How I usually go about creating a gag cartoon.

[grantw]

My usual process when creating a gag uses pen, paper and the pc.

Not known for doing to much pencil work, I more often than not draw the Cartoon using Edding technical pens on bleedproof marker paper [a4], then I scan them into the pc for colouring. I colour in photoshop elements using a new transparent layer for the colour and tick "use all layers" to pick up the pen work below.
Once coloured I add balloons by creating an ellipse and stroking the outline white [then I draw the tale!], I then letter the balloon in photoshop!

Here are some examples:

Cartoons by Grant!

[grantw]

To add to this post, I have now found a great resource for free "handwritten" fonts which take away the mechanical look of computer typeface...

Free handwriting fonts.

Here is a recent example using the font "erwin".


It is just a case of downloading anything that takes your fancy and adding it to the fonts folder of your image editor!

[Simon]

That's a novel approach Grant, I'm going to give it a try. I think your stuff is great and the only bit of my humble advice I can offer is that you try to arrange the composition so that the speech balloons don't obscure your characters. It would just look more professional. Tell me to get out if you like, but there I said it. Now I was hoping you could give me some advice...Re: installing fonts. I've been struggling with this for ages. I know how to do it on a mac, cos' that has "suitcase", but I'm on a PC. I tried downloading http://download.cnet.com/The-Font-Thing/3000-10248_4-127875.html but I still don't see how to get these fonts into Photoshop. I've tried dragging them across from downloads into my font file in Control Panel. How exactly do you do it? I've googled all the *Q's & A's What photo editing program do you use? This may be worthy of a thread in Photoshop tips. I realize that it's not a question of getting a font into PS as such, but installing it on Windows and PS will automatically pick it up?

[Simon]

*eg: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=How+do+I+install+fonts+into+photoshop%3F&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

[grantw]

Hi Simon,
my method on the pc was to search for "fonts" bringing up all the folders on the pc with a connection to fonts. Then I picked the folder with the most fonts in it, reasoning that would be the main one. I then copied and pasted my handwritten fonts into this folder and photoshop picks them up. Not very scientific, but that is how I did it. Doing a search for fonts should also bring up the "adobe" folder so you could try to add them there. I'll have a look at where they are on my system again then retype this if I remember anything else.!

[grantw]

I've just done the op again. I searched for "fonts", brings up a lot of results, navigated to the fonts folder entitled WINDOWS, sure enough all the fonts on the system are there. Copied and pasted my handwritten fonts into the WINDOWS fonts folder, opened up my word processor [works] and they were installed and available. Hope this helps, I cant find the folder I put them in initially but installing them in the WINDOWS font folder should do the trick. I'm using photoshop elements, and all the windows fonts are accessible from that so any you add to folder should appear in your graphics programme.

[cartunes-r-us]

I am still totally 'old school', Grant, and it's pencil, dip-pen, bottle of ink and paper for me!

The only time I use a computer is for scanning images into sites, and it's great this technology exists.

Computerized colour would enhance my stuff, though, I am convinced.....hopefully I can bite the bullet on this soon.



Good to hear about other members' working practises, however.

[grantw]

And the stuff you produce is fantastic Rab, all the folk on this site have a good range of styles. I only got a pc in 2006 but make use of it for scanning my line work, colour and then digital file for e-mail submissions or print. Usually it is my Artwork I use it for with graphics tablet.

Digital and traditional Art by Grant!

I think the older approach is class though.

[Simon]

Hi Simon,
my method on the pc was to search for "fonts" bringing up all the folders on the pc with a connection to fonts. Then I picked the folder with the most fonts in it, reasoning that would be the main one. I then copied and pasted my handwritten fonts into this folder and photoshop picks them up. Not very scientific, but that is how I did it. Doing a search for fonts should also bring up the "adobe" folder so you could try to add them there. I'll have a look at where they are on my system again then retype this if I remember anything else.!

We'll see after my third coffee maybe lol.