Hmm...

[the_gneech]

It looks like I'm going to be doing some more comic-format pages by the end of March. So the question is ... do I dip into the savings and get that large-format scanner now after all?

I'm thinking yes ... I haven't been all that happy with the results of my current scanner anyway.

So ... hmm. Maybe some kind of fund-raiser is in order. Auction off a commission, mebbe?

-The Gneech

Comments

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Yes, get the bigger scanner.

Fund raisers are a good idea, IMO.

Maybe you could auction off an appearance in SJ?

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I like to reserve the cameos for charity auctions -- I don't think it's really fair to the people who've worked so hard to get them in the past if I just change the rules after the fact. :)

I was thinking of turning Dragon*Con into more-or-less a working con ... I could just go all out with that and use funds from that to help pay for it. Hmm...

-TG

[the-lizard-rat.livejournal.com]

I agree with Indigo. Everyone wants themselves seen by the masses; auction off an appearance in SJ. Or maybe even a featured storyline instead of just a single appearance. THAT would get the bids flowing. :)

Lizard Rat out.
Wanting to be seen in Albany NY

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Vince tried auctioning off a storyline once and it was less than a success as I recall. Yes, it earned money, but he wasn't happy with the results.

Must ponder!

-TG

[kylet.livejournal.com]

I actually ended up refunding because they just wouldn't give me adequate detail.
Keep in mind, though, that I'm also one of those sketchbook artists that insists on GIVE ME DETAIL ON WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE OR ELSE NO SOUP FOR YOU; you, on the other hand, are not. So it might just be me.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

My big worry is the winner would insist on Drezzer and Conrad sleeping together anyway.

Or Wally and Mikey, for that matter.

-TG

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Or Drezzer sleeping with a Mary Sue ;-)

Point. You could have specific stipulations built into the auction though.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

I think you're overworrying about the need for an uber scanner. When you scan that large, any sort of overlap is pretty easy to combine, especially since you can make use of the breaks between panels if it's geometric enough. It takes *some* extra time for the double scan and stitch, but in the grand scheme of things, it's barely noticeable...

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I had to scan-'n'-stitch on the 8x12 pages I did for Carpe Diem before, and really hated it. I haven't been happy with my current scanner anyhow ... so I can find a way to afford the high-end one. I might even *gasp* lay off the Starbucks for a few months...

-TG

[kylet.livejournal.com]

. . .

Your scanner doesn't fit 8x12? How big IS it??

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

In theory it should be able to scan 8.5 x 14 ... but in practice, unless you trim the bristol to just exactly fit in the window it warps the paper and skews all the lines. So I had to scan right and left halves and stitch them together. Between panels, it wasn't a problem, but for splash panels, it was a pain.

Normally when I'm scanning strips it's not a problem because I generally end up scanning them one at a time.

-TG

[kylet.livejournal.com]

o.0 Okay, yeah, time to get a new scanner.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

*chuckle*

That, and because of the way it eats grays. XP

-TG

[confusedoo.livejournal.com]

If you can scrape together the cash for an Epson 10000XL (about 2.5k) they are very nice. It's not super fast, but fast enough, and the Epson TwainPro software has really good controls. They have one at the library that I'd love to steal, except it's SCSI, and I don't have a card for that. I haven't used the other brand I've seen of 11x17.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Hmmm ... I have a SCSI card, actually ... I just hate having to reboot every time I wanna use the device.

*ponder*

-TG

[confusedoo.livejournal.com]

No, Gneech, I'm not going to commit grand theft scanner. I still need to be able to use that library. :P If you buy a new one, it uses USB 2.0 and firewire. Some might also have scsi, too, but all the new ones have USB.

[daemionfox.livejournal.com]

Mustek makes a truely excellent large format scanner, the Mustek Scanexpress A3 USB for under 200$. codenamehunter and I have been using it for the Code Name: Hunter pages, and they're 11x17.

http://mustek.com/ProductDetail.aspx?product=ScanExpress%20A3%20USB

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Well, the reviews on that one have not filled me with confidence -- in fact, yours is the first really positive word I've heard about it. I'll give it another look, tho. :)

-TG

[the-mcp.livejournal.com]

The only major issues I've personally experienced with the large-format Mustek scanners is that they can be deadly s......l......o......w with large or high-res scans -- not surprising, given that the ScanExpress A3 only has a USB 1.1 interface, not USB 2.0. They have been known to take as long as ten minutes to do a single 11x17" scan @ 300dpi.

On the other hand, the price certainly can't be beat if you need large-format on a small budget, and can live with the slow scan rate...

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

I agree with Vince: the storyline could be not allowed to interfere with the general pattern of the cast to this point. However, it should be pointed out that many of us are insanely envious of Nekomimikun.

Have the best

-=TK

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Now that's odd... this was set to become a reply directly to the post up there, where V. said:

Or Drezzer sleeping with a Mary Sue ;-)

Point. You could have specific stipulations built into the auction though.

Another one of LJ's strange little mysteries.

Have the best

-=TK

[exatron.livejournal.com]

I was just going to put some cash in the SJ tip jar since I like your art and writing, but an auction would work too.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

*chuckles*

Well that option is certainly welcome. ;)

-TG