertise!
For digital art:
- 0. Draft individual key aspects of your comic, places, character sheets...
- 1. get an idea of the whole chapter and draft it all with very sloppy drawings. Dont leave this step until you're happy with the sequence of events.
- 2. work out the text and baloons, have them on special text layers which allow merging when closed (software such as csp / ms)
- 3. improve the draft drawings: add proper volume and perspective. Add backgrounds. Add clothes.
- 4. Ink the draft drawings with high quality lines using vector layers (you might have to redo the drawings until you're happy, this step might take longer if you're very experienced).
- 5. Fill black areas and bolder lines.
- 6. Add tones / colors.
Step 1 is probably the most important and will decide if you'll quit on the middle or not, dont be afraid to draw very low quality drawings, it's important you have a starting point. The more you get excited about your work, the best will be the process.
Very new to comic I don't like having script as I find that to constrictive unless I know it is important seen but I have an since in my head and them I write up to that seen. Panic as I resiled I have no Idea where to take the story and then plan out themes for the chapter and put in foreshowing when I can. And then do a lot of world building!
these are the questions I ask myself
Like what the world history what are friend and emeries both charter wise and the country wise?How do they government? tribeul stucature, the wealth, trade, people choice, by old people, the army, elections, by birth, union, do they paid or not, long have they been in power and how long do they service? Do they have one person in power or many people? Once they can, they run again? Or do they need to meet certain conation to run again or even run at all? how to they advertise information to the people, and how much control do they have over censorship? Do they let people leave or is that for only a few people? How good are they at their job? How much is the power in one place or is it spread over the country? Are they kind? Cruel or indifferent? What other government surround them and how does that effect them? Are there any specail building they are in or is it in a town square? Has there been a power change or potical opinon in the last 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 6 mounths year ago? If so, how come? what cause it? who was involded, why did happen, was it a success or failure and why? What the changes where impementent as a result? How is the impacting on the world at large epsically there neightour? Think how this will impact the culture as well? (recommed look at historical model thucydides to help on how people would react in the situcation from a historal piont of view)
How strict are the pushment and what are punishment like how do they effect the commmon person? Is it solatary confindment? death? hard labour or there right taken away? Are they bard form certain job if they get a cirmal record? How currpt are they? How effect is the justist system? How likly are they to reafrend if they do get in to jail? Are punshment based on class or crime? How why, how and what? How do the measure the crime and the pushment are they too exteme or too weak or just right? what happpen if an outsider commuttis a crime and does it effect the contry that the person came from and the local commuty? Who enforces the law?
what do they eat? furit, nut, dairy, meat, veg, sweet, carbs? Why do they eat like? what is the national dish as well as some of there local dish? what does look like, smell like? taste like? sound like? Is restriction on what people if so why? Do they even need to eat? If so why? How do they get there food? fishing? farming? forgaing? trade does everyone cook for themselve or does the community/ govement do that for them? What is there realatioship with food? Is an incoveneace that has to be done? Or is it a chance to take to get to together and talk?If so with who? Do people eat in or out more? If so with who? What are the table manner? What the cultery that they use or lack there of? Can you speak to eveyone or talk to no one or only speak when someone if talking to them? Who normally tell them to start/stop eating the head of the house old or the younest of the family and how does effect the family dimatic? Or does it matter? How does class effect there eating habbit? do the poor eat better than the rich or the other way round? How does that impact there health both phycailly and metally? How is there food impacted by other country? What does it say about the country if they choise to eat the stuff from different country?What food is considered common that is a lurxyary in other country and why? how much and what impact does that have on the ecomminy? What food is consdierderd fit for human consumption and why and why not? How tightly regulated is the food instucty? Due you need a licence or not to sell food? How does it effect the poplatuion and the healthcare instury? Do they delbrately give good for or bad food to the population? If so why? Do they add chemical in food if so why or why not and which ones? Are those chemicals safe or not or do they not know? How much does food cost a lot or a little and why? What the soil like and how much land do they have to work with for food? Is there a farming class and how well are respected? Are the seen as powerful cause without food the people die or weak for whatever reason? If there an illagal food trade if so what and why and how does that impact the population?
