How important is coloring?

[dragonfly_kites]

Thanks guys I think I'm going to color my next page and just see how it looks. (I might even do a before it was colored and after it was colored) just to see if it improves it.

[Vikiro_Hop]

I agree with those above in regards to color definitely catching someones eye. I'll just add that in story comics, interesting character design and good writing will become more important over time than whether or not it's colored. (I'm in the opinion that if coloring would dramatically affect your output and interrupt the flow of story then avoid it.) In episodic stuff especially Gag a Day I think it would be more important to color each page, if a joke doesn't hit the readers can at least enjoy some derpy colored in faces.

[dglisson]

I think you need to look at coloring at least your covers and maybe special pages or episodes. There are two things you have to worry about with a webcomic. The most important is, like a lot of people have said here, that the story and characters and art is good. VERY close behind is: how can you get people to start reading your comic? Because if they don't start reading it they'll never figure out how great your story is.

Get that banner in color, get a thumbnail in color, and have that first page really call out to folks in color is my advice on where you should start. Just my two cents!

[alaingrey]

My advice is to worry less about how much time things take and to think about what your story requires. If your drawings are unclear on their own, a little color can go a long way. if you don't know much about color theory or how to make a page in color cohesive, or don't have a color scheme in mind that adds to the story, I wouldn't bother.

Limiting the colors you choose to use can cut down on time. Make color pallettes ahead of time and limit pages to a main color that adds to the mood of the story.

Sometimes the best option for your narrative is black and white! Just make sure your drawings are clear enough that you don't need color as a crutch.

[Dozzer]

If it helps, I throw color in my series every now and then. I think the speed of outputting content and its writing is important, so most of my series is in b&w. But, I've dedicated a couple of episodes to color just to help establish how the setting and characters would look like with color.

Like what @alaingrey said, a little goes a long way

My series: The Middle Crowd

[orangeh00dey]

Maybe you could release your black and white pages normally, but then go back later when you have some extra time and color, then resubmit them! That way, you still keep your schedule!

[heterodont]

Honestly, if you aren't confident in your coloring skills or if its more effort to color your pages in - I'd suggest avoiding it for now. It'd be fine if you were practicing coloring on smaller, one shot comics, gag a days, or even just title pages. Bad color choices can affect your art negatively. I'd rather read a well made b&w webcomic rather than read a garish, muddy colored webcomic.

What matters is that you like working on it. Comics that clearly show how much a creator enjoys working on it are often times way better than those who's creators are just struggling to do things beyond what they want to actually do because other people told them they'd like it more that way.

[kazukitakamura126]

It's all a matter of preference, just like what everyone else said. Colored artwork is more attention grabbing initially but its the color, panel layout and characters work together to convey your story.

I did black and white in the past but it looked so lifeless (well I suck at making a grayscale comic anyways. :P) Color appeals to me because I also like to design character and I put a strong influence on color symbolism. Since my conversion to color I was able to apply color symbolism to my comics and well so it makes it easier for me to say certain things with my panels.

[Sanz]

I personally think it a matter of preference but color does always catch the eye. even if it s a dab of color on a page like blood or someones eyes. I see people do that alot.

[dragonfly_kites]

Wow there were a lot more responses to this since I last looked at the topic. Since I'm not entirely sure how to answer each one of you in an individual post I want to thank you all for your advice. I think I'm going to go the color route I colored my next page and I really like how it turned out. Even if it's going to take me much longer to produce.

Before:

After:

I think color adds the extra character I needed in my comic to make it more catchy.
When I feel up to it or have free time I'll go back and color my old pages.

[Sanz]

It really looks great in color!! especially that sky! i'm in love with it !

[monotone_ink]

If black and white manga can make awesome and appealing images, then you can too.

I think black and white is beneficial when it comes to saving time, but really, you should what you prefer, just make sure the end result is good.

[mappypaint]

To me from a readers view it doesn't matter if it's colored or not, as long as I like reading it and the story catches me it's going to be fine. From a creators view, I have to color mine in order to avoid confusion. If ever you decide on one be firm on it, because for me I regret my decision to start with black and white. I had to go back and recolor the first 50 pages of my comic just to be at par with the next parts.

[Marton]

I colored the first chapter for my comic, which got me a good amount of followers right from the start. (I uploaded the entire thing in one go) But now I've moved on to greytones, and I've not received a single complaint from my readers.
I've had people unsubscribe after a while, but the reason could be anything.

Colors looks nice and all, and it makes comics usually more pleasant to look at. However, I personally wish people weren't that obsessed with colors. There are so many comics that define their characters by what colors their hair is etc, instead of defining them by body types and such. With black and white/greytones you're forced to be more creative with your character designs.

[jacintawibowo]

From an artist standpoint, it depends on what style you want to go for. There are artists who make both beautiful color and black & white comics.

From an average reader or non-artist standpoint, they want color comics. The average person would look at black and white artwork and consider it unfinished. They'll ask (even if you weren't planning to color) "so when's it going to be colored?". It's unfortunate, but that's what the average reaction would be.

In the end, go with what works with you!

[Doubtcent]

Color will attract attention. It's a simple fact. Our eyes like color more than black and white... however some comics get away with some really good black and white because of tone and stuff.

I also believe there's a happy medium in-between color and monochrome. Color in black and white, then take the color layer and apply a theme color:

This was done in monochrome, but then I applied a purple-maroon color over it all. Just to save time so I can... make more comics. Coloring takes a long time.

[dratinigirl]

I think you can go either way. A lot of people only make comics in black and white because they're a lot faster to produce. (or, for people working traditionally, it's cheaper to make pictures in black and white too!) The best thing you can do is brush up on your color theory, and learn how to make colors that are attractive! I use this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kQllLy_X4I
Basically, you pick one central color, and base the intensity of other colors in your picture around it! In my comic, I've had a habit of picking blue so far (because much of the first chapter is at night, AND the main character's main color is blue)

[greyshire]

Yeah I suppose it's a balancing act between the ideal colored look for a page and how quickly you want to finish/post new ones. Limited color schemes might be a useful thing to consider- I've seen people do some really neat work with almost entirely (but not quite) black and white pages: check out cloudJUMPERS and Goth Western for example.

[demthorshie]

I personally prefer color in the comics I read but I also read several that are not in color as well. I think colors tend to grab the reader's attention a lot better. Human beings have adapted to like flashy, colorful crap I guess :p!

[dragonfly_kites]

It's not so much that Im not confident in my color theory it has more to do with the amount of time it takes to color lol, but I've decided to go with color thanks for the link ^_^ it never hurts to brush up on color theory.