THE COMIC STRIP!: FAQ (Ask all your questions HERE!)

[augustus]

Just to clarify: We will open our thread on the DSF after we completed our first page, right?

[CGmonkey]

Isn't "sin" related to religion? j/k

I'm not sure I fully understand what the rules are, but I'll just go along the stream I guess :]

[coCoKNIght]

Also just to clarify: If I want to participate I do for example a 3 panel strip, then I post it on the WIP forum and then I post a reply here with a link to that WIP thread? Is that right?! And each time I post a new strip on the WIP thread I post I reply on this thread here, right?!

EDIT: The topic has to be covered on each strip on at least one panel?

[AndyH]

Erm... you do know that the image on the title page says 'the comic stip' dont you?

Edit - nice quick change - efficient!

[RobertoOrtiz]

Just to clarify: We will open our thread on the DSF after we completed our first page, right?

This is the MAIN thread.
The artist WIP should be posted:
on the WIP/Critique: 2D, Illustrations and Concept Art (http://www.cgtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31)
Forum.


-R

[JHarford]

2 front page plugs?
:) , better get in on this .

[RobertoOrtiz]

[QUOTE=coCoKNIght].... And each time I post a new strip on the WIP thread I post I reply on this thread here, right?! [QUOTE]

That is the idea. Only finished work and general comments should be posted on this thread.


EDIT: The topic has to be covered on each strip on at least one panel?

No. The would make things too hard.

I should have made the rule more clear.

If you publish 6 strips, just make ONE of the strips about the monthly topic.
Or if you wish, you can cover the topic on ALL the strips.
You decide.

The idea is to give as much flexibility as possible for the creator.

-R

[coCoKNIght]

- removed 'cause this thread has been renamed.

[yonna]

Cant there be some sort of warning-tag in the title when there is religion or politics involved? I say this because Alice just made a good comic-strip (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=215098) but only a wee bit provocative towards religion. It would be a pity if she had to remove that.

[mahir]

The fun begins!
But wait - you provide the topic right (i.e. this month it's "Sins of the Past")? And we work towards that topic (kind like 1 topic a day for the Daily Sketch). So how come there are many WIPs with different titles? Shouldn't they all be the same title (by different artists)?
Or am i getting confused for nothing here?

PS: This topic is great! Coincidentally it sorta fits with something i've been working on for awhile now...

[RobertoOrtiz]

[QUOTE=mahir] The fun begins!
But wait - you provide the topic right (i.e. this month it's "Sins of the Past")? And we work towards that topic (kind like 1 topic a day for the Daily Sketch). So how come there are many WIPs with different titles? Shouldn't they all be the same title (by different artists)?
Or am i getting confused for nothing here?
[QUOTE]

The reason there are so many titles, is that the monthly topic is diferent from the title of the artists strip on the WIP forum. Think of the monthly topic as a story, storyline or line of dialog in the bigger story for the strip/comic.

The way I see it, this gives the artists more control.

-R

[Kirt]

[crying baby mode]Thanks for using FORK! for the plug Roberto. But couldn't you have used this one (http://www.cgtalk.com/showpost.php?p=1997749&postcount=7) instead? At least you could see it.[/crying baby mode]

Woooo ... the fun begins! I better get to work. A page a week is going to be tough for me. :wip:

[.:ZRDwD:.]

Here's are some stupid questions that I'm sure this moron is overlooking. If someone could, can you highlight the points in which I may have overlooked.

I am planning on doing a GN (what is suggested to be approx. 144 pages).


Is each page supposed to be posted in this thread when completed, or the finished WHOLE story (graphic novel)? (suggested that when doing a comic book, to limit it to one page a day, but can it be posted when completely complete?)
When referring to a finished WHOLE story (graphic novel), is it suggested to link thumbnails/text to the tale since 144 pages may be "overkill" for the thread?
Is it ok when doing the WIPs to NOT display story text until the finished piece?
What is a Page ID? Is that basically a title and/or page number?
**quote: ...if you do a comic book, do it in multiple of 2.** What does this mean? Two comics? Two pages a day?
I'm sure I'll have more. Eh, sorry if those were annoying... it's best to get it right the first time than believe I had finished something in 30 days and find out I qualify for sh*t because I didn't understand a simple thing.

[RobertoOrtiz]

Is each page supposed to be posted in this thread when completed, or the finished WHOLE story (graphic novel)? (suggested that when doing a comic book, to limit it to one page a day, but can it be posted when completely complete?)



