How to deal with continuity mistakes

AbelDraws 2019-11-29 23:57:03 UTC #1

So, I just uploaded a page and thank to a comment I noticed I made a huge continuity error:

I tend to forget details while drawing pages, my brain just can't keep up with so many thing. Thankfully I have two friends that look over my sketches, lineart and colors and tell me stuff I forgot/how to improve things, etc.

Even with that, none of the three of us noticed this. It's kind of important, especially taking into account that the fact that he's got his hands cuffed is mentioned in the next page x'D (And let's not even talk about the frog on the bag, I always forget to add it sjklsg)

So, the thing is, do you guys have any tips with keeping up with everything? Do you make lists or something? I'd really really appreciate some advice here.

Thanks in advance!<3

Zak 2019-11-30 00:07:23 UTC #2

I tend to write down before hand within a script I print off for a chapter of things that happened previously, For instance. Theres a character in my comic that is a swordsman his sword literally shatters to pieces around, Uh, Chapter 4 I believe?
And so that makes him defenceless in some scenes so its something important to keep in mind.

Drawing specifically though, since I draw traditionally, I keep the previous pages/drawings on hand so I can use them as reference for details on newer drawings/pages. Like say for instance say if Goku from Dragonball was shirtless during a scene because he was scrapping with someone. And then next scene he suddenly has his shirt back. That'd be pretty strange lol.

Hope this somewhat helps!

AVXP 2019-11-30 00:10:27 UTC #3

@Zak I agree with Zack and echo. Re-read your own comic.
Other than that, look at the master references and work less from memory.

Iris-Grimoire 2019-11-30 00:26:32 UTC #4

Re-read the current pages, reread the script, reread your notes, double check your reference sheet before you're done flatting, always better safe than sorry(but don't be too paranoid). That said, small details like that actually get missed more often than you'd think - I've had some pretty huge missing parts on characters(ears, acessories, etc) and it's stress I put on myself for no reason, so when it comes to designs, don't worry about it!

Missing story continuity, however, be very careful, that gets noticed. Always put notes on your scripts of major changes like injuries, what happens offscreen and what doesn't, and while writing always have in mind what part of the cast is at a given scene so someone doesn't just up and vanish. It's good to reread what you have every few weeks just to make sure it's all in your mind during thumbnailing and whatnot.

rajillustration 2019-11-30 01:03:10 UTC #5

Yeah I have to make it part of my pipeline because two of my characters wear really important rings on their right hands--and I am constantly forgetting which hand is the right one since I draw them facing me. I also have a character in a different comic that is a cat with only one ear, but I sometimes...draw the ear on the wrong side. So, sometimes I read through it just to check for rings and ears. Asymetrical character designs are so fun but it is so easy to just flip the direction like all the time.

rmdooley 2019-11-30 01:44:58 UTC #6

I keep pictures of small details to reference when I am drawing the pages or have a step solely dedicated to copying and pasting clothing designs and similar patterns on certain places

It may help to thumbnail and write notes in the margins for details that won't fit or show up specifically in the draft pages

AbelDraws 2019-11-30 10:17:37 UTC #7

This was the most important and most frequently piece of advice you guys shared so I'll def try to implement it more (I look at previous pages constantly when sketching, coloring and all that, but I'm always chaging tabs, I don't usually have the same pages side by side. Will def try to change that, thank you!!)

Yes this c'': I get too confident in knowing my characters' designs and don't look as often as I should at the refs, that's totally my bad asjlksag thank you!!<3

I'm taking note on this <3 This is gonna be very useful when sketching chapter 3 (I'm going to add notes in the pages themselves so I don't forget because I'm sure I will if I just write it down in my script x'D I'll make sure to write it down in the script as well tho, thank you!)

I feel this... So much x'D One of my characters has a bracelet and I have to constantly check where it is, I know myself and if I drew it from memory it'd be in one arm one panel and the other in the next. Thanks for sharing the pain jajaja.

