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Happy belated Hearth’s Warming and a not-yet-belated Happy New Year!
Honestly, I did not anticipate the enthusiastic reaction you folks gave to the news of this comic not being dead yet (or that anyone is still checking on my stuff even after this hiatus that had been going on since ancient times), and I hope this change won’t curb that enthusiasm. :)
This comic “page” is kind of a prototype version of what I have in mind. I’ve recently (since last year or so) got into Blender 3D, and discovered that there’s an option for making cell-shaded art (thanks to a lot of talented people), and began experimenting on it to see if I can use it to make pony art at all. Fortunately, very talented people already made pony-related models (Lyra’s and BonBon’s models were made bymythicspeed), so I tried them and got results way better than I anticipated. So I decided to give it a go, since it does speed up the comic-making drastically (figuring out the camera angles (that work with the limited number of vectored poses I had) was always a huge pain for me, but now I can just set up the scene then move the camera around to the right angles). Of course, the raw renders need retouching (enhanced facial expressions and outline errors: sta.sh/01x1za71vb14) afterwards, but that’s fairly easy to do.
Another change I’m strongly contemplating is breaking up with the “traditional” long-strip layout (with uniform rectangular panels) and switching to the classic comic-page layout (with irregularly shaped panels). This would also make things a lot faster, because thus far I tried hard to conserve the ‘unity’ of the scenes with the long series of panels (in pages sometimes 20+ panels long), which was fairly easy to plan out, but also fairly stiff. A classic layout would give me a lot more artistic freedom.
And the third change is, that I might not upload it to tumblr at all anymore, save for a single panel announcing the new page (with dA link). The great upside of being able to read panel-by-panel was that it looked more show-like, but it also meant that I had to painstakingly adjust all panels so the “fluidity” would be preserved (which, again, made the production longer).
On the other hand, I’m also contemplating uploading it to other platforms. Anyone knows a platform aside from what I’ve been using thus far (tumblr and dA) that I could use? (and not have my pages already, uploaded by awesome and diligent people? You know who you are. :) )
As stated above, I’ll make a poll to see if people prefer the unshaded and shaded versions, and work out a style in January that works. I hope to resume the comic in February (tho don’t expect weekly updates at first, let’s get into a sustainable rhythm).
Honestly, I did not anticipate the enthusiastic reaction you folks gave to the news of this comic not being dead yet (or that anyone is still checking on my stuff even after this hiatus that had been going on since ancient times), and I hope this change won’t curb that enthusiasm. :)
This comic “page” is kind of a prototype version of what I have in mind. I’ve recently (since last year or so) got into Blender 3D, and discovered that there’s an option for making cell-shaded art (thanks to a lot of talented people), and began experimenting on it to see if I can use it to make pony art at all. Fortunately, very talented people already made pony-related models (Lyra’s and BonBon’s models were made bymythicspeed), so I tried them and got results way better than I anticipated. So I decided to give it a go, since it does speed up the comic-making drastically (figuring out the camera angles (that work with the limited number of vectored poses I had) was always a huge pain for me, but now I can just set up the scene then move the camera around to the right angles). Of course, the raw renders need retouching (enhanced facial expressions and outline errors: sta.sh/01x1za71vb14) afterwards, but that’s fairly easy to do.
Another change I’m strongly contemplating is breaking up with the “traditional” long-strip layout (with uniform rectangular panels) and switching to the classic comic-page layout (with irregularly shaped panels). This would also make things a lot faster, because thus far I tried hard to conserve the ‘unity’ of the scenes with the long series of panels (in pages sometimes 20+ panels long), which was fairly easy to plan out, but also fairly stiff. A classic layout would give me a lot more artistic freedom.
And the third change is, that I might not upload it to tumblr at all anymore, save for a single panel announcing the new page (with dA link). The great upside of being able to read panel-by-panel was that it looked more show-like, but it also meant that I had to painstakingly adjust all panels so the “fluidity” would be preserved (which, again, made the production longer).
On the other hand, I’m also contemplating uploading it to other platforms. Anyone knows a platform aside from what I’ve been using thus far (tumblr and dA) that I could use? (and not have my pages already, uploaded by awesome and diligent people? You know who you are. :) )
As stated above, I’ll make a poll to see if people prefer the unshaded and shaded versions, and work out a style in January that works. I hope to resume the comic in February (tho don’t expect weekly updates at first, let’s get into a sustainable rhythm).
