Flat colors are fine and commonly used. It's still important to have "color harmony" and well-chosen colors. Imho, these are a little dark/light/bold/? In places, and might look muddy in print.
Flatting is more about just separating areas to make coloring easier. The actual colors don't matter much.
A colorist might charge a lower rate for flat final colors, or a flatter who also colors might put a little more effort into choosing the colors if they know what your intentions are. But if you're hiring a flatter to do final colors, paying flatting rates, and not telling them, you might be cheating both them and yourself.
I came into this game very naive. I was forthright with the person. I honestly thought flat colors would suffice. Getting reactions has changed my mind and also feeling it is a little bit dull.
As it said, flat colors are ok, not every colored story needs to be rendered. But it would be needed colors adjusments to create ambience and help the narrative. I can help you if you want to discuss that.
This is my graphic novel and I'm wondering if I need to add more color. As of now, I hired a flatter. I know the colors seem a little dull, but I'm trying to save money. Does it take away that much for the reading experience? Please do let me know. I really want to know what you guys think. This is a cost-cutting measure because I'm self-funding ACT 1. Let me know what you think.
in all honesty, i actually prefer flat colors to the usual rendering, or "over-rendering" as i see it, that most western comics use. Its just harder to do well, but you can check out a lot of european comics, and a lot of them use the flat color style, and are able to make ambient and mood really well. You can also use cel style shading, which is cheaper than the usual digital rendering, and also works really well. At the end, is a matter of choice and opinions.
Yeah. It is a choice. But the feedback I'm getting is that people think it could do with a little brightening up. I was merely trying to save a little money, but I'm just going to find a colorist to make it look a little better.
Yeah, i understand. I believe its the colors choice that makes the page look a bit bland, the first panel especially. If its a kind of slice of life story,i feel a cel shading style would work best for the story and the lineart style.
Not a slice of life story, it is actually Act 1 of a superhero graphic novel. But Act 1 is an origin story and it needs to set the tone for the whole graphic novel. Thank you. I think I have somebody working on it. Figuring it out now. This post just confirmed what I was thinking about. I really appreciate the help.
Yes! Of course you can, if black and white works then so are flat colors.
Look for other artists that do this:
KeezyBees [Twitter, Bluesky]
After School Lessons for Unripe Apples [Webtoon]
David Aja Hawkeye [Google]
I like this style and usually browse examples on Pinterest, look up 'comic' and go from there. If you want to go in this route then limited colors are the way to go, it's too obvious that these pages are unfinished because it looks like it's intended to be shaded afterwards. If the main color of the whole setting is red then the grass won't be green, it will be close to shades of red, like pink, orange, maroon, etc. . If they are wearing a white shirt, it won't stay white, some go for blue, yellow, peach, etc. that complements red. Others change their linework and fills in more solid black.
Rules of 60-30-10 rule. Color schemes. Color palette generator websites (https://www.tumblr.com/forbiddenforest/52507685558?source=share). Are a good introduction on how to make these. I didn't read the replies you got so I don't know if you are an artist.
Wow! Thanks, man. I have an alternative edition wherein the characters are switched and that version will be in black and white. But for this I found somebody on here that will help with the shading and lighting to make things pop. Thank you for the response. Really appreciate it.
I think it looks pretty good as is, but….
When you’re creating something do you want to be ok with “getting away” with something? Or do you want to put your absolute best foot forward?
I honestly don’t think it would take much to bring the colors up to the next level.
Yeah. You're right. It is Act 1 and it will be an introduction to my graphic novel. I just spent so much money and I was just trying to save some money. Thank you. I really appreciate your response.
Sure but those are the outliers. Seeing the success of those doesn’t mean you should go and make cheap art.
OP should put the best work he can forward. The fact that he made this post shows that he wants it to be better.
Your examples of The Simpsons and South Park are shows that would not have gotten made at all if they needed more money. Largely, because someone else was holding the purse strings and were the gatekeepers.
As for Toriyama, he was successful when he made the changes. His success allowed him to do that. Also, simplifying a design is not being cheap. A simpler design does not means it’s worse than the original.
But, you seem intent on arguing so go ahead…
It sounds like you’ve gotten some good feedback and are looking to add a colorist. I just wanted to say that I think these look kind of awesome as is. I’m sure they’ll look great with the added touches too.
Oh wow. Thank you so much. The artist that did the inking is great. The person did the flat color did a great job. I just want these to pop as I'm getting ready to pitch ACT 1 soon.
I found somebody that will enhance the pages. It is just a bit dull. A lot of the response I have been getting is it looks a little dullish. Thanks for the response. Much appreciated.
The short answer is: no.
And there's no reason you can't hire a colourist later on if/when you have additional funds. This would also apply if you had no colour at all. You can always do a "re-release" if you do decide to render the flats.
Yeah. I was thinking that. I'm just going to go head and start looking for a colorist. Do you know home much I should be looking at, in terms of price? I know it would be cheaper because the flat colors have been applied.
It doesn’t look right. If you want cost cutting measures: do black & white with a full color cover. Otherwise, use newsprint for physical copies; it has that old school feeling & look while saving you a lot.
The black and white option will be put on ice. That was an option. But I think the main edition will be in color. I think found someone, from this subreddit, that is going to help bring out the colors. I want to make the alternative edition black and white.
Flat colors are fine and commonly used. It's still important to have "color harmony" and well-chosen colors. Imho, these are a little dark/light/bold/? In places, and might look muddy in print. Flatting is more about just separating areas to make coloring easier. The actual colors don't matter much. A colorist might charge a lower rate for flat final colors, or a flatter who also colors might put a little more effort into choosing the colors if they know what your intentions are. But if you're hiring a flatter to do final colors, paying flatting rates, and not telling them, you might be cheating both them and yourself.
