The Process

Welcome to the Comic Express Process Page. 

This page outlines the process of commissioned work only. Commissioned work refers to work that is customised
or designed and created from scratch, especially for a client
and their individual needs.

On this page we show you the actual process of a project
from beginning to end. This gives you an idea of what to
expect when you order an image through us.

          

How it works.
Every job is different and Comic Express is very flexible in how we work to create your image.
A basic series of steps take place with every job, and for your information it is laid out below:

  • The Brief
  • Selection Of A Style
  • Roughs
  • Pencilled
  • Inked
  • Coloured
  • Delivered to client with invoice.

We will cover each area briefly to help you understand what they mean:

 1. The Brief
A brief is the client's summary of what they are looking for. It can be a very vague or a very clear detailed instruction.

2. Selection Of A Style
This refers to selecting a style to use for the image. The style refers to the actual look of the image eg thick or thin line work, colour as airbrushed, solid or gradient. To select a style search the 'Select a Style' page, the galleries, or the archives, and find a design look you like. Take note of the code and let us know.
 
If you see an image close to what you have in mind by Comic Express, but want it altered to fit, let us know. Alternatively, if there is some other image you have seen and want something similar, send us a link to it or let us know and we will match it. We DO NOT COPY but rather create an image in a similar style that is our own.

 

3. Roughs
A rough is a pencil drawing. It can be a simple drawing, and it can sometimes be a very detailed tight drawing close to the final image. It is used to convey ideas only, or sometimes to show the final image arrived at, for the client to approve.

         

      




4. Pencilled
This is a tighter rough for the client to see and approve. This rough represents  the image as it will be seen once inked and coloured. It is usually at this stage that changes are made to the image, as the client wishes. This is an important stage for any changes or redrawing to occur, because at this stage, changes are easily made.

 

  

5. Inked
This is when the final pencilled drawing has been approved and no further changes need to be made. The drawings, depending on style, are inked using indian ink and pen or brush.

 

  

6. Computer Process
Once the drawing is complete it is scanned into the computer for cleaning up. Text is added at this stage (if it is not hand written) and a computer file is created suitable for the clients needs. The computer process involves both saving  the size of the image (if given by the client) and the file format the client wants (not always given) such as tiff, jpg, psd, pfd etc. If the client does not give these details, we have  standard formats which meet the needs of each specific area.		  

Cartoon of a desktop computer

 
7. Coloured
The image is converted to rgb or cmyk file fomats and is coloured as the client wishes. If the work is hand coloured eg watercolour, coloured ink etc this colouring is done prior to step 6.

 

  

8.Delivered to client with invoice.
The finished images are sent for final approval (if requested) by the client. Otherwise they are burnt to CD for mailing, or sent via email (if size allows) to the client. The invoice is usually sent with the CD or email at this time. A day or so after the work is sent, the client is contacted to confirm that  they have received both the invoice and the image.

 

  

cartoon of a eamil and compact disc

 
                
  Process Page | Sample 1 | Sample 2 | Sample 3  


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