SVA Continuing Education - Comic Strips for the 21st Century -

Creating Comic Strips From Print to Web

Tom Hart
tomhart@newhatstories.com
(718) 687-7434
www.hutchowen.com
www.trunktown.com
founder, www.serializer.net

CIC-2576-A

Location:
Hours:

This course will look at the phenomenon of the migration of comic strips and stories from newspapers and comic books to computer-based distribution (and creation) on the World Wide Web. Starting with an historical overview of comic strips and stories, students will create characters, write stories and develop scenarios, learning to work within small- and large-scale story structures. Pen, brush and ink drawing, as well as writing and lettering will be explored. We will then look at preparing comics for distribution on the Internet, including a look at usability and Web standards, and simple software packages that allow for simplicity of updates for the non-programming artist. Lettering and coloring for the computer, using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, will also be covered, as well as a brief look at animated comics made with Macromedia Flash.

This course is primarily a comic strip and story (from soup to nuts) creating course. Computer access will be limited.

A note about the material list:

Most of the material list were recommended items, and not mandatory. For instance, a ruler, triangle, technical pens, computer items, etc are not mandatory.

The main things you WILL NEED are something to pencil with (pencils of any kind), something to sketch on (sketchbook or paper), something to ink with (dip pens, markers and/or brushes AND ink) and something to ink ON (bristol board.)

Pencils and sketchbooks are easy.

Inking- if you would like a recommendation for a specific dip pen, get a Hunt 102. This is extremely common, and perhaps the pen most used by professionals. It is stiff enough to offer lots of control but still flexible enough to get a good line. Brushes- Windsor and Newton Cirrus 1 or 2 is a good one. Most Windsor and Newtons are good. Princeton Art and Brush company make good ones too. Again, a round size 1 or 2 is a good size. Most people shy away from brushes and opt for pens, but for some people they wouldn't use anything but a brush, so you may want to experiment.

Bristol Board-
Plate or Smooth finish is probably what you want, as it SHOULDN'T bleed. Strathmore is the best brand. You may to have experiment to get your favorite, I'm sorry to say, and sometimes the ones that shouldn't bleed, do anyway. It's very frustrating. Some people choose VELLUM (or rough) which is better for brushes sometimes (it offers a slightly textured line -my wife uses vellum and brush on her site here: http://www.tomhart.net/leela/illustrationTiles.htm .) As I said, I use something called Borden and Riley Paris Bleedproof Paper For Pens which is basically smooth bristol board.

Recommended Reading:

Cartooning Books

Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics, Blackbeard and Williams, editors.
Children of the Yellow Kid, RC Harvey
ToonArt, Steven Winthrop
Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud
Reinventing Comics, Scott McCloud

Computer Books:

Technical Books by Peach Pit Press (Jumpstart Guide to Photoshop, etc.)
Technical Books by IDG (The Flash Bible, etc.)
The Art of Cartooning in Flash, John Kuramoto et al.

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