Creating Comics Digitally

~thisismyboat Nov 11, 2012 Student Traditional Artist

I know this question has come up a few times in the past, but unfortunately I never paid much attention. What programs are out there for creating comics digitally? I know Manga Studio is an option, but I was curious if there are any other programs people would recommend. Are any of these programs worth it if I already have Photoshop? In past I've done my sketches for panel layouts in MS Paint (because it's quick) and then the bulk of the work in Photoshop, but I find laying panels in Photoshop can be a real pain in the butt at times when using unconventional shapes.

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Devious Comments

~egypturnash Nov 12, 2012 Professional Digital Artist

The best program to use for comics is the one you're able to use without thinking.

I do my comics partially or entirely in Illustrator. Sometimes I like to draw my roughs on paper and take that into AI, sometimes I draw directly into AI. I do this because I've been using AI as my main medium for a decade, and I really never have to think about how to operate the program any more.

~Vineris Nov 11, 2012 Student General Artist

I find a combination of Photoshop and Illustrator to be the best for me, although I wouldn't mind playing around with Manga Studio. Panels aren't THAT hard to do via selections, but if I need a more complex shape then Illustrator does the trick. Plus it's great for word balloons.

I find that most beginner comic artists overdo funky panel shapes anyway, so it's nice to have those be a little bit more difficult. Then you have to sit there and think "do I REALLY need this panel to have seven corners? What are my readers going to get out of that?"

~thisismyboat Nov 12, 2012 Student Traditional Artist

Hah, yeah, you're right on the seven corners thing. I'm honestly not entirely sure what I meant by unconventional panel shapes because I tend to stick to varying sizes of squares and circles. After I made this post I realized my problem is probably mostly due to not being very comfortable Photoshop's tools beyond brushes, so I'll have to practice more and see if I can get the hang of it.

~DANgerous124 Nov 11, 2012 Hobbyist Digital Artist

Photoshop will usually do the trick. Here's a free version of Autodesk Sketchbook with built-in Copic Markers: [link] You create panels a lot easier with Sketchbook than with Photoshop.

~DANgerous124 Nov 11, 2012 Hobbyist Digital Artist

Whoops. I just noticed that the link for the download is dead. It still works on the Copic site though: [link]

~thisismyboat Nov 12, 2012 Student Traditional Artist

Interesting, thanks. I'll check it out.

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