What's your take on comics in which they apply the same drawing in more than 1 panel?

Writing good, must be.

Says Yoda?

Unless it's really, really noticable, I just don't mind. A lot of digitally made comics do that these days to make it easier to draw a lot of panels.

They have to make up for it with good writing or humor, though.

I use that trick ALOT for action scenes. Or to denote movement.

Examples:
http://www.drunkduck.com/MAG_ISA/index.php?p=282350


http://www.drunkduck.com/BK_Shattered_Hate/index.php?p=49267

http://www.drunkduck.com/BK_Shadow_Nemesis/index.php?p=196822

http://www.drunkduck.com/BK_Shattered_Hate/index.php?p=6649

I don't believe I've ever duplicated a panel. The closest I've ever come was to duplicate a sketch from one panel into another, but after that, I've always traced each panel individually, and I make sure that at least something is different.

And even that's a rarity. I'm very particular about drawing every single panel indivudually.

I've used it on one or two occasions when the background is not moving at all, but the characters are. I think it's a bit silly and time wasting to re-draw the exact same background when it's just as easy to cut and paste it.

I don't like it when it's overused (mostly in talking-heads type comics), but used sparingly I don't mind it at all. In fact, if it's used right, sometimes it's hardly even noticeable to me.

There are times when it works, and times that it doesn't work. It works very well for comic effect in certain situations, but when it comes to action scenes (like the pages kyupol posted) they really don't work very well. Characters look stiff, and it appears as though nothing is happening.

Is as effective a tool as any other. That's sorta like asking whether I prefer a straight edge or a t-square.

If used poorly, the results speak for themselves. If used properly, the results also speak for themselves.

What do you feel about people who squirt their mayonaisse on their bread as opposed to those who use a knife to get it out of a jar?

Later,
Chip

I copy and paste elements sometimes, like the legs of a mecha maybe. Then I'll re-size it, and stretch and skew it to get it right. I did that when I had to draw lots of tanks all lined up too. But when they're at different angles slightly it's easier just to draw them all separately.

Yea, like Later Chip says, it's just a useful too that can be used well or badly.

I think it works sometimes! Kinda how repetition is used in poetry, I feel how art can do the same thing to make a scene more dramatic!

Repetition can be a huge crutch, there's no doubt about that. I've made no secret that in the first chapter of SuperFogeys I used repeated panels purely out of a desire to "get it done." I just didn't put a lot of time into the art.

I got called out on it and have since changed my ways. Chapter 2 featured almost no repeat panels at all.

Now, my feeling on them is this: it's fine as long as there's a legitimate storytelling reason for doing it. It can even be a pleasing to the eye. But I do think that anytime you do it you really have to ask yourself: Would this be better as a non-repeated panel? If the answer is yes, then you simple don't do it and move on.

You see duplicate shots in movies and TV shows all the time. Remeber the canned animatics every time the Babylon 5 weapons array came on line? I'd say it's justified only if the benefits of recreating each shot outweight the time it saves to duplicate it, and often it doesn't. Still, laziness for the sake of laziness is always to be discouraged.

The only time I've Ctrl-C + Ctrl-V'd something was a background.

I don't do it at all because my comic in it's original drawn form is all in 3-ring binders to share with my friends. -- And my pencil doesn't have a CTRL key.

But I definitely don't mind and/or don't notice as long as it's used properly. If an object/character is supposed to be in the exact same position, it could actually hurt the comic to redraw it. Also, if the effect desired is to emphasize a single, even a subtle, change (like a number changing on a clock or something), it is more effective to have everything else copied to make sure it is identical.

Well it made sense to use it here in the drawing stage, -although not the colour one. The colour was done after, as always:



But in this example (and most of the rest of the comic), I just couldn't use that technique so I didn't. All these had to be done separately:



You should just be sensible to use what works for the occasion. Don't make extra work for yourself when you don't have to, especially if you want to do something complex. But also, don't overuse a simple technique and get stuck doing that, never doing anything more complicated because you'd rather always do it an easier way...

As for copy and pasting entire comic panels: it's a mistake. You should only doing a once or twice. I know MANY, MANY comics, even famous syndicated strips use it exclusively, but it DOES look dull, stupid and boring. Seriously, if all you are is a joke writer, ditch the comics or get yourself an artist with more time of their hands.

