Comic Panel Process - Pencil through Ink

 I have a new process post for you guys to check out! This is for the establishing shot for comic page for a project I'm working on called The Madness of Phantom Hitler. This is not a process that I use everytime I draw a background or comic page, however in this case with a larger background and environment shot, I think it works pretty well. 

 

I start with a thumbnail, which helps me to decide what my final piece is going to look like, and where my blacks will be.

 

 

 Here I am using a grid made in Google's sketchup program, printed on basic copy paper, to give me my layout. This was a handout from one of my professor's that I thought would be of good use here.

 

 I lay in my major shapes with a template, and then free hand the rest, I try not to restrict myself by making super tight lines right off the bat, but the major circles are an exception here.

 

 More background details.

 

 

 Here I begin to tighten up with templates are the straightedge.

 

 

Finished rough. Time to move it too the bristol!

 

 Page layout is ready.

 

 I prefer to ink the panel boarders first, however in this particular case, it's a problem because I didn't do the page layout with the rough drawings format in mind, so I end up having to make a second page. Not the end of the world, but I could have been smarter about this. Don't worry, the paper won't go to waste regardless.

 

 Using a lightbox, I copy the rough sketch onto the bristol board.

 

Now, using a T-Square, I ink in the panels for the rest of the page so that I won't have to worry about accidentally erasing any of them. 

 

 

 Here you can see the rough sketch and the final pencils on the bristol. Time to ink!

 

 I start with the templates again. I always like to get this part out of the way first, since it feels more like math rather than just drawing.

 

 

 I start using a straightedge to draw the lines.

 

 More lines.

 

 Floor and more detail.

 

 Final detail and shadows. Time to spot my blacks!

 

 I start with the blackest areas first.

 

 Then textures. and Im done, except for a few places that I need to touch up with white ink!

 

  

Touched up!

 The final thing, scanned and leveled!

This process definitely has it's advantages, but does take some extra time. I think I may use this more often!