How do you go about using references in your comic?

[inubasket]

I use DesignDoll (a 3D doll program), picture references, and youtube videos.

If I need a very specific pose though and just can't find it, I make my husband do the pose

[alexlcuri07]

I used to make my mom do the same thing. Especially for hands.

I usually just Google Image references, especially for poses. I still struggle with backgrounds (one of the many reasons I haven't started a graphic novel yet) so I wanted to comment so I could follow this thread too.

[kmlangleyauthor]

If I need a very specific pose though and just can't find it, I make my husband do the pose

This made me laugh - our poor spouses. I had to ask my husband questions about his beard/scruff for my story the other day and the look he gave me... smh

[alexlcuri07]

Oh and shapes. I always break things into shapes and general outlines to get a working silhouette first.

[kmlangleyauthor]

Google reference images is my lifestyle lol. I really hope there’s someone somewhere that sees my google searches and just gets really confused by all the weird stuff I look up as references and poses

[foxnflames]

Same! He catches me staring and I’m like.... go back to what you were doing I’m trying to look at the shadows on your face.

I tried to pose him once but he wouldn’t cooperate

[alexlcuri07]

Same! I'm low key waiting for the FBI to get me on my search history for not only references but research topics I needed for my novel. Its a moment, really.

[foxnflames]

I use reference pics and sometimes have to find several to find the poses I want because I’m not at the level where I can think of the pose I want and draw it. I need to stare at it for a long time and I think I suck at shadows so they’re needed. I paste it in the corner of my “canvas” and then draw it. I pretty much make up the features but I’ll find references for face shapes and body types as well as facial expressions.

[kmlangleyauthor]

I tried to pose him once but he wouldn’t cooperate

Such a shame

I'm low key waiting for the FBI to get me on my search history for not only references but research topics I needed for my novel.

YES!! This and it’s not like you can just google normal phrases - it’s always super weirdly specific stuff to get the right pose or information and then you realize after the fact just how sketchy it might sound out of context

[foxnflames]

it’s always super weirdly specific stuff to get the right pose or information and then you realize after the fact just how sketchy it might sound out of context

I needed a reference pic of a man lying down and the more I scrolled the more unclothed they became I was like I didn’t ask for this

[kmlangleyauthor]

Haha OOPS!!

At one point I was searching for a very VERY specific one shoulder cape type thing for a sort of modernized Roman type officer uniform... yeah... my search terms got WEIRD

[dsptss78]

When it comes to references I usually google images of people in different poses or I use magic poser. It really depends on whether your going for something realistic or not. It doesn't hurt to use your favorite artist as reference as well.

[gmaximin]

Depends on how mature/finalized is my idea.
If I have a very clear idea on what I want to do, I either go through my photo stock (landscape, museum objects, etc) or image search engine. I do a rough draft and then adapt for light/shadow and for the style I want. For pose, it’s very hard to get exactly what I want from ref pic, so I adapt for angle.
If I don’t have anything really clear already plan and just a rough feeling/mood/scene I might just do image search and shamelessly copy the pose (same light source, angle) only using my own style, and then adapt panel background and storytelling to match it.

[MrOwl]

"Frankenstein" is this actually what you call this or is that just what you call that method?

It's that specific method's name according to my mentor lol, she learned it with a master fantasy artist, and taught me lol, fitting right?

[demthorshie]

I use different images of poses from Google mostly. I've used my own body movements for references as well.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Now I mostly use the 3D models that CSP has. I even make ones tailored to the height and size of my characters. But I don't usually trace them exactly, I just do very rough approximate sketches and build from there.
For backgrounds and perspective stuff I try to find royalty free photos as much as possible and do the same thing with my 3D models. Roughly sketching the shapes and concepts needed.
I definitely need references for a lot of basic things, but I try to also do a practice time that isn't used in the comic that is for detailed studies as well so I always have built up ideas and techniques.

[jurinova]

Mostly I just use myself as a reference. Either I use a mirror and sketch myself or if the pose is difficult to hold then I take a picture. I find it easiest to do it this way because then I can get the right angle and pose straight away instead of spending a long time on finding something suitable online, not to mention I don't have to worry about copyrights of any sort. Though, sometimes things get weird like when I had to roll around the floor while trying to sketch the pose from a mirror. I do not recommend that.

One thing that has really helped me with poses is doing live drawings. Now I know not everyone has a change to do that but croquis is a great way to learn anatomy. I keep my sketches from all the lessons I've done and sometimes use them as reference.

[SagaHolmgaard]

For hand gestures and expressions I film myself and then screenshot the best frames for reference. I've also done some "cosplays" and taken selfies to figure out how clothing folds work on my characters' various outfits! For regular poses I sometimes use the 3D-models in Clip Studio, it's easier if I need a certain angle that I can't film myself in (I only have my computer's built-in camera, so I'm very limited )

[BlueDragon]

I do a variety of stuff...but I've found when I use what I was taught in school I get better proportions XD But then I get in a hurry and I have to go back and fix stuff XD (I am by no means a great artists, in spite of school XD XD)

But I finally broke down and got a hand model so that I could improve on hands. I still use my own hands for some poses, but the model breaks down the joints so I have a better idea of what I should be doing (I don't...use shapes so much any more, but they can be helpful).

I also use references when I'm doing a full body and wanting to focus on proportions. I'll use a photo, and do that extending arm and comparing heads to other parts to try to make sure things go where they belong :3 You know what I'm talking about?

Uh...and I sometimes use royalty free/library of congress images of buildings as references for structures. Buuuuut that's just me, and I have a lot of improvements to make ^_^

[HGohwell]

I use CSP's 3D dolls for poses a lot, but they're not always great for interactive poses and of course only really work with human. For backgrounds, I quite often cobble a load of pictures together and then sketch over them. Unsplash is a lifesaver. All the images are free to use and edit for personal or commercial use without credit, although credit or just a link back to the site is always nice, and the collections function is a godsend for organisation. I have tons of different folders for different reference types from couple poses to city backgrounds to textures.