Are the educated? If so who and what are they learning? Maths? english? how to live? A skill? Who teaches then? eg guilds or army or church, family the locals? How is the school system funded through the grovement? Or the people or do they go into debt to pay for it or do they get quofication and don't get paid untill they teach someone up to the same level and the cycle reapet. How hands on is learn is it pratical or not or a mix? What pushement sysment like? phyical, financhal, verbal? How tortante are they? Do they have exam or not? Can teacher deside when someone is ready to strike out on there own or not? How good is the education? Is term time a thing or not? How long is the education last? when do they start in term of age and finish in term of age? How long are the day and how does that impact the culture at large? What the impact and view on disable kids in education? How much surport is there? Is there class system that tell you what school you can go to? What is the view if you are just bad at a subject? What is the education philospohy at the schools? what do they eat at school and how are meal treated at the school do the pay for the meal or not? How good are they as well? How much exersie do the kids get? How does that affect them? How reaspect are teacher? Do they wear a uniform or not? How strict is it? What level does it go up to before it stop? Uni? High school? PHD level?
What does the building look like? Ruins?fucturestic? medicaval? celtic? A tip I would just look up different type or architcture style that are from different culture and get increasing niche and mash element that you like together as having a mood board for this part and use that as inpration for the building desgin. city planing is a must. As you will find it so much easier to keep everthing in order. Also think of the geogarphy and weather that the people are going to be living in. Cause that will impact how everthing in terms of building. For example If they live in a cold climite they are not going to have very drafty room. Also think of the trading avablitly and mertail and the wealth of the person and the country at large. for example if they have access to a lot of wood then they are likely to use it in there building. Look at the marteral properties of the object that the curlter is using and think what can you do with it? As well the regulation that are on the builing if the regulation are poor then the house are likely to catch on fire or have a disaster of some form. As well as have a negitve impact on the people health. Also think of the socail system is there a desprate need for housing or not? Also think about the country/ religion vaulue as that will through their building style there vaulues. (especially building of high imporants like ebassies, or place of goverment, or reglion) As well as the other country around them as they will bleed through, just due to them being next to each other unless no one is allowed to leave. As well as the country friends architecure bleed through due to trade and infulnesce.
What is the regulation on animal? Are they treat for grems or not? How are they are treated? do they wonder the street or do they belong to a few people and why? What are consider pet in one country but not the other? How does this effect trade? What is clasffied as an aniamal? How does it effect the country being seen from an outside prepcetive? Does the country have animal right? if so what are they? What are surpertion around animal? What does that say about the country? What does the animal symbolise to that country? Does the animal have any reglisous/ historcal value? If so does that effect how it is treated? Why or why not? Are any animal are on the flag of the country if so why or why not? Does this effect how house are built? If so how? Are they used in ritural? Are there certain animal band? if so why? Do any have madication use? Are they ok with animal testing? How long have they been cultivated for if they can? What sent do they give? Can will be killed by touching them? What the texture of the plant? what does they look like? Can you eat it if so what does it taste like? can the animal be burnt or does have restainces? If so what are they?
What is the regulation on plant? Are they treat for grems or not? How are they are treated? Are easy to find in the street or do they belong to a few people or only grown in a cerrtain area and why? How long have they been cultivated for if they can? What are consider plant in one country but not the other? How does this effect trade? What is clasffied as an plant? How does it effect the country being seen from an outside prepcetive? Does the country have plant right? if so what are they? What are surpertion around plant? What does that say about the country? What does the plant symbolise to that country? Does the plant have any reglisous/ historcal value? If so does that effect how it is treated? Are any plant are on the flag of the country if so why or why not? Does this effect how house are built? If so how? Are they used in ritural? Are there certain plants band? if so why? Do any have madication use? What sent do they give? Can will be killed by touching them? What the texture of the plant? what does they look like? Can you eat it if so what does it taste like? can the plant be burnt? What thing can it react with water, magic chemicals? If so What effect does it give? Both to the plant and whatever it can react with.
what does the flag sysmbloise to the country and to the rest of the world? Do the even have a flag? If so what does it look like? What shape is it? What it made from? what is the custuom around the flag? Do the people have to do anything around the flag. Like pledge allegiance and how comfortable are the people within the country with doing this? Do different flags have different meaning from the once in our world than the character world? if so why? And what the meaning?
