Lettering

So just because I can, here is the next bit of ‘The Process’ of putting together FRONTIER
So, blue line pencil roughs are all done. These are then scanned into the computer. Next up is the lettering. Lettering is done in Illustrator, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It can be done in Photoshop and actually no real reason why not other than it doesn’t have the same flexibility as Illustrator when fiddling about with the text and fonts and, very definitely, sound effects. I put the art on the bottom layer, the balloons on the next layer, the text on a third layer and then sound FX on a fourth. It’s a house keeping thing really, enables you to find stuff easily and change things globally.
The reason I letter these blue line roughs is that if for some reason I have been waaaay off when leaving space for balloons I still have the option to change things before committing myself to finished art.
There are lots of ‘rules’ to comic lettering that do make for a more workable job that I won’t go into here. Of course, I say ‘rules’ but it’s all made up. Rules are only things made up by people who want to be ‘right’ about stuff so no point being afraid to break them, but it is useful to know what the rules are. Well lets say ‘conventions’ instead, sounds more friendly and less like school
Anyway. Lettering all done I save it out (if I am happy it fits) and go on to the finished pencils.
Which is next time.
W!LDMAN