Having little pics instead of the pages is a good idea <3 that way my screen won't be as cluttered. I'll also try to implement that step so I don't forget any details, thank youuu!

darthmongoose 2019-11-30 12:54:06 UTC #8

I've legit re-uploaded pages a couple of days after they go live on noticing continuity errors. So far, luckily it's just been things like "whoops, I coloured this bit wrong" but I'm constantly worried that at some point I AM going to draw somebody holding their sword in the wrong hand (Rekki suddenly becomes the Dread Pirate Roberts- "I am not left handed!" ) or with their scabbard on the wrong side... That's one of the tricky things to keep track of for me. I almost forgot to draw in Ambrosius' ears last page, didn't even notice until I was colouring!

At least I'm in good company though. There were a number of instances in the popular webcomic "Homestuck" where Andrew Hussie uploaded pages where be totally forgot to draw the horns on Troll characters (who of course, all have quite prominent candycorn orange horns) and went back to fix them later.

The best thing to do is to take breaks when drawing if you can and if you can upload a few days early and look at it fresh before it goes live, that helps. A Beta reader or a second pair of eyes is always useful too!

AmazementComics 2019-11-30 22:50:21 UTC #9

Good thread topic. I ususally refer back to previous episodes of my series when looking for even the most discreet detail. I've had similar experiences as you and it can get really annoying. As others said, you can always take notes so you don't forget continuity pieces.

AbelDraws 2019-11-30 22:58:46 UTC #10

I really really wish I could have the pages ready some days before posting them but... College's being a prick and I have just the minimum ammount of free time to ink and color the pages, I usually have to finish them the same day I have to post them c': When I finish this chapter I'll go on a small hiatus so I can build a buffer, that'd be ideal. (Also the fact that Hussie made such a mistake kinda reassures me x'D). Thanks for the advice!!<3

I'll try to do this more carefully next time c': I do try to check things but they're just so many ahjsklsg. Thank u!!

skicoak 2019-11-30 23:12:42 UTC #11

I'm big Game of Thrones fan so I just add random anachronistic beverages to our group's comic... Because that's how I roll !!

Maps 2019-12-01 00:34:10 UTC #12

I always have to re-read my works to pick up on minor details I’ve forgotten. I’ve even found parts of my work that can tie into future chapters I’m writing. Usually unplanned!
So yes, I agree that re-reading is helpful.

IndigoShirtProd 2019-12-03 19:30:03 UTC #13

Ignore them and act like you did that on purpose.

But seriously, if the mistake is small enough, I'll probably go back and fix it, even if I've already posted the page. If it's a writing problem, overhauling the issue might be an impossibility. And I don't feel like fixing it, well. . . then the error is here to stay.

Rhonder 2019-12-03 19:47:15 UTC #14

I've mostly managed to avoid like BIG continuity errors but omg does my comic have so so many little ones sprinkled throghout minor elements and accessories change color schemes on occasion, the same background in the same scene can look wildly different from page to page, I forget belts or other misc. accessories, etc. I've mostly just left them and figure if/when I go out to print someday I'll do a quality control sweep through.

For example, this backpack starts out with pink straps:

And then fastforward 10 pages and it has white straps because I thought it looked better and more correct... until I looked back LOL Will probably end up adjusting the earlier instances of the 'pack to look like this:

But yeah lol. For spelling errors and small coloring errors that I notice right away or have pointed out, I do just quickly make the fix and reupload in the next few days, though.

AbelDraws 2019-12-03 21:55:17 UTC #15

Sadly that was off the table c': in the next page things happen regarding the cuffs, so I really couldn't let that pass x'D I'd have fixed it even if it was just a minor detail tho, I'd rather have everything be coherent. Thank you <3

Omg I read your comic and didn't ever notice! It's quite minor tho so it's not that weird, nothing to worry too much about Thanks for sharing your experience (And also <33 best of lucks with the rest of the comic! I'm excited to see its ending, even tho I jumped in quite near the end c': )

Rhonder 2019-12-03 22:26:21 UTC #16

Yeahhh it's minor enough that i haven't bothered changing it yet, but i totally didn't even notice until several pages after i subconsciously made the change- was rereading the whole comic and was like "huh, wait a minute... yep, that got messed up"

Ahhh ty! Yeahh I'm pushing to wrap this season/arc up on the next update, and then it'll be a while before I'm ready to begin the next one, but hopefully not too late into next year @u@ it's at least a good ways into the writing phase!