Do they have technology if so what level do they have? Are they bannging rock? Or tarveling the speed of light? How it is it using it? Are they trainned in the tech or is this an untapped pretental? (think for an example when AI just came out/ lastest tech) How is the country taken/ taking to the tech? Love, hate, frear? Does it take any job away or create new ones? How well is your knowlage on tech, physics, chemistry and biology? If it magic what the rules/ type of system are you using around it? How can effect the world around the story and the charter?
Has anything happen in the last 100 years that is still in people memory so much that it affect the society at the time of writing? How have they been at war with and if so why?
Is there religion if so what type? How long has been like that? how are they worshipped? Are they big or small religion? where are the gods and goddess/ god/ goddess worshipped? Song meditation, spells? If so how long do they do for ? how does it impact the people from within the religion and outside, and how do they let in new people? Do they let anyone in or are there pacific requirement e.g. sex, money, class, race, etc? How does it influence their family and education? Are they taken away to study stay at home? or is seen a great thing that happen to a few people? Or do they kick out of their country due to their belief? Does impact what they eat, dress, the way they speak? Does it impact when they turn adult or not? Is there many branches of that religion if so how, what, when, where and why? Are they okay with it or are they at war due to their differing religion? Are the different path you can take within that religion or is it on a one path? If there is multiple paths how many are there and can leave or change once they committed? Do you have to go to someone in order to change your path/ Faith? do you have to meet the requirement? Or can change at any time no question ask? Does religion hold power in government? Or are they the government? How corrupt are they? Do they give last right or simply hold the person as they die? Are they the healthcare sector if so how is it run? payment or donation, or tax? Do they own or not? If so how much, how long has it been in their possession? How they get it? And why do they need it? Or do they reject anything material? How does it affect other countries? How do they feel about Happy, scared, sad, anger for due to a betrayal or being seen as heresy of that country for what ever reason? How do they react? Is the religion growing fast, slow, at a normal pace? how is the government dealing with it? Allow it or suppressing it? Why? If the religion is dying how quickly and why and when did it start dying 100 year ago? 50? 20? 15? 10? 5? Who made it die? Who is it last worshipper? Do they try to revive it or let it die with them? Ask why? Or is it a religion that fell out of fashion a long time ago and is making a comeback for what ever reason? If So why and how is the country dealing with it and the neighbouring country to where the revived religion is taking place? How much of the revived religion text survived? A lot or one copy that is sacred to its follower? Or is done through spoken context? Or is it a lie made up by one person if so why? How does the religion effect how they treat the rest of world? If so why?
Is magic here or is this historical if what point in time and what research do I have to do or already know? What geography look like, and how does it effect where the charter are at the point of writing? Do they have an army? What the healthcare like free or unaffordable? is there an health care system underground or not? How in history has normal people react to these situations, and what can I take from that? Does the normal person know their history? What is the entertainment like do they have advance games or tell story by the fire?
Are what minority treated like are they welcome? How willing are they to deal with other people from other places? Do they let them in with open arm or are they barred? If so what, when, who and why? How well are they doing within the country? Are they bard for work in certain area if so who, what, when, where and why? How does it impact them and other country around them?
What state is the economy in good, bad, ok? Do they have specially that people from other places travel to? If what is it? why and does the country allow it? What is banned in that country, and how does that compare to other country? Where can people travel to other contry and does the normal people even know about other country and where they can go on holiday? What counts as a holiday? Do they get paid holiday or do they have to save up? Is there a government mandated holiday if so how long has it been like that and has it changed in the last 100 year before you write the story? Or is there no holiday at all and the people are just expected to get on with it? How does affect the country and it neighbours? are people for leaving for better working condition and pay or is there country people leaving due there unwillingness to change? Or fighting for better rights? How much do people get paid? How do job work fixed term, pick a profession and stay within for the rest of their life or bounce around and what the country think about work? Are the unions or not? if so what rules around them and how much power do they have? What regulation around material, housing, medication, day to day stuff, sanitation, schooling? Do things brake easy or are design to last for 100s of year? how it all compare to other country?
