So lets start:
PAGE DIMENSIONS: This is the big one. We should all know it before we even start a page. The standard American comic page size is 6.88 x 10.5 inches, and just about everything scales up or down from that dimension. It doesnt matter what size of paper you draw it on, because everyone does it at different sizes. That doesnt matter. All that matters is that when you scan and send your pages to your teammate, that they are at that proper size. If you do not know what the proper size is? Ask. Some print-on-demand places like Ka-Blam has their page dimensions at 7x10.5 inches, but ask yourself Are you always going to be printing through them? Are you going to change printers or hook up with a publisher? Manga sizes are a lot smaller, but even they work in a format thats roughly scaled down from 6.88 x 10.5. Now when its web-related stuff, the dimensions take a different approach, but if youre planning on it ever going to print, you need to think ahead. Make sure youre working in a proper size for any printing you wish to have done in the future. If youre not sure, 6.88 x 10.5 is a safe standard to go with. Its always easier to adjust FROM that size than it is to adjust TO that size.
DPI: This varies from company to company to company. Once again, its best to ask what DPI theyll need it at. Most printers go off 300 DPI, but you might be drawing for one that has a higher DPI output. (I know the former Dreamwave company seemed to have been fond of 400 DPI.) So like dimensions, you need to find out what the colorist is going to need. If he doesnt say, then 300 DPI for the lineart is a safe standard to go by. Scan it in at a higher DPI (like 400-600) and then reduce it. Youll retain higher definition, and itll just look nicer. If youre drawing and scanning at 11x17 inches, then 300 is fine, because youll be reducing it in size anyway. If its for the web, and if itll eventually be in print, then you follow the printing standards. But if youre not bothering with printing, then once again, find out what your colorist would prefer.
WORD PLACEMENT: This is a big one. Some might say this is due to writers who ramble off too much at the mouth, but that is a issue for another time. This is the one thing that gets every letterers goat more than anything. When you draw a page, look at the script. Make sure you have left enough room for the word balloons. A good way to test this, is to roughly jot it down on the page when youre drawing it. (When scaled down, the typical font size will be roughly your average handwriting, unless you write really big or really small.) I recently lettered a page, and the artist drew this beautiful picture of two characters But there was so much text on that panel, I had to cover half of one of the bodies with a word balloon. Now, yes Maybe the writer was asking for too much into too little of a panel. It wouldnt be the first time thats happened. But as an artist, you gotta make it work. You have look at that panel and say Theres a lot of words here. I probably dont need to draw as much in there as I would like, since itll be covered up with a balloon. And thats the trick Sometimes, you dont have to draw stuff in the background. You dont have to fill every single little white area up with lineart. Yes, a good letterer will always try to work around and not cover up your artwork But sometimes, you dont always leave them a choice. So look at the script, and look how much dialogue is going to be in the panel youre about to draw and make sure you leave room for it.
PERSONALITY GOES A LONG WAY: Honestly, sometimes what we draw is just for the money. Though were not really hardcore fans of something, or were just unfamiliar with it, were occasionally asked to draw something we have no idea what it is. Not long ago, I was asked to draw the characters from W.I.T.C.H. I have never seen a single episode of that show in my life, but for the commission, I watched an episode or two on YouTube and figured out who the hell was who. Sure I could have just looked on Google and got an image of that character and drew them however But the way you draw someone conveys the personality of that character. Unless hes the crazy 60s Adam West, Batman doesnt smile. You got to make sure the personalities match up with the art. It makes sense that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy would be hanging over each other in a Sapphic manner But its totally out of character to have Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain be doing the same thing, no matter what the pedo-shippers say. So have a rough idea of who and what the personality of that character is, so you dont make them look out of character.
STAY ON TARGET: Now, lets take Arcee the Autobot for example. I was looking at a UK Transformers comic the other day, which was set in the movie universe, and Arcee changed model sheets between stories (and sometimes pages) looking like the Energon toy repaint to looking like the one from the first movie and back and forth. Now I dont really blame them, because theres like three or four movie Arcee toys, and they all look differently and mistakes happen. But as an artist, you have to know which version youre drawing. This may be the fault of the editor or the writer for not being clearer But youre going to get the criticism for it, whether its justified or not. Thats the nature of the beast. So just cover your butt and youll be okay.
Im sure theres other things. But these are the things I keep noticing over and over again. (I wont get into ethical stuff like scheduling and treatments. Just sticking to the technical stuff.) So hopefully this helps out some, and in the end, makes it a better and more enjoyable project for all involved.
Later!










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