I couldn't bear the thought of having unfinished work, so I completed the coloring for this test panel. Remember: you can click on the thumbnail images to see the full-size versions. As I'm still learning and experimenting with the whole process, I decided to produce a collage of how the various separate layers look. It helps when trying to understand how all the different steps fit together. This second image shows how the different layers look.
Here's another sketch from the comic I'm working on. I'm still experimenting with the coloring workflow (it's a learning process!) This shows the original scanned sketch on the left and the not-quite-complete-yet digitally colored version on the right.
My current coloring workflow is to scan the image into Adobe Illustrator, where I create the vector line art. It gives me crisp, clean lines that I couldn't quite seem to emulate in Photoshop or Alias Sketchbook Pro (although the latter comes awfully close). I then drop the line art into Photoshop and apply the colors. I'm using one layer for line art, a second for the base colors, and finally a third for shadows and highlights.
It's kind of embarassing that I've allowed this much time to pass since posting a sketch. So much for my 2005 New Year's Resolution. Hellooooo 2006. This is a development sketch for the character of Troy, who will be part of a comic strip that I'm working on.
This is my entry for Illustration Friday's sport theme. This sketch was inspried by a little bike riding we did a few weeks ago on Nantucket. As you can see, we were gearing up for the Tour de France, which kicks off this week. Go Lance!
The sketch was originally done in graphite on watercolor paper, but I scanned it and re-did the line art in Illustrator. I then colored it using Photoshop.
This is a quick sketch for this week's Illustration Friday topic: Heroes. It was Father's Day here in the United States a few weeks ago. Being a new dad myself, I've begun to realize just how important it is to be a hero to your children. So here's a quick tribute to all the dads out there who heed the hero call.
This is another sketch I did while on vacation in Nantucket. It's a cartoon version of me and Kirsten sharing a laugh. I did the original sketch (background) in pencil and then scanned it in for coloring in Adobe Illustrator and Flash MX.
I've hit upon a new technique in Flash MX for coloring the shadows. I select an area of color and then apply the shadow outline with the brush tool in paint selection mode. This keeps the paintbrush from obscuring the black outlines.
We just returned from a week-long vacation on Nantucket and I got pretty busy with the skectchbook. Here's the first sketch from the lot--a drawing of Spencer wearing his new Nantucket t-shirt.
Sketched in pencil, then traced using Illustrator and finally colored in Photoshop. I'm still searching for a lead female character for a comic strip. Getting closer...
As you can see, I'm still experimenting with coloring and shading. This started as a very quick sketch done in pencil on a notepad. I liked the expressive pose, so I scanned it in and cleaned up the lines in Illustrator.
I'm quickly learning that dynamic, expressive poses make all the difference.
After tracing the sketch in Illustrator, I pasted it back into Photoshop for coloring. Finally, I added a picture I had taken of some American flags into the background, where I used the Buzz Simplifier and Lens Blur filters to soften. Finally, I applied a light Gaussian Blur to the highlights/shadows layer. I'll save this one for the 4th of July.
Just another quick cartoon sketch. This is a compilation of four quick sketches I did as I was planning out a female lead for a comic strip. I still have a ways to go.