what the crime level like, and why? does that place have specially in crime? If so what it? how do people travel by boat or by foot or tech? How like are they going to get attack on the road? How is the government funded? Do they even have a currency and how does that compare to other country? Do they even have countries yet? Is there luxury good if so what do they prise gems, medication, food? How is gender treated equal or does one tend to dominate over the other? How do people face justest? is there corruption in the government? Are there certain people that have right to do stuff that the normal person couldn't if so how does it affect the society? how it all compare to other country?
is marriage concept that the normal people would understand or is that a class thing or a thing that happen in the past? If so what are there customs around it? What are the feel around death happy, sad something that is never talk about? what are the customs around death and illness how treat them a doctor with years of experiences or their family or something in the middle? how it all compare to other country? What the social taboos and what the result of taking them? what has been recently been deemed socially acceptable and unacceptable in the last 100, 50, 25, 15, 10 and 5 year and has it influence the country? how it all compare to other country?
Is their healthcare system over run or not if so what are the mains problems within it that need fixing and is there a place to go? What illness do they suffer the most and how well it understood and treat within the community? If you are making up the disease/ long term illness what does the impact it has to the body? how well do you understand the biology of your race? Can it spread? How do they treat disable people? How comfortable with the body, shy, or not? Does the treament of people who need healthcare vary in terms of how they are treat as well as payment? Do people listion to doctor? How much education does the doctor need to become a doctor and does it need to be updated or not? How much funding is going into the healthcare system/ scincece scetor?
What is the custom in when talking to someone supra or lower than the person is talking? If so who and how and why? Is there talk about metal health? is there bais within medicine one sex/race over another?(both phycally and metally?) Do we know more about one sex/race or the other? If so why? What does it say about the country? Is there one place know for it medication and who does it attract? How inturn effect the country itself and the surounding countries?
How do they treat kids do they work or not? do they have right? what age do they become adult? Do they have to pass a test or is it just an age they need to hit? what are customs around birth and what happens if their kids dies is this a common thing or a big scandal? How does that compare to other places in the world? What are the attitudes around parenting strict? make some else do it, involved? kind? hands on or off? How does that effect the kids, and who looks after them normally within the country? Family or the state or friend pick out my the parents and sent away? and how does that how well are they look after and what do the kids think is cool and how happy are they? What about old people are they left to die or are they treated like gods? How meny kids done one family have and how is it effect by wealth? Do the kids have folktales told to them as they sleep or not and are they true?
What does the language look like? Can people read? If so how much? What thing tend to be written on and what tools do they use? Carving writing in stone is very different from wrtiting with paper and brush. As result will make it look different. What are the lanuage around the country and how meny are there? How well are the nondomitate lanuage doing? Are they ok or not and why? Is everyone muiltlingal or not? Is the class of translator? How much power do they have? do they belong to a certain class? If so why or why not? Take what the laugnage in the most complated form and simplefily it 3 time in terms of the way it look. For the language that you chacter speaking at the time of writing. Then deside on what type of system you are using eg alphabetical, sylabol. Chacater, then deside word order. And deside which way the writing goes eg left to right or top to bottom. Think about dilect and how they impact they way people speak. What other language are around the the country that you are writing in.
What is the fashion like? is clothing even a concept? What it made out of? who make it? is it mass preduce or handmade or both. What fabic are conderied cheap / expensive? Are there rules around clothing or can people wear what they like? And why? What does it say about them? Is there govement issues clothing? What about the weather and how does that impact clothing? Is their religoius/class clothing why or if not why? wear do you get the clothing? The mall or from a family realtive? Is there custom around giving clothing and what happeens if they get it wrong? What do they use to make the clothing? is jewerllery a things? Are glasses a things? What accessories are availble to them? Does make up exist? What clothing is condsired scandalous? Can you flurt with clothing? What do the rich wear and the middle class wear and the poorer class wear? What fashion tends are there going right now? what do other country think of this? What are the other country infulence on the fashion of the country when they the character are in that place in the story? Where does it differ in the smaller town to the big cities?
