So, here’re inked versions of the Oyster War characters I posted yesterday. This is actually my second attempt at inking them; the first was pretty disastrous.
I’m giving myself some real challenges with this book both because of the format and the technique I want to use. First, I’m wanting the finished book trim size to be 8 1/2″ x 11 1/2″–or, more familiarly, “TinTin format,” the size of those ubiquitous large paperback editions of TinTin stories. Keeping with this format, I’m going to follow Hergé’s four-tiered page grid, rather than the more standard three-tier style most common in smaller books. This does, though, have the effect of making for some pretty small panels. 2 3/8″ is the usual height for a panel in TinTin.
Another thing, though, that’s adding to my list of challenges is that I want to do this book entirely with a dip pen–no brushes. I haven’t worked this way much and there’s a real learning curve involved. Now, I usually work pretty large–between 180% and 200% of print size–but I’d heard that with pen work, one wants to work closer to the final printed size, 150% or lower. The problem, though, with my first inking pass was that 150% of 2 3/8″ is tiny. I felt like I should be working with the aid of one of those spring-loaded magnifying glasses you can attach to a drafting table. In addition to the small page size, I was trying to use my usual G-Pen nibs which I discovered just don’t produce fine enough line work.
On my next pass, though, I upped my page size to 180% and began using the G-Pen for just the big outlines and breaking out the old Hunts 102 for the rest. The results this time around were much better, I think. I’m going to have to find some higher-quality substitute for the 102, though. I’d forgotten what poor quality most Hunts/Speedball nibs are these days. The word on the street is that the maru pen nibs and saji pen nibs are very similar to the 102 line-wise, but with the same heft and quality as the G-Pen, so I’m planning on ordering some of those today to check out.
2 comments
These look great! It’s such a great premise, I’m anxious to read it.
Also, when does Amelia drop? I saw another “Night at the Museum 2” trailer today, and was thinking that kids pumped up by the movie might be inclined to look for books about her…
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Thanks, Chris – While working on them, I was really wishing I’d been able to attend your character design workshop at last year’s Heroes Con. I’ve got a tendency to stick too closely to fairly realistic human proportions and shapes, which I’d definitely like to get away from with this book.
The Amelia thing doesn’t come out until Feb of 2010 if you can believe it. I’m learning that book publishers work very differently than comics publishers. In this case, a comics publisher would be promoting and taking orders for this book well before it was actually finished–of course, that’s also why so many books from comics publishers are late, I suppose.