As for the black line, I’m creating the pages by first laying down a sketch, then digitally inking it and finally coloring in the cells. The dividing line was drawn when I was at the inks stage, and not so easy to get rid of since it sits on top of the colors.
I ought to have drawn it much thinner, but I’m finding sensitive line drawing difficult in every paint program I’ve tried (I’m using SAI Paint tool with an Intuos 3 tablet. I’ve tried Photoshop too, but I like it even less for free hand drawing).
Hmm.. I don’t know if it’d be any help in what you’re doing; but, before I gave up on digital (using a mouse in Photoshop 7) I found that I could draw a dividing line one pixel wide and in an only subtly different color than the background and it would still (usually) contain the fill color where I wanted it.
(p.s. I am -not- trying to imply that there is -anything- ‘wrong’ with what you are doing or how; I’m just suggesting something that -I- think you might like and/or find helpful.)
Well, that’s true. I can do similar things with masks too. But even if I do that, the line work which sits on top of everything has already been done. I’ve not found a good way to draw sensitive line strokes with a tablet. Not being able to see the pencil stroke when you’re drawing it makes your lines tricky. The canvas doesn’t respond like pencil or ink on paper either. I’m not sure if I’m missing some technical trick or if it just takes a lot more practice.
Nice sky/cloud and ocean shading in that first panel, Mark!
…don’t think I’d have used black for the dividing line though. Maybe something very pale; greyish white or your color for the ocean whitecaps.
Thanks for the compliment!
As for the black line, I’m creating the pages by first laying down a sketch, then digitally inking it and finally coloring in the cells. The dividing line was drawn when I was at the inks stage, and not so easy to get rid of since it sits on top of the colors.
I ought to have drawn it much thinner, but I’m finding sensitive line drawing difficult in every paint program I’ve tried (I’m using SAI Paint tool with an Intuos 3 tablet. I’ve tried Photoshop too, but I like it even less for free hand drawing).
Hmm.. I don’t know if it’d be any help in what you’re doing; but, before I gave up on digital (using a mouse in Photoshop 7) I found that I could draw a dividing line one pixel wide and in an only subtly different color than the background and it would still (usually) contain the fill color where I wanted it.
(p.s. I am -not- trying to imply that there is -anything- ‘wrong’ with what you are doing or how; I’m just suggesting something that -I- think you might like and/or find helpful.)
Well, that’s true. I can do similar things with masks too. But even if I do that, the line work which sits on top of everything has already been done. I’ve not found a good way to draw sensitive line strokes with a tablet. Not being able to see the pencil stroke when you’re drawing it makes your lines tricky. The canvas doesn’t respond like pencil or ink on paper either. I’m not sure if I’m missing some technical trick or if it just takes a lot more practice.
Well, you’re doing a great job overall, Mark! Thanks for doing it, and please keep it up! 🙂