Hungry Minds Must Be Fed…
Just finished ordering the review copies of Prelude to a Hero in print, due Monday morning (hope that extra $20 for shipping is actually worth it). Then Kathilynn and I can sit down, separately, and mark up the copy–make sure it’s all pretty for you and printable. Looking forward to seeing the final, physical copy!
Also had some challenges when it came to Smashwords. NOTE: make sure to follow their guide, no matter how much you’re convinced of your own cleverness…or you’ll have to do it all over. Resubmitted work, epub checked it (successfully) and now we wait once again. It’s all very annoying, but I’m glad this process is in place: making sure you get the best book possible.
So what now? Other than taking a small breath and perhaps trying to get some exercise?
It’s time to write again. The plotting, the outlining, the expansion of histories and even some game creation with Evan. He’s got an incredible idea for a card game that I’m excited about.
The focus is now upon the Chronicles of a Hero series. The first novel due this fall (2011). Kathi thinks I’m crazy, the kids think it’s cool and the readers need to have their hungry minds fed as soon as possible when it comes to the adventures of Wendell. So I’m working with speed and diligence.
Having gone through this process [writing with Kathi] was a great learning experience, and now I feel like running at full speed–following the carefully outlined course set for this story, and I hope…truly hope, that you’ll be an intimate part of that adventure.
I’m looking forward to answering questions, creating side stories to expand on your interests, creating merchandise you’d actually love to have–instead of creating ‘stuff’ and throwing it at you.
I want to have fun…with you and everyone you know.
Read MoreThe Perfect Ink (The Voodoo Mix)
Each artist has their own ways of creating their stories. We have favorite tools, we have a favorite style, whether emulated or unique in our own right.
However, if you are making a comic book in a traditional form, and you have to perform inking…we all have a specific need in common, and that’s the right ink.
There are as many brands of inks that you can use, as there are pens and brushes. However, getting the right consistency is something we all strive for. Why?
Well, if you have ink that’s too thin, you’ll get splotch marks throughout your work—and when scanning, you’ll be doing a great deal of cover-up work. I had that problem myself during he first year of WANTED:HERO, and let me tell you—the last thing you want to do, is spend double the amount of time, inking—because you have to go over everything twice!
If you have ink too thick, you’ll find your pen nibs or brushes gumming up, which can not only be a pain—but it can ruin some brushes if left too long to dry.
So, the question is….how do we get an ink that is black as midnight, pliable, and consistent? Many message boards on the web pose that very dilemma.
Well, I have an answer for you—so grab a pen and paper.
If you have never heard of Dick Blick art supplies…these guys are huge (largest in the USA) and they have the thickest ink I have ever seen in 20 years of cartooning. Go to dickblick.com, and look up “inks”. There you will find the gold in a jar, called “Black Cat”…and they Do mean BLACK. Not only is this stuff as dark as you can get, it’s also very inexpensive. Only $14.99 for a full QUART! However, they run sales most of the time, and I buy the same amount for only $10.98. This ink has been around since 1911.
Now, you can experiment with this ink, by thinning it with water…or you can add one more step, which is what I do. I use “Higgins” water proof India Ink, and simply mix ¼ Higgins, to ¾ Black Cat. When I open the container, before working with the ink—I simply take the back end of a brush, and stir the ink for about 30 seconds, wipe off the handle of the brush, and stat working. The consistency stays the same for over an hour, at which time I simply stir the ink solution again.
…and there you have it—a good, consistent black ink you can rely on, day after day.
Read MoreThe Right Paper
Paper is the most important supply an artist uses. You can have the best ink in the world, but if you have a pitted, coarse paper, that valuable ink will run every which way and cause all sorts of chaos in your creation heaven. This should not be tolerated.
Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars on paper alone, and I’m here to tell you, if you want to create a good work of art—comic book or not, you need the right paper and you should get it from the right source. Many claim to have the paper you need, but most still contain acid in the fibers, which will turn your creations yellow after a time or even from simple exposure to sunlight.
I have found the very best paper source and at the most remarkable price too.
I buy all my paper at Comic Art Supplies.
Just to prove how popular these folks are, we found an old religious revival in Clockworks City, preaching about paper to the congregation of artists!
Have a listen…
Read MoreThe BEST software program for making eComics!
I bet you’re thinking you know what program we’re going to talk about….
Adobe Illustrator? Nope.
Adobe Photoshop? Not on yer life.
Adobe InDesign? Hehe…not even close.
In fact, it’s not even an Adobe product at all.
This is a program that’s considered the workhorse in my arsenal when it comes to eComic production.
It assists in the creation of the eComic, the development of promotional material, web content, optimizes all artwork, and can perform all the needed functions many artist rely on Photoshop for.
What is it?
PhotoImpact Pro
This single program is a lifesaver when it came to the creation of WANTED:HERO. It performs effect art, such as beveled edges, visual effect, word manipulation, panting effects….not with layers (though it has that as well), all with the click of a button. No more working with Photoshop for 20 minutes on an effect, when you can click a button to get the same results and move on. The current version as of this article is version 13;
PhotoImpact® Pro 13 is the ideal choice for digital photography, creative design and web graphics – all in one powerful suite. You’ll get everything you need to organize, edit, manage, and share digital photos – and so much more!
Whether you’re new to digital photography or a seasoned professional, you’ll appreciate the award-winning power and flexibility of PhotoImpact Pro. It not only delivers state-of-the-art image editing and high-end photo filters for enthusiasts, but it also caters to first-time users with an improved Basic Mode plus more than 1,500 photorealistic scrapbook embellishments. PhotoImpact Pro offers dozens of other new features including RAW File Support, White Balance Correction, and the revolutionary SmartRemove Scene Compositor to create a perfect image by combining the best elements of several photos.
Yes, I have Photoshop as well and yes I use it. I get plenty of people wanting to go rounds about the power of the program and how it’s the best on the planet for…whatever. I’m not arguing the validity of any program. I love Photoshop. I just found PhotoImpact far easier to learn, easier to follow, cheaper to buy and it did everything I needed in less than 1/3 the time without having to know the tricks of the trade. It’s just my opinion, and well worth investigating.
Take a moment and check out this remarkable program. Not only is it amazing, it’s very affordable.
So now you know.
Read MoreGoogle Yourself
I met with a potential client last night and they asked if I knew much about the internet. Well, I have been around for a little while, mainly since I started Wanted Hero (learned from scratch). But to have some fun, I decided to Google myself (kinda like making muscles in the mirror first thing in the morning in your underwear….not that I do such things) with him sitting right there.
“Jaime Buckley” is not, I found, an uncommon name. I got 453,000 results. However, the fun part was we had to get to page 7 before anyone else but me came up in the results (only 2 on page 7, the rest were mine), and I had a firm sanding in every page up to #16.
I seem to be battling now because of a movie (Hero Wanted), but it was eventually going to happen. I’ll just keep plugging away and build up readership again. =) It was fun to look myself up on Google and to see such good results.
Read MoreMy Latest Book
