Comic Book Page **HELP PLEASE**

[Capprotti]

This from a self assigned project I'm working on. It's a page from a comic based on the game designs I did. My major problem here is... I don't know how to color it. Since this is reference free, it's hard to figure it all out. I don't know what colors to use (like for the skin that is not facing or being hit by the light, Or for the concrete or anything else for that matter). I feel like a retard here, apparently I can kinda paint, and kinda draw, but I just can't color to save my life. Also, I want to do the colors in painter, to give it a more painterly feel, unless of course I see a reason to switch to photoshop. Anyway, I really really need help with this. This is something that I will need to apply to every comic I decide to do from this point on. So if anyone could to a quick paint job to help me out, I would be eternally grateful. You could do a quick one over the whole page to give me Ideas for colors, or single out a spot to give me an idea for technique, either way you would be doing me a Huge favor. Thanx so much!

Mike


Click this link for a Hi-Res version to use for coloring. Thanx again for any help you have to offer. (http://216.71.84.80/devineillustration/Page1_Big.jpg)



http://216.71.84.80/devineillustration/Page_1.jpg

Here's my original color comp to give you an idea of the type of lighting I was going for.

http://216.71.84.80/devineillustration/Color_Comp.jpg

[pvrhye]

be careful about letting your colors get too fuzzy. Your pencils are very simple so I think too detailed a color job might do them harm.

[Silver Sehkmet]

I don't know if you're all set to color that first page or not, but I think its got a few problems with the layout. That guy's arm is breaking the panel border and makes it seem as though he is a giant over top of the girl in the corridor. Panels 3 and 4 look a little strange too with the man's arm butting up against that girl holding up her flashlight. Maybe if you beef up the panel borders and give it a little more gutter space it would work better, but honestly, I think your color comp is better than the final linework. Hope that helps.

[REAU]

Sorry but I really disagree with pvrhye's comment about the color. The basic lighting you set up so far in the color sketch is great. Don't hold back, the details make the painting. And you should really watch the film mimic and even blade II. I think these two movis will give you a good sense of light and color in dark underground enviroments, but as of now I think your heading in the right direction.

Before you start painting anything you have to fix those things we talked about before. Good luck man.

[Hale]

I agree with both Pvhye's and Sehkmet's thoughts. I think that you did a good job with the original color comp but that is has a more painterly feel than you will get if you try to mix the graphic black lines with that type of coloring. Even 90% of today's major comics make the same mistake, they blend beautiful pen&ink work (that is inherintly graphic) and have a colorist muddy it up with busy coloring. If you want to see good coloring over ink look at 100 Bullets or any Hellboy comic (there' a 25 cent one on the shelves right now). On the other hand you could just paint over it (no black lines visible) and make it resemble your original color comp, just more polished. This would also allow you to fix the mistakes Sehkmet pointed out and fit better with your painterly nature.
Remember, if you want to do a graphic style, try not to render with color, but just block in simple tones and maybe a few well placed gradients because the pont is for the color to not overwhelm the inkwork that you put so much work into.