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Submitted: January 21, 2011
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What it Takes Issue 4 Coverby ~Kezhound

Designs & Interfaces / Other

I'll probably end up tweaking the colors more, but here is the cover to Issue 4 of What it Takes [link]

WiT is available as a webcomic, updated W/F.

*RobinRone Jan 21, 2011 Professional Artist

This is really a unique layout outside of the typical "cover" shape, but I think it's really effective (besides being consistent with the rest of the comic pages). I really like how it pulls the eye along from one side to the other, bouncing from the text down the leg and back around. The vertical division that splits the background image also seems to expand how large the space is for the eye.

~Kezhound Jan 22, 2011 Professional Digital Artist

Thanks, Robin! I dunno what the heck I was thinking when I chose the format for What it Takes, but I wasn't going to convert it to a "normal" print format--it would have taken forever! So I found a local printer who can whip these babies up so beautifully. Plus, it looking quite different from other comics formats, it does catch eyes, so that's a plus! ...even if it's more expensive to print it in strange formats arghh.

AND JUST REALIZED I NEVER REPLIED TO YOUR EMAIL OMG

*RobinRone Jan 22, 2011 Professional Artist

haha! Don't worry about the email. It's no biggy.

I'm glad you found a printer that will work with you. How has that whole experience been? I want to go that route in the future, working through a printer rather than a publishing service. Any words of wisdom to share?

~Kezhound Jan 22, 2011 Professional Digital Artist

Any local printer you find is going to pretend they know what the heck you're talking about when it comes to printing comics, and they WON'T. Be there to work with the printer one on one to get the first version right. I prefer to deal with local printers because I can be there physically to explain things, I really hate dealing with people over email when I'm buying things.

Treat your printer like your car mechanic. Start out with a small job that's easy to get a quote for from all the local printers. I started out with posters and called ALL the places around. Had quotes that differed by 100s of dollars. Found a good guy willing to work with me, who had a lot of contacts. Very established, not cheap, but not the most expensive. I REALLY liked his work, it was the most beautiful stuff I'd seen, so I decided to go through him for the books too, including an advert for him in the back. Really, I just got lucky!

*RobinRone Jan 23, 2011 Professional Artist

Sounds like more than luck to me. That's a really sensible and methodical approach. I really like the idea of starting with something small and practical like that, and then building up to a book. I've had a lot of people recommend outsourcing to China to avoid costs, but that makes me really nervous for a lot of reasons. Not just the email communication problem, but add on a language/culture barrier on top, plus LOTS of distance, plus shipping, and it makes me think there's got to be a better local option.

~Kezhound Jan 23, 2011 Professional Digital Artist

Oh, the approach was methodical, but finding someone I could work with who could cut me great deals, that was just luck! I decided to go with a family run business who knew all the other printers on a first name basis. I refuse to deal with big places like Kinkos or Fedex. They can't cut deals or make partnerships.

I HAVE heard really great things about an outfit in Montreal though. Spike of Templar, Arizona and Kelly of Sorcery 101 got their stuff printed there. Both were ecstatic. The stuff I got printed from my local guy were simple books. If you need anything complex, a local/small printer might not be the best choice for you. All the good places offer a proofing service anyway, so you don't spend huge amounts up front for a defective product. Lemme go hunt up that printer in Montreal...

*RobinRone Jan 23, 2011 Professional Artist

That would be awesome if you could find the name, particularly if they have such a good webcomic track record. Arizona is on my "To Buy" list, so I could see what the quality of the books is first hand.

~Kezhound Jan 23, 2011 Professional Digital Artist

Found it! English link in the upper left: [link]

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