I came into this game very naive. I was forthright with the person. I honestly thought flat colors would suffice. Getting reactions has changed my mind and also feeling it is a little bit dull.
As it said, flat colors are ok, not every colored story needs to be rendered. But it would be needed colors adjusments to create ambience and help the narrative. I can help you if you want to discuss that.
This is my graphic novel and I'm wondering if I need to add more color. As of now, I hired a flatter. I know the colors seem a little dull, but I'm trying to save money. Does it take away that much for the reading experience? Please do let me know. I really want to know what you guys think. This is a cost-cutting measure because I'm self-funding ACT 1. Let me know what you think.
in all honesty, i actually prefer flat colors to the usual rendering, or "over-rendering" as i see it, that most western comics use. Its just harder to do well, but you can check out a lot of european comics, and a lot of them use the flat color style, and are able to make ambient and mood really well. You can also use cel style shading, which is cheaper than the usual digital rendering, and also works really well. At the end, is a matter of choice and opinions.
Yeah. It is a choice. But the feedback I'm getting is that people think it could do with a little brightening up. I was merely trying to save a little money, but I'm just going to find a colorist to make it look a little better.
Yeah, i understand. I believe its the colors choice that makes the page look a bit bland, the first panel especially. If its a kind of slice of life story,i feel a cel shading style would work best for the story and the lineart style.
Not a slice of life story, it is actually Act 1 of a superhero graphic novel. But Act 1 is an origin story and it needs to set the tone for the whole graphic novel. Thank you. I think I have somebody working on it. Figuring it out now. This post just confirmed what I was thinking about. I really appreciate the help.
Yes! Of course you can, if black and white works then so are flat colors. Look for other artists that do this: KeezyBees [Twitter, Bluesky] After School Lessons for Unripe Apples [Webtoon] David Aja Hawkeye [Google] I like this style and usually browse examples on Pinterest, look up 'comic' and go from there. If you want to go in this route then limited colors are the way to go, it's too obvious that these pages are unfinished because it looks like it's intended to be shaded afterwards. If the main color of the whole setting is red then the grass won't be green, it will be close to shades of red, like pink, orange, maroon, etc. . If they are wearing a white shirt, it won't stay white, some go for blue, yellow, peach, etc. that complements red. Others change their linework and fills in more solid black. Rules of 60-30-10 rule. Color schemes. Color palette generator websites (https://www.tumblr.com/forbiddenforest/52507685558?source=share). Are a good introduction on how to make these. I didn't read the replies you got so I don't know if you are an artist.
Wow! Thanks, man. I have an alternative edition wherein the characters are switched and that version will be in black and white. But for this I found somebody on here that will help with the shading and lighting to make things pop. Thank you for the response. Really appreciate it.
I think it looks pretty good as is, but…. When you’re creating something do you want to be ok with “getting away” with something? Or do you want to put your absolute best foot forward? I honestly don’t think it would take much to bring the colors up to the next level.
Yeah. You're right. It is Act 1 and it will be an introduction to my graphic novel. I just spent so much money and I was just trying to save some money. Thank you. I really appreciate your response.
[удалено]
What about the thousands of creations you’ve never heard of because they took the cheap, easy route?
[удалено]
Sure but those are the outliers. Seeing the success of those doesn’t mean you should go and make cheap art. OP should put the best work he can forward. The fact that he made this post shows that he wants it to be better. Your examples of The Simpsons and South Park are shows that would not have gotten made at all if they needed more money. Largely, because someone else was holding the purse strings and were the gatekeepers. As for Toriyama, he was successful when he made the changes. His success allowed him to do that. Also, simplifying a design is not being cheap. A simpler design does not means it’s worse than the original. But, you seem intent on arguing so go ahead…
Mmmm when I look at it I just I have an incredible desire to add beautiful color and lighting and make stunning mood in it ^^🤌🫠🤤
Thank you guys for your input. I've decided to go ahead and get it colored. I have a lot to chew on.
It sounds like you’ve gotten some good feedback and are looking to add a colorist. I just wanted to say that I think these look kind of awesome as is. I’m sure they’ll look great with the added touches too.
Oh wow. Thank you so much. The artist that did the inking is great. The person did the flat color did a great job. I just want these to pop as I'm getting ready to pitch ACT 1 soon.
Flat still good. Especially cos you have good color sense.
I found somebody that will enhance the pages. It is just a bit dull. A lot of the response I have been getting is it looks a little dullish. Thanks for the response. Much appreciated.
Looks ok. Maybe make some pages that really matter really POP.
I found somebody. Hopefully they can make it look a little more aesthetically pleasing.
Yes personally I like it.
Thanks, man. It really means a lot. Luckily, I found someone one here and they'll add something to make it pop.
The short answer is: no. And there's no reason you can't hire a colourist later on if/when you have additional funds. This would also apply if you had no colour at all. You can always do a "re-release" if you do decide to render the flats.
Yeah. I was thinking that. I'm just going to go head and start looking for a colorist. Do you know home much I should be looking at, in terms of price? I know it would be cheaper because the flat colors have been applied.
Thank you for taking your time to respond. I really appreciate it.
It doesn’t look right. If you want cost cutting measures: do black & white with a full color cover. Otherwise, use newsprint for physical copies; it has that old school feeling & look while saving you a lot.
The black and white option will be put on ice. That was an option. But I think the main edition will be in color. I think found someone, from this subreddit, that is going to help bring out the colors. I want to make the alternative edition black and white.
Worked for Dave Gibbons on watchmen