So, there's this free program called GIMP... it has a feature where you can turn a photo into a cartoon. It takes some effort, but you can create some neat backgrounds with it and focus your drawing efforts on your characters :)

I'm not great at backgrounds, but I force myself to put them into my comic, so it won't look like the characters are always in an empty void.

That definitely sounds helpful, but I don't think I'd ever want to do that. It would really contrast my comic's style. Plus, I'll never get good at backgrounds if I keep avoiding them. ;P

I used to hate backgrounds til i learned how to use perspective lines, it's really easy after that happens(some perspectives are still hard as hell but the one-point and two-point perspectives are fast to get). I love drawing backgrounds now since i can sketch it out but fix any minor errors in photoshop (like i made the cars bigger than need be once)

It's getting really popular for marvel/dc artists to use sketch-up for their backgrounds (joe quesada does it a lot). And lots of manga have assistants trace from background books (which i why you could probably point out 2-3 completely different manga that use the exact same panel of shibuya)

But i'd agree with freegurt it's smarter to learn to do them now on your own.

Skullbie
But i'd agree with freegurt it's smarter to learn to do them now on your own.

Thirded. My backgrounds are crap but I can draw everything with the minimum number of tools needed, save time and effort, and keep the comic's style consistent.

Yeah I suck at backgrounds ^^ - I do the same thing with my backgrounds (turning photo to cartoon) but I do it in photoshop

I find backgrounds pretty hard, especially good backgrounds that really draw the reader into the situation/world of my comic. I've found that I've been getting better recently, and when I compare the backgrounds from The Door (my first comic) and Quest For Zanvadas (my newest comic) I find that they don't even look like they were drawn by the same person, which is encouraging. I think the thing to do is practice, copy from references, try out different ways of drawing them, learn more about perspective (even if you already know loads, there still could be more to learn), and practice even more! lol

I might start drawing backgrounds when I do another fantasy comic. I do great with forests and stuff, but city type backgrounds are rough and take me forever :)

I'm not very good with backgrounds, but I don't like using a photo for a background. It's a matter of perspective and learning it.

I suck at liking to do backgrounds.....

Nah I like backgrounds. I love making my panels have heaps interesting angles so I can challenge myself with a weird perspective! Good fun!

Splash on some colour then maybe a fern or a picture frame and she'll be right.

I'm terrible at backgrounds. I try to create nice textures for my comics to make up for it. I'm dating an Architect now so I might make him draw my backgrounds for me.

OMG, my next update will have a background or two I actually drew!

I'm actually really good at perspective, but unfortunately I was hit by a Ford E-350 while driving a Toyota Tercel years ago, so I'm just barely starting to be able to draw with my now shaky hands... herniated disc in the neck, so there's nerve damage :P

Another good background trick is to keep them simple, or at least break the elements down so that it's a bunch of small simple drawings that come together to make a nice background.

P.S. Now I drive a Dodge Ram and my crumple zone is the other guy's car. :)

i'd like to get into backgrounds more, i feel i could be zazin em up alot more, i think if thought up some really cools ones i got excited about it'd help. there's a few ideas like ice n snow and shit like that, but those wont be commin around for a long time.