It is you choice.

I would prefer that when you finish a page, you would post it.

To be fair it would be in your interest to post it that way, because it would create more interest in your work and you get immediate input from your story.
The input you get from your WIP will be worth its weight in gold.

When referring to a finished WHOLE story (graphic novel), is it suggested to link thumbnails/text to the tale since 144 pages may be "overkill" for the thread?

Is it ok when doing the WIPs to NOT display story text until the finished piece?



You control what gets posted in your WIP thread. I have no problem if you don't post the text.

Remember that the CORE thread will be taken down each month. That means that the only way people will be able to keep up with your work is your WIP thread. This is why I encourage to post often with updates to the core thread, so people will be interested.



Is it ok when doing the WIPs to NOT display story text until the finished piece?



You control what gets published on YOUR WIP thread.



What is a Page ID



It is the corresponding page number of the posting you are doing on the CORE thread. If you are doing page 15 of your 144 novel you would write : PAGE 15/144



**quote: ...if you do a comic book, do it in multiple of 2.** What does this mean? Two comics? Two pages a day?

No. It means that the maximum number of comic pages you do pages can only be posted in multiples of 2.

So this means you should NOT write a 3 page comic book, it should be a 4 page comic book. This is done to avoid a "hanging" page when "printing" the book.

[Kirt]

Is each page supposed to be posted in this thread when completed, or the finished WHOLE story (graphic novel)? (suggested that when doing a comic book, to limit it to one page a day, but can it be posted when completely complete?)

If you're doing a comic book format, I wouldn't post anything in this thread until you have your story completed for the month (based upon this month's theme). Posting your pages together within the thread will make it easier to read start to finish for other members. If you post each page as it's completed, your story will most likely be interrupted by other members posting thier pages or strips.

When referring to a finished WHOLE story (graphic novel), is it suggested to link thumbnails/text to the tale since 144 pages may be "overkill" for the thread?

There are going to be new themes for each month. So focus on getting as many pages as you can done for the month that concentrate on that theme. I doubt you're going to get 144 pages done in one month, but if you are some sort of comic book fanatic and do manage this amazing task, I would suggest posting no more than 4 pages here and URL link to your other pages. We do have members still on dial-up internet connections and we want to keep some sort of limits on the number of images posted in a thread page.

Is it ok when doing the WIPs to NOT display story text until the finished piece?

The WIP threads will be yours to manage any way that you feel is appropriate. You could not post anything until the page is done, or you can post each and every step along the way. It's entirely up to you.

What is a Page ID? Is that basically a title and/or page number?

I believe the Page ID is exactly that. On the comic book page template that I posted earlier there is space at the top to identify book, issue and page number. This should be sufficient for the Page ID.

**quote: ...if you do a comic book, do it in multiple of 2.** What does this mean? Two comics? Two pages a day?

I think this is supposed to read "multiples of 4". Comic books are printed in page numbers that are multiples of 4 (20, 24, 28, 32, etc.). This has to do with the way that the books are printed and bound. If you did a 24 page comic (excluding the cover pages) a page from the printer would have pages 2 and 23 together on the top and pages 1 and 24 printed on the bottom. So, when you combined it with the other pages, stapled it in the middle and folded it in half ... you'd have a comic book.

[RobertoOrtiz]

What kirt said....

:)

-R

[Kirt]

Hehehe ... we were posting the same thing at the same time. Although the last one I believe is correct with "multiples of 4".

[.:ZRDwD:.]

Thanks R.O. for your quick reply.

Best to get cracking when I get off work.

If it is ok, I'll also submit a cover page. And post whatever pages I complete every Sunday (or whatever chapter).

**Remember, the CORE thread will be taken down each month...**
So, this isn't going to be archived, or do you mean that the thread will be LOCKED?

Hell, even if I never finish it at the end of the month (average of 5 pages per day), at least it's a challenge that I can pile upon my already hectic schedule and claim it in my portfolio, whether or not no one is interested. I honestly believe it'll be too depressing for members here to enjoy, and not relating to any "superhero"-like agenda.

Oh well... at least I can say I did it for myself. http://cgtalk.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[RobertoOrtiz]

I will probably lock the thread.


-R

[.:ZRDwD:.]

