OUGD404 - Large Publication How to start

I will have to go step by step of how I produce my graphic novel to make sure I have enough content to make up ten double page spreads. 

Here are some of the ideas we talked about during a critique session with both first and second year students.

Making of book -

Grids

Type

Designs, Illustrations

Stock

Binding

Photographs, Photo inception

Guidelines, what to stick to

Extracts from comic, Story 

Concept art

The science behind it

I usually start with writing out the story, this way I know how I would like everything to go together and look within my book. 

I write down brief explanations of the scenes throughout the story and descriptions of the characters. - This makes it easier to draw from at a later date. 

Once I get to the sketching stage I start with brief rough sketches. These shouldn’t take too long and are more just reference for the future. 

The after the rough sketches have been drawn I produce slightly more controlled drawings adding in text boxes and maybe even some writing again for reference later on. I will usually produce these first two stages on cartridge paper or on paper I can find in sketchbooks it’s not important for stock choice at this time.

Finally for the hand rendered stage I will produce refined drawings with empty text boxes. I will overlay these pencil sketches with fine liner using different thickness depending on the need. These drawings will be on smooth heavy white stock, this makes it easier to scan in later on and means no digital line work is needed apart from some touching up. A ruler may be needed for this last stage to make sure the boxes for both the frames and the text are the right length and height, positioned correctly and are all even on each page.

Once the designs are scanned in anything that needs touching up will be, I make sure the paper is as white as can be and the lines as black. I then start on the shading. Making a new layer underneath the line art as to make sure I won’t compromise that layer. I paint in the different shades where needed using a graphics tablet. After I have the shading done colour can be added on top with no need to create different shades of colour or match them up as they’re shades are already behind.

I place the appropriate type within the text boxes I had drawn earlier and neaten everything up for the last stage.

Exporting to indesign or another publication software and then adding in each page where appropriate. After this stage the process is finished and you’re ready to print.