Since you occasionally mention how laborious it is to produce this, I did wonder how far ahead you are with production.
Really depends on my workload and how distracted I get with other things going on but I try to be about a month ahead. It makes it feel more like fun and less like a job. Like, this is my hobby I shouldn't be getting anxious about it, so I render up in advance when I can.
And script wise, well this whole issue is written. I do occasional rewrites, the equivalent of reshoots for certain scenes when they aren't working for me cause the script isn't always what works in the render. I also have another issue written after this one that is going to be far more character driven (this one is very action heavy on the back end) and is much shorter but I've re-written it like 4 times because some of it was either too awkward or just wasn't working for me.
Yeah, now you have us all waiting anxiously for the next panels.
Sorry this week is going to be another tease week
Actually I like that you take your time to tell your story.
Aww thank you! I'm trying to make sure things have weight to them and especially since these aren't established characters, that they get some development time.
This is really fun to read.
Just one thought. I think I have read once that there was a writers rule for TNG that the tractor beam didn't work at warp speed. Although that of course was a rule they broke several times for DS9.
It honestly is. I think someone else has said this but... The WORK that must go in to making these seems huge and I would imagine that it is likely more work than we realize.
This is really fun to read.
Just one thought. I think I have read once that there was a writers rule for TNG that the tractor beam didn't work at warp speed. Although that of course was a rule they broke several times for DS9.
If that was the case, then I'd wonder how the Enterprise was planning on towing the Constellation ANYWHERE within the next few years at impulse
I figured for as much mass as they're pulling though and the massive shift in warp field geometry dragging something about their size and still ablaze, they can do it but to maintain it they had to cut power somewhere else and opted for shields.
I just didn't want to technobabble it.
And thank you on the fun read! I admit I do this mainly because I enjoy it and it lets me put in my quirky sense of humor and what I'd like to see in Star Trek. That other people find it entertaining is a bonus! That and I think I've found a rhythm that works for me over a set of two pages and 6-8 panels.
It honestly is. I think someone else has said this but... The WORK that must go in to making these seems huge and I would imagine that it is likely more work than we realize.
If I already have the sets, about 40-45 minutes to set everyone up if it's a fresh scene. If I already have one saved about 20 minutes to adjust poses, facial expressions, camera placement if I think I need to change it. If there's more than three characters in scene it's a full blown 2 hour plus render time. 1-3 characters is about 35-45 minutes depending on what else is in there. My sets are pretty 'bare-bones' and aren't chunky on the textures so it makes it go pretty smoothly. Ship scenes where it's JUST the ships render insanely fast. So there's a bonus there. I do have a nice render queue up program that I can render these overnight which is very nice.
If we're doing effects, you have a few kinds, practical (do it when I can because I can model a phaser beam or a torpedo and drop it in scene) and optical. Optical usually requires at least 3 passes and then I have to edit them in GIMP. Those would be your transporter shots (one shot with them in scene, one shot with them out of scene and one shot with JUST the characters beaming out so I can grab them quickly in GIMP as a silhouette). Same technique I'd use for a holo projection in a Star Wars shot. Lightsabers are practical
GIMP color correction - 30 minutes overall
Assembly in Comic Life - 45 minutes (dialogue bubbles and text placement eat up more time than you think)
Total: 745 minutes (12 hours 25 minutes)
That doesn't include set building or prop building time if it's something I don't already have All of the sets/props in this one I had built for the page but I'd built Auxiliary Engineering specifically for this comic towards the end of last year (I think) and that took about 12-15 hours? It would have been faster but I wanted to tie it into my loose deck plans for the Aries as well as have direct ties to Main Engineering.
That Phase II enemy bridge I'm using for the Orion ships was an 8-12 hour build and was planned as a partial set based off the blueprints. It's only meant to be used at a few differing camera angles.
As a side note: I'll be out of town this weekend and I have zero idea if my internet will be available so you all might not be getting this week's pages until Sunday night or Monday unless you head on over to my DA account Thursday night at 5 PM EST
As a side note: I'll be out of town this weekend and I have zero idea if my internet will be available so you all might not be getting this week's pages until Sunday night or Monday unless you head on over to my DA account Thursday night at 5 PM EST
As a side note: I'll be out of town this weekend and I have zero idea if my internet will be available so you all might not be getting this week's pages until Sunday night or Monday unless you head on over to my DA account Thursday night at 5 PM EST
Well this is just unacceptable...