Oops... cross-breed between Kirt and R.O. http://cgtalk.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Thanks to you to, Kirt!
I'll follow both advice. Thanks.

But, with that graphic novel idea... I felt it more appropriate to have it focused on that one theme. I would HATE to see the next one be, "Happy Little Flowers of Funland". Totally blow my novel out of sequence.

But, you're right, Kirt. 24 pages a month should be a limit for myself, or I would be expecting hospitalization for stress. And, no, I'm not a fanatic with comics. Hell, really never read any except "horror tale" types. But, this will be nothing like it. I may be a horror-freak-o-holic, but I think I need to get more personable with this. If I make this a horror comic... I would certainly be banned. :)

[Branko]

No religious context? So no daemon characters?
what if it's a made up religion? One that has nothing to do with contemporary faiths.

Thanks.

[RobertoOrtiz]

No religious context? So no daemon characters?
what if it's a made up religion? One that has nothing to do with contemporary faiths.

Thanks.

I have no problem with that...

-R

[Loulu79]

So u mean...that if I want at least 24 pages for this month March, it would be wise to work on it during the days before the last day of this month to show the whole piece to avoid chaos? :shrug: And what if I don't have a website at the moment...but I still want to put up at least one attachment from my computer for feedback...Now that I'm over 30 posts...?:applause: (< so glad!)

P.S. I am working on my website to put up my portfolio...should that be also the link to my latest work...as in this comic book strip...?:shrug:

And btw: I have seen sketch of the Week b4...but I'm still a newbie here...does the rules imply that I must sketch in one day or b4 this week is over...?:shrug:

And where is the thread for this SOTW anyway?:shrug:

And oh...to add to what Rasdassa (http://www.cgtalk.com/member.php?u=17667) said about religious topic...mine appears New Thought style...say like...The Sandman...?

Is that also ok?:shrug:

[RobertoOrtiz]

So u mean...that if I want at least 24 pages for this month March, it would be wise to work on it during the days before the last day of this month to show the whole piece to avoid chaos? :shrug:


Asi I said before you have total control. If you wish to post on a daily basis, it is fine.
If you wish to post at the end of the month, it is also fine.


And what if I don't have a website at the moment...but I still want to put up at least one attachment from my computer for feedback...Now that I'm over 30 posts...?:applause: (< so glad!)


If you dont have a website, you can use a photohosting service like Photobucket.And I am also glad you have over 30 posts.


P.S. I am working on my website to put up my portfolio...should that be also the link to my latest work...as in this comic book strip...?:shrug:


As I said before, you have control of what you post in your WIP thread.


And btw: I have seen sketch of the Week b4...but I'm still a newbie here...does the rules imply that I must sketch in one day or b4 this week is over...?:shrug:


The sketch of the week is a different animal.


And where is the thread for this SOTW anyway?:shrug:


The sketch of the week is a different animal.


And oh...to add to what Rasdassa (http://www.cgtalk.com/member.php?u=17667) said about religious topic...mine appears New Thought style...say like...The Sandman...?

Is that also ok?:shrug:

Sounds cool by me.

[.:ZRDwD:.]

I made a mistake in the title of my WIP thread (did not add the 2005 as required). When I realized what I had done after reviewing some comments made on the new thread, I thought I could just edit the title in the first post I made, but found that untrue.

Do I have to delete that WIP thread and create another and notify a moderator? Or do I just continue on with the show, hoping it doesn't count against me for not realizing that 2005 was not entered in the title?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

**thanks to R.O. or Kirt... or whomever corrected posted thread. Greatly appreciated.**

[daw]

This is gonna be so mush fun and time consuming...

question: So let's pretend I want to make a page every week,
now - what is the page format? is there a preferred format or could I make
it in let's say A4 or B4??? maybe I missed this somewhere.

[RobertoOrtiz]

OK here are some templates created by Kirt and me.

-R

[DoInferno]

[EDIT: Roberto, I´m posting this message here too, so that people can think about and comment my sugestion. Thanks for the answer you already gave me, but i think the problem is still going.]

Ok Roberto, i have got another question here...

About the WIP trhead, won´t it be a problem after a while whem my WIP, full of complet 3 panel histories, be found only at page 26...

I mean, people will be posting theirs WIP and our always alive WIp Thread, will receive new histories, but nobody will find it, cause they will be at the end of the WIP session...

