This is a cover for a graphic novel that I did for a Gal who has a great story going. I think she's going to have it on the internet at some point. Most likely early 2007. Backgrounds tend to bore me to tears, but it looks like I'll have to get over it! There'll be a heads up when this goes live.

Looks good :)

Can you make a tutorial to teach people how to make awesome backgrounds like that?

work big. that's what I do with "Dreams in Synergy", it makes it look better because you don't get to see a lot of strokes from the brush.
.
.
.
.

Dear god do you work small Sub. I make my stuff at roughly 600 DPI with a 8 1/2 x 11 page size. If that ain't working big, I don't know what is.

But seriously Jemilis, how did you get that gorgeous looking texture effect on the mountains?

Hey that winchester looks like mine only gold instead of silver...

I will reply to the texture question in more detail tomorrow--promise!

Nighty-night.

Now, for the texture. I primarily use Adobe Photoshop. I use the airbrush a lot. On the standard brush settings/sizes, there's a clikity arrow that will take you to other specialized brushes. I use the Faux texture brushes often. You just have to experiment with the different brushes. I use the air brush because I can control the amount of pressure. I also have a wacome tablet which lends itself to this technique. In painting with literal mediums, such as oils and acrylics, different texture is accomplished by palette knife, different type brushes and sponges...and so on. It is the same with virtual painting. Explore the different tools and renderings. Even if I know what tool I'm going to use, I sometimes fiddle around with a different brush...it can always be deleted.



Here's what the painting looked liked before the texture was added. I just worked one section at a time and just bluffed my way through it. I would do a full scale tutorial with steps and pictures, but I don't feel qualified to do a...how to, yet. I'm still in the experiment stage and that's what will teach you the most.

Have fun and remember, it's all a learning experience!

Thanks! I hadn't thought about trying to use textured brushes. I'll make sure to incorporate them into my next page or so.

Rich
Dear god do you work small Sub. I make my stuff at roughly 600 DPI with a 8 1/2 x 11 page size. If that ain't working big, I don't know what is.

Why do you work so large? Usually the only reason a comic artist goes to 600dpi is because of their scanned line art... It makes it smoother. There's really no other reason. Colouring and computer art for photo printing is perfectly ok in resoloutions as low as 150dpi, maybe even lower.

You want to print your work at bilboard size? It'll come up pretty good. :)

ozoneocean

Rich
Dear god do you work small Sub. I make my stuff at roughly 600 DPI with a 8 1/2 x 11 page size. If that ain't working big, I don't know what is.

Why do you work so large?

You see, the way I ink my stuff in photoshop using a non-anti-aliased polygonal lasso tool allows me to color quickly using the paint bucket. If I don't make my stuff that big, it will come out pixellated and not smooth like I want it to be.

Hmm ok. SO why no anti alias a little? Maybe set a feather of 1 or two pixels?

That's a good page. I just wish you would use black borders for you comic pages instead of green. It would make everything look so much better.

That is totally awesome, Jemelis!! :O I wish I can do that! Did you do all that with a tablet? or was it done via mouse? How long did it take you to make that background?

Thanks Knuckles. I'm sure you could do the same, after settling in with a technique that you like and a little...okay, alot of patience.
The page was penciled and then scanned in. Subjects were inked on screen and the rest of the background is all digital. Yes, I use a tablet. I have a 12"x12" Wacom that I got off ebay.