-That's for entire comics that are nothing but... But then there are always exceptions aren't there?

The old pages of 'Elf Only Inn', back when it was funny, used the same characters pasted over and over and made it work with good writing. 'Dinosaur comics' is the same strip every week with different dialogue, but the writing is superb, so I still think it's a good comic.
I've never used copy and paste myself. I guess if I needed to, I might, but it's never come up.

I used copy several times in chapter 3 of my story comic. In principle, it can be seen as lazy... but the comment "Is redrawing this panel worth the time?" is a valid one.

If the panel is just the person standing there and thinking, and the only reason I'm making it 2 panels is because I want to denote passage of time without action, then I don't see the need to redraw him 2-3 times just standing there and thinking.

But when the story/action calls for it, I'd never repeat panels.

I find it really only works for comical effects, otherwise it's usually a copout.

I'm not a big fan. But then I'm just a scribe and not the artist on my comic.

Usually, if the artist I'm working with does submit a layout page with two panels that look identical, I ask him to change one. As a rule, though, he only does that when he thinks it serves the story, not to save work.

I use copy pasting in penis for the comedic value of it. Lately I've felt kind of bad about it and taken more time in placing things more dynamicly. I also try and give every panel a laugh. So it kind of balances out some days. Other days I go ugly early and just re-use another page panel for panel. I try and space that out by a few weeks if I do that, but even then I feel like such a douche.

i did it today in my new page. I think it serves the situation well. i guess, if it doesn't.. let me know?

Well, I like comics like "This Modern World," and "Red Meat."

Ugh. I'd have to say that my biggest pet peeve ever when it comes to comics is the copy/pasting of a single image.

Now. There are cases when it can be properly used. For example, when you have a scene that needs a reaction akin to the blank stare, or a beat of silence between characters or some such thing, then it can work.

However. Far too often I see comic that reuse the same panel out of sheer laziness. Or for time-saving reasons. Or just because they can. This makes me want to shoot blood from my eye sockets and drown the perpetrators. Harsh I know. But it just gets to me.

With a comic you have two parts that join together to make a complete product. The writing and the art. You should strive to better both. You should strive to experiment, to switch things up, to try new things. And reusing the same panels again and again does nothing to help this. Its stagnation, pure and simple. You're doing nothing to better an entire half of the comic no matter how witty or imaginative the dialogue is. It breaks my heart whenever I'm reading one of my favorite comics and see that they've taken the easy way out and just reused the same panels. The little artist that drives me deep inside sees this, shakes his tiny fists, and then goes to weep in the corner for a while.

That's all I have to say about that.

--Grymm
Voodoo Walrus

I've never directly copied a panel or background because I usually hand draw everything, but I don't have anything AGAINST it because I've never seen it poorly done. Some stick figure comics comics like roastytoasty or Order of the Stick reuse character poses but it's not something I've ever come to notice because they're good poses that work well (surprise, contemplation, deep thought, etc.). Some comic's humor actually stems from copy and pasting figures like Dinosaurs or Pokey the Penguin... and of course you have sprite comics, but most of those are pretty trash.

This is why one frame comics like mine are great. One frame. One drawing. No need to worry :D

Loud_G
This is why one frame comics like mine are great. One frame. One drawing. No need to worry :D

Dude, tell me you do that on a dry erase board! That is the coolest!

trevoramueller
Dude, tell me you do that on a dry erase board! That is the coolest!

Yep, Dry Erase Board. At work. Hanging from my cubical wall. :)



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I forgot to comment that I don't mind when people use copy and paste in subtle ways. It is only when every single frame is exactly the same that it bugs me. This is where the one panel genius of people like Gary Larsen proves useful. ;)

I cut and paste a lot for my comic, LOLZ, but I always edit the picture I pasted (unless it is a background.) I've never have exactly the same panel twice, I just use copy/paste to give my comic a more consistent looking art style.

fern
What's your take on comics in which they apply the same drawing in more than 1 panel?

When ever I need the characters to have long pauses for comedic or dramatic affect, I can see that working quite well, it only helps. But to tell a whole page from start to finish with one simple pose rendered over and over... well, you have to be amazing at story telling to pull it off.

I generally avoid it. The only corners I cut are Ctrl-C Ctrl-V backgrounds. :/

But I think that helps as it allows you to add more of a contrast between the central action of a panel and the background it's presented on.