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Quicky comic preview: just a few upcoming panels... they're totally disconnected and unlettered, but still, *don't click if you prefer to read the whole comic unspoiled*. (Though chances are that by the time I post the finished product, you'll have forgotten the spoilers...) I'm thinking of posting the whole comic in one when it's finished; screw working chronologically - scenes 2 and 4 are pretty much ready for lettering, but scene 3 needs something. Until I figure out what that is, I'm gonna first draw the final two scenes, which are pretty straightforward, and let my subconscious busy itself with scene 3.

First I thought I'd need to trim Rodney's dialogue but then I told myself, hey, it's McKay. It's what he does. :o)

before:

after:

Question for the Photoshop-savvy out there: is there an elegant, time-saving way to get those little hooks (pointers, whatever they're called) for the speech balloons? I just can't draw freehand on my graphics tablet, and the straight, point-to-point lines are too inflexible for this purpose.

A master's student at Georgetown University looks for fans across the board to participate in a fanfiction survey for her thesis.

My name is Katherine Morrissey and this survey is part of my master's thesis at Georgetown University. You are invited to participate in the following survey on current popular works of fan fiction. In this survey you will be asked to identify a few of the stories and authors you have recently read and enjoyed. The survey will also ask you for some general demographic information.

Incidentally, she should end up with a really impressive cross-fandom recs list.

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You can use the pen tool to make paths to create the speech bubbles! Then you can do a 'stroke path' to put the paths into line.

Thanks, that sounds promising. I'm gonna look it up in my PS for N00bs book, and try it out asap.

small image example!

Whoohoo. Thank you, it worked! Hah:

LOL, he really talks a lot, doesn't he?

I've commonly seen that part of a speech balloon called "tail" in books about comics. I have no idea about photoshop though, but maybe that bezier curves tool could work?

I've commonly seen that part of a speech balloon called "tail" in books about comics.

In German I call it 'Dingens' so maybe the correct translation would be 'thingy'.

I have no idea about photoshop though, but maybe that bezier curves tool could work?

Thanks, I'll check that out (I have no idea what that is, but I have a useful book that's great for looking up things, once you know what you're looking for.)

Oh, wow, those look *awesome*. Fabulous faces, great coloring, and the poor little creature! Can't wait to see the whole thing.

I'm with

summertea -- I'd use the pen tool and "stroke path". You can find a basic tutorial on the pen tool here (http://www.myjanee.com/tuts/pentool/pentool1.htm).

Oh, thanks for the tutorial. That's just what I need 'cause really, I'm still stumbling my way around this program.

You can make, or maybe even find a brush set for your bubble pointers.
Or use smudge tool? But that may "soften" the lines. There is a "warp" tool, but I admit I've not used it. If you make the pointer a separate piece, you won't mess up the balloon.

Thanks! That warp thing actually sounds familiar, that may get me somewhere.

I will email you a set of custom shapes.

Thanks so much! I'll have to upload the shapes to the roommate's computer to try them out - looks like they aren't compatible with my version of PS. (I have 6.0, hers runs 7.0) I really can't avoid upgrading any longer... I keep running into this problem that a lot of the cool stuff isn't working with my version.

Ohhh, these look fantastic! And yeah, I wouldn't even try to fight the losing battle of getting McKay's babble down. :)

And yeah, I wouldn't even try to fight the losing battle of getting McKay's babble down. :)

Yeah, it would be downright OOC. I even have to reduce the line spacing and narrow the text to fit his dialogue into the bubbles. Which, I figure, is just appropriate given his speed-talking.