Shouldn´t we have a sub-forum, like DSG, only for those Comics strips? It could be something like the Comic Strip Group, were you would only see WIPs of the comics Strips, and wu wouldn´t be competing for space with the WIPs that are not Comics about...

Tell me what you think of it.

You see, my character has a theme involving him, and i´ll always try to get him on the theme of the month, but he is going to have 3 panel strips about his life, and they won´t all be involved with he theme of the month, soo... I would just love if people could easily find him among the others WIP Thread...

And by the way, this mess is already happening... I think it´s already being hard to find the comic WIP among non-comic WIP...

[RobertoOrtiz]

Wann find the strips ana the WIP go here...

THE COMIC STRIP!: "Sins of the Past" (UPDATED MArch 1st 2005) (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=215203)


And a new forum will NOT happen.

-R

[elmasfeo]

I cannot open those zip files... am I the only one? does it require something special for opening or...? it tells me it's not a valid archive...:shrug:
I couldn't see the one kirt posted neither, I guess it's the same thing

[DoInferno]

Hehe... This thread at CGNews you made is a nice solution. Thanks!

[yonna]

With me, the Dailystrip4PanelTemplate works but the ComicBookPage doesnt.

[DoInferno]

Elmasfeo, have you got Winzip instaled on your machine? here ya go! (http://www.winzip.com)

[.:ZRDwD:.]

I cannot open those zip files... am I the only one? does it require something special for opening or...? it tells me it's not a valid archive...:shrug:
I couldn't see the one kirt posted neither, I guess it's the same thing

Me neither. But, then, I am at work and it could be filtered. Even though I got the same error message and blank archive.

I can wait till I get home, unrestricted.

And R.O.:
You never seize to amaze me, man. Quick thinking and even quicker execution of creating THE COMIC STRIP!: "Sins of the Past" (UPDATED MArch 1st 2005) (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=215203) .

Keep it up (you too, Kirt), and making this a fab forum.

[Swizzle]

Would it be acceptable to edit the first post that one did in their WIP thread so that the newest strips/pages show up whenever you finish them? You could have them in chonological order in separate posts in your thread, but wouldn't it be easier for everyone to post the newest stuff in your first post as well? That way somebody wouldn't have to wade through five bajillion pages just to get to the strip they last saw.

(This is just to be more clear) So, you have your thread that has all your strips/pages in it. You post each of your new things in a new post whenever they are finished (as well as WIP stuff if you want), but with each new page or strip you edit your first post to either have a link to the current one or you edit it to show the newest stuff as well as having new posts with the stuff in it.

Would that be okay, mister manager man?

[.:ZRDwD:.]

Swizzle:

I think that's when someone can use the "view last post". Editing the first post wouldn't be "logical" in a way that no new posts are generated by you (unless you are adding a link updates, then that's understandable).

And depending on how many updates you have, hate to see one single post take up an entire first page of a thread. I'll just be titling my post accordingly to whatever it is I am doing.

Don't take this as me be an ass.

[Kirt]

I don't know what happened with that template file, but I can't open it either.
Here's my comic book template PSD file.

Right Click & Save As ... (http://kirt.cgcommunity.com/psdfiles/comic-book-template.psd)

[Loulu79]

Sounds to me we are all still in launching mode here...I'm on my website right now to have it take off very very soon...questions are still being answered...samples are still to be made...problems unzipping...it appears this is obviously new territory for the majority of us...

And in response for Roberto, so all those who posted up their work and created new threads have a webspace for themselves? U mean posting it from your own computer is a waste of time?

(Bare with me here...I'm still learning...so have patience...new at posting images...)

[RobertoOrtiz]

Same rules as the daily sketch group...

You post your work on your own server.
Anyway, I have fixed the attachment problems.
The graphic is in GIF format so when you download it you need to increase the number of colors.

-R

[.:ZRDwD:.]

I've been using Kirt's PSD temp for the comic. What exactly does each layer mean? I've been using the "copy" layer as the area in which the panels fall into place and should not exceed.

Also, does 24 pages (144 GN) include the cover and back? Would the "inner" pages be 22/132, or am I looking to hard into this?

[Kirt]

Regarding the comic book template - from the outside in ...

Bleed limit - If you are doing artwork to the edge of the page you should extend the art to this line. Part of it will be trimmed, but it's better than falling short of the edge of the page.

Trim line - The actual cut of the page. Printers will trim the page to this size after it's been printed.