Thank God, and that worst case scenario might as well be saved for a
a meme. XD
Edited
Indeed, all what we see here is experimental. Worst case scenario, I’ll just paste the heads over the 3D rendered bodies.
Ah OK, I see now. I hope you’ll improve the models though. It just doesn’t feel the same.
Indeed! :)
@Changeling17
As far as I know, SFM is mainly for posing things, while I like to create and modify models freely. Blender is an amazing tool for that.
To be honest, lately I’ve been working on another, future project on mine in blender too, but I’m starting to get back to pony models as well.
OK…
you asked if there were any other reasons, after tritebristle already gave two other reasons.
?
So the reason you’re not using sfm is because it’s uncomfortable? Are there anymore?
Yeah, I know about it, and seen plenty of people doing amazing things in it. On the other hand, when I tried it, it was quite uncomfortable to use (true, it was at least 5 years ago).
I chose Blender because I find it very comfortable to use, and it gives me tons of freedom (e.g. setting my own custom shaders to make it look cartoonish).
just thought of one more visualization thingy. the way I imagine bon bon’s mane is like curling up your fists and putting your hands together so the sides of the index fingers touch. from the side, you can see the curl of the front fist, and some of the back fist. the way you have bon bon’s mane currently is like making fists and pushing the bottoms of your palms together, I think.
so I am talking about something possible to make in 3D. don’t know if it looks horrible or not, but I wanted to make sure I was clear there.
honestly I should just model it in 3D myself, if I care so much about this bouncy bangs style.
Heckin’. That’s why you’re an artist I like, you listen to shit like that.
I can’t help but think that’s a rotational error, like the eyes should be on a different radius or something, so their rotation aligns with the head.
and that muzzle just looks weird. I’d say use a bigger shnozz if you’re that worried about having a muzzle appear while facing mostly away from the camera.
be nice if they showed the rotation of that model in the facing forward position, without the distortions.
Which is where manual afterwork comes into the picture. I can erase and add parts at will. :)
I might do that with BonBon’s mane too, as it is literally impossible to make in 3D. Unless… Hmmmm, now you gave me an idea that might just work. Thank you! :)
@SunnySide
@redweasel
I’ll keep y’all updated with the changes and updates I make to the looks on my dA account (and keep an eye out here as well). The feedback is very much appreciated, I want to make the remaining 6 chapters as visually pleasing as I can. :)
This
@GreyGears
Going from a show accurate to a model and then using that model to accurately draw the curvature where it wasn’t there before gives it sort of an uncanny freaky feeling for me.
Maybe it’s an exaggeration to call it awful, but I’ve loved this comic since the beginning and change is hard ok ;3;
your current filter.Edited
Is there something particular you don’t like about it? I mean, apart from the manes, teeth and mouths (and ears, BonBon’s ears in the last 2 panels look pretty bad) that is far from being finalized (and I might even draw over them manually)? I do believe that we can achieve a show-realistic look with cell-shaded renders and manual afterworks.
I mean… If leaving the comic to die means that it wont look like this, then sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and let it die then. Rather than it becoming a Frankenstein monster halfway through the comic if read sequentially.
Sadly, I either do this or just leave the comic to die. I will do my best to make it look as show-like as possible though. Everything you see is subject to change.
But to be honest, I like Lyra’s face a lot more in panel 6 than in panel 1.
well, good luck whatever you decide to do. I really enjoy this comic.
Please don’t change to the 3d, It looks awful and I loved that it looked like screenshots of the show at to this point.
How about 3D stick figures? >:D
@SunnySide
Dunno, you should ask a digital artist. I was merely pushing and pulling curve control points thus far in 2D.
@redweasel
Everything you see here is experimental, and will be improved upon in the coming weeks/months. Especially the manes. Thank you for the suggestions, I’ll look into them!
the widow’s peak looks kind of eh… weird because from the side we should see the back of her front curl, not the front of her front curl. if you reverse the direction of the spiral, and make them more facing each other so the back is visible when her head is sideways, I think that would look more… bonbonny. just imagining it in my head.
only problem with lyra’s mane is her primary green lock of hair is too thick, making the one behind it look all bunched up.
depending on what model you used, you might have to alter the skeleton, weights and rigging to not be… this
your current filter.careful not to get too distracted with making the model perfect though. that can be as much of a time sink as using 2D vectors!
Can’t you just stick a pencil into my fucking dick instead of ruining everything with 3d?