Have a fun trip. We'll still be here.
Aww thank you! I need the break from work for sure.
And here's a fun 'what if we used real models for Tiny Trek?' guest starring Starkiller's Valiant.
The Valiant is scaled to the 11ft Enterprise which puts the Aries to scale at 3ft 1 inch.
Posts
Really depends on my workload and how distracted I get with other things going on but I try to be about a month ahead. It makes it feel more like fun and less like a job. Like, this is my hobby I shouldn't be getting anxious about it, so I render up in advance when I can.
And script wise, well this whole issue is written. I do occasional rewrites, the equivalent of reshoots for certain scenes when they aren't working for me cause the script isn't always what works in the render. I also have another issue written after this one that is going to be far more character driven (this one is very action heavy on the back end) and is much shorter but I've re-written it like 4 times because some of it was either too awkward or just wasn't working for me.
Last of her era before the refits start in a few canonical years
He made Avril ANGRY. And she doesn't fly off the handle when she's angry, there's a very determined focus...
Sorry this week is going to be another tease week
Actually I like that you take your time to tell your story.
Aww thank you! I'm trying to make sure things have weight to them and especially since these aren't established characters, that they get some development time.
Thank you!
Had to get those in there!
Bonus frame from last week!
Just one thought. I think I have read once that there was a writers rule for TNG that the tractor beam didn't work at warp speed. Although that of course was a rule they broke several times for DS9.
If that was the case, then I'd wonder how the Enterprise was planning on towing the Constellation ANYWHERE within the next few years at impulse
I figured for as much mass as they're pulling though and the massive shift in warp field geometry dragging something about their size and still ablaze, they can do it but to maintain it they had to cut power somewhere else and opted for shields.
I just didn't want to technobabble it.
And thank you on the fun read! I admit I do this mainly because I enjoy it and it lets me put in my quirky sense of humor and what I'd like to see in Star Trek. That other people find it entertaining is a bonus! That and I think I've found a rhythm that works for me over a set of two pages and 6-8 panels.
If I already have the sets, about 40-45 minutes to set everyone up if it's a fresh scene. If I already have one saved about 20 minutes to adjust poses, facial expressions, camera placement if I think I need to change it. If there's more than three characters in scene it's a full blown 2 hour plus render time. 1-3 characters is about 35-45 minutes depending on what else is in there. My sets are pretty 'bare-bones' and aren't chunky on the textures so it makes it go pretty smoothly. Ship scenes where it's JUST the ships render insanely fast. So there's a bonus there. I do have a nice render queue up program that I can render these overnight which is very nice.
If we're doing effects, you have a few kinds, practical (do it when I can because I can model a phaser beam or a torpedo and drop it in scene) and optical. Optical usually requires at least 3 passes and then I have to edit them in GIMP. Those would be your transporter shots (one shot with them in scene, one shot with them out of scene and one shot with JUST the characters beaming out so I can grab them quickly in GIMP as a silhouette). Same technique I'd use for a holo projection in a Star Wars shot. Lightsabers are practical
Breaking the last page down:
Panel 1 - 140 minutes
Panel 2 - 60 minutes
Panel 3 - 140 minutes
Panel 4 - 30 minutes
Panel 5 - 150 minutes
Panel 6 - 150 minutes
GIMP color correction - 30 minutes overall
Assembly in Comic Life - 45 minutes (dialogue bubbles and text placement eat up more time than you think)
Total: 745 minutes (12 hours 25 minutes)
That doesn't include set building or prop building time if it's something I don't already have
That Phase II enemy bridge I'm using for the Orion ships was an 8-12 hour build and was planned as a partial set based off the blueprints. It's only meant to be used at a few differing camera angles.
Have a fun trip. We'll still be here.
Aww thank you! I need the break from work for sure.
And here's a fun 'what if we used real models for Tiny Trek?' guest starring Starkiller's Valiant.
The Valiant is scaled to the 11ft Enterprise which puts the Aries to scale at 3ft 1 inch.
I haz internets! And it's been a blast so far!
yeah she's definitely a much smaller ship.
Oooo.. That'll be a great future idea!
On another note, just watched Celine Dion sing at the Olympics. Brought tears to my eyes. She did fantastic.