Copy - For text. You should include all of your text within this area. This prevents difficulties reading if the text gets too close to the center of the book. Sort of like a safe zone in TV or movie render - for the 3D guys and gals.

Other ...

Divisions - Show middle and thirds of the page. A simple layout tool.

Covers - Count them as 4 pages. Front cover, inside front, inside back and back cover. Then insert 20 pages for a 24 page book - or - insert 24 pages for a 28 page book.

Roberto and I like to post at the same time. :D

[RobertoOrtiz]

The 24 pages, do not cover the cover and the back.

-R

[duddlebug]

I've just got one question... i think...

To be eligible for voting it says there needs to be 5 updates (i'm probably gonna be doing a three or four panel newspaper strip). Do you mean 5 updates of the same strip (like a WiP of the same three or four panel strip for one day's newspaper) or 5 individual strips? (i.e. 5 three or four panel strips... 5 days worth for a newspaper)

Just trying to work out if i'm gonna have time to get stuck into this!!

[Ilikesoup]

Roberto,
I realized how much I dislike the title I chose for my comic thread. Is it possible to change the thread title? If so, I'd like to change THE COMIC STRIP! : Chris Perdigao 2005 : "Three Amigos" (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=215160) to THE COMIC STRIP! : Chris Perdigao 2005 : "Misfits" . The link is http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=215160 .

So far, progress is good and I hope to complete the first page this weekend. It's challenging but very exciting. Thanks again for making this possible.

(BTW, your mailbox is full)

[Kirt]

duddlebug - 5 daily strips. The topic runs for the whole month. So, shoot for at least 1 new strip each week. I think Roberto will be flexible enough to allow you in the voting process if you only get 4 done. :D

Ilikesoup- Thread titles can be changed by any Forum Leader. I changed it for you.

[Ilikesoup]

Thanks, Kirt!

For those who are doing comic book pages, I wonder if other people are plotting, inking and lettering only one page at a time or if you're plotting all your pages first and then doing the finish work at the end.

[duddlebug]

Thanks Kirt!!

This is probably the incentive i need to revive my 'King of Space' idea... i reckon i should be able to knock out a strip a week...

I gathered from the Q&A and your comic strip thread that we can keep the same character and just tailor one or more of the months' strips to the monthly theme. Is that right?

[Kirt]

Ilikesoup - Different people will have different approaches to how they do their pages. Me personally, I start with a basic idea of how the story will play out over 4 pages, then I just start drawing and add to or remove what works as I go along. That's just the way I work. I will often rewrite parts based upon the panels that I draw.

duddlebug - Yeah, the idea is to keep the same characters and write new episodes based upon the monthly theme. Can't wait to see what you start working on. :thumbsup:

[visionist]

OK soo we are suppose to be putting up our finished work on the finished thread one page at a time soo if someone is trying to read one story or voting on a story they have to fish thru all the other comics strip to finish a story that could become a long process for somone with a 24 page comic, or is there another way we are suppose to go at this?


~~Visionist~~

[RobertoOrtiz]

Nope, the thread basically gives me an idea of what pages/strips you have finished and want to "publish"

I just copy your finished stuff from that thread to as LOCKED thread on the news section
that I am the only one who can post.


THE COMIC STRIP!: "Sins of the Past" (UPDATED March 4th 2005) (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=215203)

-R

[drawMonger]

I'm In!!! "Testing Friday" (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?p=2023439)

will be great drawing practice.

Thanks Roberto :thumbsup:

[.:ZRDwD:.]

It's not like I'm well-known or popular around here for anyone to care, but, unfortunately, I have to disband myself from the challenge.

Thursday the 3rd I got some requests for job-per-piece offers for my traditional work. I've never received so many (yes, to me, three pieces is alot to handle all at once... never before have I ever gotten this many in one setting), and have to get one done ASAP, and the others are indefinate due to fact that it may result in further pieces (if realistic enough, it is quoted, word of mouth will spread amongst their co-workers and family). The ASAP will be acrylic (airbrush and standard brush). The others will be oil (in which I want to pay alot attention to for photorealism, the reason why the offers were handed to me due to my previous horror-art that people have seen, but want the realism applied to a portrait of a family member and one wants a life-size naked femme lying on a blanketed couch with a look of Victorian times).

I will do the strip on my free time away from the canvas, but no guarentees that it's going to be posted weekly or even bi-weekly. Whenever I finish the entire thing, I'll just link ya within 6 months (because it's a Graphic Novel).

