Week 10 _ Page Layout (The "Hierarchical" Grid)

Assignment:  One Pager _ (Hierarchical grid layout)

Materials: 11 x 14” Bristol board, ruler, eraser, blue pencil, flair pen/brushpen/micron

1.Convert a Diary Entry* one-page comic. Any layout and any number of panels, so long as there is some variation in panel size. (*Choose from any entry that you’ve done EXCEPT the one that you are doing for the democratic one-pager.) 

2.As with our previous comic, lay out your “live area” by penciling a line 1” from the edge all the way around the page creating a 9 x 12” live area. Use ¼” gutters.

3.This is a black and white comic.

4.You may use dialog (speech and thought bubbles) and silent panels.

5.Give your comic a title. This may follow some of the simple forms we discussed Monday or it may be integrated into the page design as with the examples that we reviewed earlier. 

Your goal is to condense your story such that the entire “episode” fits into this single page.

DUE Monday Nov. 3:       - completed Democratic Grid One-pager &

                                          - completed Hierarchical Grid One-pager

We will critique both 1-page comics together on Monday. 

Week 9 _ Page Layout (The "Democratic" Grid)

Activity:  One Pager _ (Democratic grid layout)

Materials: Bristol board 11 x 14”, ruler, eraser, blue pencil, flair/micron/fudenoseke pens

You will create a one-page comic in the democratic grid format (all panels the same size). Use an X-page story OR one of your Whole Life Diary entries as the point of departure for the story. Note that the goal is to tell a complete episode in this single page. Take this into consideration in choosing your story.

1.Lay out your “live area” by drawing a line 1” all the way around the page. Then draw a simple grid of 9, 12, or 16 panels of equal size. Remember that the panels go all the way up to the edge of the “live area.” Make your gutters ¼” in width. (This will involve a little math.)

2.This is a black and white comic. 

3.You may use dialog (speech and thought bubbles).

4.Use the first panel for your hand drawn title. 

Start this in class today and continue for Homework. Approach this like our in-class exercises in terms of time and investment. (3-5 minutes per panel = 45 – 90 minutes total.)

Timeline: Monday, 10/27 = completely penciled, partially inked

WEEK 8 _ Comp. Notebook Menu

As usual you can find all of this, plus a plain-text version on CANVAS > FILES > WEEKLY MENUS.

Due date for WEEKs 7&8 (at 100%) and Last Chance Points for Weeks 5&6 (at 50%) =  Weds., October 29.

WEEK 7 _ Prepping for Kayla E.

This week we will complete and discuss your "Draw Me a Story" 2-page comics. We will also prepare for visiting cartoonist Kayla E., by reading an excerpt of her graphic novel, PRECIOUS RUBBISH.  [CANVAS > FILES > READINGS]

PLEASE, plan to attend her lecture on Monday, Oct. 13 at 2pm in the CID Assembly. There will be a signing immediately after the lecture followed by a workshop with our class. It's gonna be great. Be there.

WEEK 6 _ Comp. Notebook Menu

As usual you can find all of this, plus a plain-text version and supplemental instructions/examples on CANVAS > FILES > WEEKLY MENUS.

Due date for WEEKs 5&6 (at 100%) and Last Chance Points for Weeks 3&4 (at 50%) =  Monday, OCT. 13 

Scanning / File Prep / Submission _ 4-Panel Strip & Ivan Brunetti Simple One-Pager

Good work on your comics. I was impressed at the pin-up and pleased with the feedback that you gave each other (despite the near-constant rain of post-it notes).

Now it's time to complete/revise your originals. Then scan, edit, and upload documentation of each comic to the relevant assignment in CANVAS by Friday, Oct. 3 11:59pm.

Please review the following directions for preparing your work correctly for submission. Correct file-prep and documentation is part of the grade you will receive for every assignment going forward. (BECAUSE it's an important part of the comix process.)

1.) Finish/Revise your original pages.

2.) SCAN your originals. Use the large, flatbed scanner in the studio. You will need to download the driver specific to your OS. I recommend selecting the option for Image Capture application in MAC machines. Here's a link to the Epson site where you can download the driver.

*You must use an actual flatbed scanner for this. Photographs and scanner apps on your phone will not work.

• Turn on the scanner
• Place your original, face-down on the glass and close the lid
• Open IMAGE CAPTURE (after the green 'Ready' light on the scanner stops blinking)
• Check that your settings match the ones pictured below 

• If you don't see anything, make sure you've selected the scanner and then press Overview
• Drag a marquee to encompass your original page
• Input a file name, type (jpg), and destination 
• Press SCAN

3.) FILE-PREP 

Here's a link to a video repeating the process that I demonstrated in class for file prep using Adobe PS. Just watch up to the 5:20 mark. Everything after that doesn't apply here. 

And here are the steps listed in the order demonstrated on the video:

• Open your file in Adobe PS
• Ruler tool to straighten _ [Image > Image Rotation > Arbitrary]
• Crop close to live area but with small margin
• Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation _ [reduce Saturation slider to -100 and increase Lightness slider to +100 for Cyans and Blues]
• Image > Adjustments > Levels _ [Use the histogram to brighten your whites and darken your darks. This can be done myriad other ways.]
• Image > Mode > Gray Scale
• Image > Image Size _ [confirm 300dpi]
• File > Save As _ YourName_AssignmentName.jpg
• Upload to relevant CANVAS assignment

DRAW ME a STORY

Please find the Guidelines pdf for the Draw Me a Story Assignment in CANVAS > FILES > DRAW ME A STORY.

This 2-page comic is due for critique (inked) on Weds., OCT. 8.