What the class system like how much mobity is there in the classes? How does it effect the living condtion and housing system?
What are the little folk custom in shops and in day to day life? What common stories are there and how are they effected by the culture, politics and socail rule at the time of writing them? How do they treat the homeless?
Also I work backwards to make sure that it hit the end goal of where it needs to be by the story end to prevent sagging middle syndrome. (good example is the 4 book in the miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children cause by Ransom Riggs (spoiler it is literally the mother figure telling the kids off for chapters! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK!))
For design originally I made up as I when along. but I advise you to think about what you charter is like as a person there like, dislikes,I also would that describes them, there 16 personatly type, then I look at the developmental stage they are at and think how got there. Then I think how forgiving they are, the temperment,there hope dream what they want in life, their fears, family, friends, living contion, if they were educated or not and if so where and what impact does that have on them? there flaws? what has been a big impact on there lives? I find a chacater sheet useful. Also If they are disabled them I will look how the disabilty effect that person day to day and how they get around it. Same thing if they are under opression for whatever reason. Then before I place them into the story I run them through rolyplaying situation (If you want some link let me know not sponsored through.) to get to know them and see if I have missed anything out of the charter?Then I design then bace their taste and how fabric make them feel. (do like soft clothing or jeans as an example) Do they have money to burn or are they just getting by? What are the customs with clothing and society at large. What the tempura of the place hot, cold, rainy, dry. Also I check for unconuscious bias and take it out of the charater if there is any.
Also for chapter cover I included something that is happening in the story or has happened in the past of the story and try to make a story out of the tile of the cover.
then I stetch, 3d model, line art coulor, shadow, highlight, do it by page not by pannel and on taspas I have about a year worth of content to go. Then create advert materal.
then publish and advertise
So if you like my process check out my story Elements.
For a story in general I start with a basic premise.
For example, I had an idea for the Grim Reaper in a Western setting.
Then I start thinking of characters, usually either a role to fill or a cool idea for an ability.
Then I map out the story from start to finish and fill in the rest with character development and scenes I wanna draw.
I pretty much like to have a full plan before writing a script, and bounce some ideas off my friends to see if they work.
I haven't taken this story beyond this stage yet, I'm just using it as an example.
For the story I'm currently writing, I wrote out the entire plot in a text script. I'm several arcs ahead, but need to dedicate some time to finishing the last half of the story. I know what's going to happen but it's more dialogue and how scenes play out. I don't always stick to the script exactly
Then I finalise character designs for the arc in concept sheets.
When it comes to actually drawing the chapter I do it page by page, using Clip Studio Paint.
First set out the text boxes,
then guide sketches,
Inking,
colour,
shadows,
any touch-ups.
Then I add a backline; I don't know if anyone else does this, but I have difficulty finding a good tolerance for my fill tool
Sound effects and speed lines,
text.
Once the chapter is done, taking the occasional break to mope about how it's not good enough and I'll never be a good artist, I post to a proofreading messenger group so they can spot spelling mistakes, panels that don't work, etc.
After I've made any changes they recommend, the chapter is pretty much done.
Schedule the release, put the pages on a manuscript for print, and celebrate with a glass of whisky.
I like to be methodical with how I work, otherwise, I get worked up and struggle to focus.
When I did narrative comics, it was...
-brainstorm idea, think out multiple ways and pick the one that works best
-script/panel by hand. If something doesn't work, I would cross it out and maybe use a different idea from the brainstorm. Sometimes it might look good in my head but not always work once it it actually written out.
-adding dialogue digitally. Usually put through a grammar checker first, then placed generally where I want it to go. (I add the bubbles later)
-sketch digitally, usually copying what was paneled in the notebook. Making changes if needed.
-lineart
-coloring/shading. Usually the bubbles are added in this step.
-backgrounds and touch up. I might adjust some of the dialogue to make it flow better.
For gag comics, I skip step 2. However, I might write down ideas.
For example this is what I wrote out for my Halloween strips
I ended up not using MelloPhone