ILLUSTRATION & VISUAL NARRATIVE TASK 4

11 Week - 14 Week 

Christopher Jayson Tan / 0378500

Illustration & Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 4

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.LECTURES

2.INSTRUCTIONS

3.TASK

4.REFLECTIONS

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LECTURES

Week 11 :

Mr. Hafiz briefed us on our final project which is creating a webcomic. He posted some materials that we can use as a reference and guide.

Figure 1.1 Transitions

Week 12 :

We were taught the basics of transitions and what we need to focus on when creating the comic.

Week 13 :

We have a face to face tutorial session and were given feedback on our progress.

INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK 

Research and ideation

Cover Reference and Research

I opened Pinterest to find some references to get a general idea of what i want to do and so i searched up some uncanny drawings and found paintings drawn by a person with alzheimers and i wanted to go with that weird art style. I also search up sandman covers so that i can use it as a composition reference and also make use of a hand reference.

Figure 3.1 Cover references 

Cover Sketch

Because the main attraction was the monkeys paw, i decided it to make it the biggest object and added a bearded man on the back staring at the monkeys paw.

Figure 3.2 Cover sketch

Panel Reference and Research

First i went through the story so that i can choose which part i want to illustrate. I decided to choose the following line

The sounds of her sobs died away on his ears. The bed was warm, and his eyes heavy with sleep. He dozed fitfully, and then slept until a sudden wild cry from his wife awoke him with a start. 

    "THE PAW!" she cried wildly. "THE MONKEY'S PAW!"

The reason was because it mostly contains simple actions and environment with an interesting final part when she screamed. 

Next, I went through Pinterest, Google and Framed Ink to find a proper reference and idea. Because i want to make the panels gloomy and uncanny, i searched up some creepy panels/images so that i have a rough idea of what i want to make. I also searched up some panels with a blue/cool tone that could match my comic for the coloring process. 

Figure 3.3 Panel references

Panel sketch

The line that i picked is fairly tamed, the exception being the final monologue and so most of the panels should be very simple, so i made a medium shot as the first panel, while the rest of the panels are close ups to show the expressions of the characters. The transitions are mainly moment to moment and subject to subject.

Figure 3.4 Panel sketch

Digitalization

Cover

First i made the base outline using the brush tool with the rough stroke setting so that it has a pencil drawn effect. After that, i made the outline white and added a washed navy blue color as the background

Figure 3.5 Making the base of the cover

Next, i gave it some colors using the pen tool, adding a gradient to it so that it doesnt look flat and used the rough stroke brush by making the size big for the "hair" elements and for some of the shadows. I added some noise to all the colors and added a texture effect i found on google and added a multiply blending mode to it so that it could be placed on top of the blue background, i also added some noise to it so it looks more textured.

Figure 3.6 Coloring the objects and putting texture

I made the title as the next step. First i made the effect behind the title by using a really big rough pencil like brush, the same way i made the hair elements. next i made the words using a BLOOD CROW font that i found on Dafont.com. I made each letter in a seperate layer and spread them out, playing with the rotation as well, after that i typed the W.W. Jacobs in a seperate layer and put it on the corner with a white color.

Figure 3.7 Creating the title and giving it effects

I gave each individiual word a highlight as a final touch so that it looks more interesting and after that the cover is done.

Figure 3.8 Giving the letters a final touch

Final outcome

Figure 3.9 Cover final outcome

Panels

First, i traced the images that i found in google and created some minor adjustments to the base outline so that it fits the scene properly. I used a brush that looks like a pencil because it has more character in my opinion and will help me reach the gloomy look that i am looking for.

Figure 3.10 Tracing

Next, i added a washed blue image as the background wallpaper to the panels. Because i wanted a depressing look to the comic, blue will do the trick because it creates a cold and lifeless environment.

Figure 3.11 Blue background

I also put a washed black image behind the panels.

Figure 3.12 Black background

I put in some colors as the next step which includes the base color and shading color as well. I used mainly cool colors to further emphasize the sad and uncanny environment.

Figure 3.13 Base color and shading

I put some more details, including hatching and cross-hatching, as well as tiny lines, on some of the objects so that they are less flat.

Figure 3.14 Hatching, cross hatching and other small details

Next, i added the dialogue by using a pencil brush because it looks really chaotic and will fit inside these panels. i used the color white to enhance visibility and after that i moved on to the simple animation.

Figure 3.15 Making the dialogue

Final outcome

Figure 3.16 Comic final outcome

Animation

First step is that i made 2 more copies of the original artboard with the contents and I made simple changes to specific objects within each artboard such as the eye, tears falling down and the words to create frames for the animation.

Figure 3.17 Copies of artboards

Figure 3.18 Creation of the frames

After creating the frames, i insert them inside photoshop for individually textured them using 3 grunge image and equipping it with the multiply, screen and vivid light blending option.

Figure 3.19 Putting textures on the page

For the final step, i put the images as a sequence in photoshop and the animation process is complete.

Figure 3.20 Photoshop sequence

Final outcome

Figure 3.21 Final animation

REFLECTIONS

EXPERIENCE : 

This is by far the hardest assignment in semester 1, it took me a long time to understand the transitions and compositions. I had to nail the vibe of the comic as well so that it is gloomy and unsettling, which means i need to pick a proper color tone. The planning needs to be decent in order to execute this assignment correctly but the process of making this work is very fun and challenging. Overall, this assignment fits as the final task because it combines everything we have learned and demands us to elevate that knowledge on our own.  

OBSERVATION :

Hatching and cross-hatching apparently works really well to add extra details to the objects, it could create depth and dimension. Simple lines can be used to add tiny details to environment as well as the characters.

FINDINGS :

Transitions can be complex or simple, it depends on the execution and context. For this assignment i mainly use the subject to subject and moment to moment transitions which made the assignment a little bit more simpler because i only have to focus on the character and their expressions.