Do you wish for the WIP page and links to the images disabled? I hate to take up your space with a link to one page to one chapter of my comic.

Good luck to you all with the challenge. I'll check-up every-so-often to see progression.

[DoInferno]

So today is 31/03... When does the voting starts?

[RobertoOrtiz]

Monday.

I already posted the topic for the month of April.

-R

[DoInferno]

Where will the voting thread be posted? Daily Sketch or CGNews?

And why was the Sin of the Past taken away from the CGNews? Where will members go to choose their votes?

[RobertoOrtiz]

Ill post it here..

I was going to work on it yesterday, but I spent most of my day in the hospital.

-R

[elmasfeo]

in the hospital?
are you ok Roberto?

[DoInferno]

Yeah! What happened man? Are you ok? Is somone else not ok? Hope everithing is fine...

[RobertoOrtiz]

The voting thread is up.
http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=215381


I am Ok guys.
A friend of mine got sick that is it.

-R

[DoInferno]

Till witch day will the vote thread be open?

[RobertoOrtiz]

Until Friday....

-R

[RobertoOrtiz]

Ok posted the results!


http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=215381&page=1&pp=15

-R

[GOTgraphic]

This is a great idea!

I'm fixin to get into this comic work... just have to figure out what exactly is going on (am a little confused about it, so I'm watching how its done).

[RobertoOrtiz]

I know that is is concoluted right now.

Part of the reason is that I am trying to prove that there is a "market for this".

I would love to hear any question you may have GOT!.

-R

[LadyMedusa]

In the rules it says:
Collaborative pieces are accepted and encouraged, but Teams entries must have a identifying banner and a name.

My brother and I, are going to enter as a team. Does this mean we need to make a logo and give ourselfs a team-name?
Should I call it "THE COMIC STRIP! D'Este 2005: Ustinja" or "THE COMIC STRIP! Alexander and Valentina R. D'Este 2005: Ustinja"?

[Miyagu]

hi,

this is a great idea! :thumbsup:

i would like to participate but after reading for more than an hour or so i still didn´t get it right i think.. and my eyes hurt from the monitor.. :cry:

so here are my questions:

it´s june the 5th and there is only the thread with the theme from the last month: THE COMIC STRIP! 003:May 2005: "Will it ever be?" (POST HERE YOUR FINISHED PIECES) (showthread.php?t=238013)

i like the theme a lot and i already have a vivid idea of what to make.. but it´s june.. that means it´s over, isn´t it? *arrggll*

so if i would like to participate what is the new theme for june, so that i can get started? :bounce::arteest:

thanks a lot!

[malcolmvexxed]

I know that is is concoluted right now.

Part of the reason is that I am trying to prove that there is a "market for this".

I would love to hear any question you may have GOT!.

-R

Is there a market for it yet? doesn't seem like many people are actively participating.

[Miyagu]

Is there a market for it yet? doesn't seem like many people are actively participating.

oh.. i think there is! but the rules look a little too confusing to me..

--> one theme a month but you can make ongoing stories and then the thread you once signed in is going to be locked but you can then write a personal email to unlock it again... that might scare people away.. *confused*

but maybe that´s because english isn´t my first language and so maybe i missread something.. :D

the rest seems clear to me: you can do/draw what you want.. open a wip in the 2d section where you put all your comicstrip-work (sketches etc..) and show your finished stuff on the monthly theme thread you signed in on.. and there´s a deadline for this thread.. so if you have an ongoing comicstrip you just sign in on the next month theme thread again and go on showing your next finished stuff there.. (and off course the theme must be in the comicstrip somehow.. but a single line of text would do)

hmmm.. is this right?

once again: i really love the idea! :thumbsup: but how can i participate?

[RobertoOrtiz]

I am going to start this concept FROM SCRATCH...

Keep an eye for this thread.


-R

[malcolmvexxed]

i'll keep working on my comic and just try to adapt it when the new guidelines are posted. if it works i think it'd be good for reminding people of the possibility of the medium so i hope the forum sticks with it.

[malcolmvexxed]

I am going to start this concept FROM SCRATCH...

Keep an eye for this thread.


-RAlso way in the future a graphic novel/compendium style release would be nice in traditional format. The matrix comic graphic novels are a great example i think.

