HOW TO COLOR A COMIC BOOK PAGE

Color, in any comic book, is a tool  that is used to tell a story. It brings the work to life, but if coloring is done wrong, the artwork can be destroyed.  When coloring a page, I look to work that is done well in movies, comics, and illustrations. 

The process of coloring is my third step in creating a comic. It goes through a number of steps from beginning to end. 

Before adding color, I always start by scanning the  inked page into the computer.

I then convert the line work a multiply layer in Photoshop. "Multiply" is a transparent layer that allows everything below to be seen. Once this is done, another layer is created under the line work and flat colors are added to it.

After,  I add another layer on top of the flat color layer. I then add the shadows. 

Lastly, because this scene takes place at night, I create another multiply layer and add a purple tone to the figure. I also put the sound effects in ( all on separate layers).

If you take the linework away, you can see that the color alone almost forms solid, 3 dimensional, objects. 

Coloring is and important part of any comic book story. Besides adding excitement to the illustrations it also sets the mood. Visitations wouldn't be the same without it.

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DISASTERS THAT CHANGED CHICAGO HISTORY PART ONE

On March 19, 2020 Mayor Lori Lightfoot addressed the citizens of Chicago about the impending consequences to the Coronavirus pandemic. In her speech, the Mayor mentioned some of the difficulties that Chicago has experienced in the past, heatwaves, polar vortexes, financial difficulties and World Wars. She spoke of the times, specifically in 1871 when the city was reduced to a shell of what it had been and was called to rebuild itself. In the months since her speech the city has experienced not only health issues resulting from the worldwide virus, but also a great deal of social unrest and change the likes of which have not been seen at this magnitude since 1968. As the Mayor said though, the city has experienced these things before and has come out changed for the better.

In October 1871,  a fire started on Chicago's South Side. Because of a drought that began in July, combined with the fact that most buildings in the city were made of wood, a fire whirl (also known as a fire devil- a whirlwind composed of flame and ash) helped the flames sweep through the city, leaping over the Chicago River, and consuming not only the South, The Loop, but also the near North Side. The fire raged for 2 days, killed 300 people, destroyed 3.3 sq. miles, and left more then 100,000 residents homeless.

The city was reduced to ruble but Chicago was not finished. Local business owners and land speculators along with the city government worked to rebuild the city. The fire department reformed and the building standards throughout the area changed.

They were so successful that a mere 20 years later, Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition. This event showed the world the strength of Chicago. From the lowest citizen to the powerful business owner, Chicago was a city that came back from disaster stronger then before.

Unfortunately, this would not be the only unrest that the citizens of Chicago would experience in the years to come, as we she see in  a future article.

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