[duddlebug]

I just thought i'd move this... i originally posted it on the Comic Strip thread about increasing participation (on page two of the daily sketch forum). I hope it comes over as constructive criticism. I think the Comic Strip idea has loads of potential... so here's a whole bunch of waffle...

I think 'the Comic Strip' is a great idea... and i'm hoping to participate a whole lot more from this month with 'the King of Space', but.... and some of this may is repeating what some peeps have already said... BUT...

I do think the rules sound particularly scary... and i get confused whenever i try to find the correct pages. I couldn't find the April and March threads for instance. And, has a topic been announced for June yet?

Here's some ideas that would help me... Just putting them in for discussion and consideration...

Is there any possibility that the comic strip could have it's own sub-forum alongside the daily sketch forum on the top bar of the WiP forum? Then the Comic Strip pages wouldn't get lost amongst the daily sketch pages. You could click into the forum and it'd be just Comic Strip threads... which may also include people's WIP threads..? (They also seem to get lost amongst the other WIP threads... it's very difficult to look at and crit/encourage other participants)

How about a system like the challenges, where your most recent entry always sits at the top of your thread? (I realise this might be too much of a pain... because of the way we submit/upload entries) Or can you make the top of the monthly entries thread images only (followed by replies/discussion)? So it's easier to browse the month's entries... I realise it's a different forum, but conceptart's COW weekly contest works quite nicely along those lines...

How about relaxing the rules a little...? If you can only post a line art version, then that's fine. If you want to post a full colour version, that's fine too. If you only get three daily strips done in a month, then that's just dandy and you'll be eligible for voting. If you only get one strip done (that ties in with the monthly theme), then that's fine too. If you get a 30 page comic done in the month, then that's even finer. See what i mean? I think that as long as the theme is covered, then any amount of pages should be eligible. Maybe even a piece of cover art could be eligible as long as it fitted the theme?? Or how about a couple of dailies and a 3-row sunday strip? Or just a sunday strip? Relaxing the formatting rules (check out some of the links from Scott McCloud's site for some cool layouts)? I could go on and on...

There's a lot of busy people who'd like to take part but may not have the time available to fulfill the current guidelines. I have a (very) full-time job concepting in the games industry, a 2 hour commute and a new baby in the house, for instance. I've got time to do other stuff (like this activity) but in the last couple months i've not participated because i couldn't fulfill all of the requirements. It looks like i'm gonna have plenty of time to join in in June so i may get 8 dailies submitted ( ), but i've missed three months because i knew i couldn't get it all done. I think we all understand what the 'pros' can knock out, but most people taking part in this have to fit it around their daily grind. I drew the rough for a strip this morning with my daughter under my other arm for instance!! I'm sure i'm not the only person who's been 'scared off'... And a lot of what can be achieved in comics can be achieved with a rough sketchy version of a strip!! It should be a fun activity after all!!

And maybe more front page ads..? Promote the activity some more... promote each month's entries more... encourage more people to take part... It'd be great if the activity could garner the same kudos as the daily sketch threads. Awarding a little badge like the daily sketch trophy or the cg choice trophy perhaps..? Maybe having a bigger 'judging' event quarterly? Or six-monthly with small prizes? Perhaps an info thread within the Comic Strip sub-forum ( ) thread for general comics discussion? Maybe some other threads like technical help for Comics? Links to publisher's submission guidelines? Although i do think that if more people who are already participating submitted images each month, it would generate more interest, and i'm probably the most guilty of neglecting my thread over the last couple of months.

It'd be a shame if the 'Comic Strip' idea slowly fades into the ether... I think a lot of the rules and ideas and themes are good, it's just a bit confusing at the moment.

And from now on, i promise to do 'my bit' to keep it going!!

EDIT: I wanted to correct a couple of spelling mistakes... but shut explorer down and went for a pee. When i came back i couldn't even find this thread!! I think the biggest issue favcing the Comic Strip is how it sits in the forums... a SUb-Forum alongside the Daily Sketch forum would be incredibly beneficial in my eyes!! I dunno if this is possible... but it'd certainly help!! And I do want to say a big THANKS to Roberto for everything he's done so far...

I hope some of that may be useful.... just my thoughts... good luck Roberto!!

[Swizzle]

Well, duddlebug, I think that covers basically all of what's been said so far. Maybe more people need to start advertising the Comic Strip in their signatures, and perhaps we could come up with a little logo. Ah, web-pimping--there's nothin' like it.

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