A Few Tids and a Couple of Bits

[the_gneech]

1. I am amused and interested by the "Story Wars" concept being employed by various webcomics out there. I rarely get contributions to the SJ tip jar (although when I get a contribution, it's usually a nice one), whereas I gather other webcartoonists view it as a significant source of income. I don't think I could do a Story War or other fundraising gimmick without feeling cheesy ... but I'm hardly hurting for money these days, so it's all good.



2. One thing I am going to start saving up for, is a larger scanner. In the not-too-distant future, I'm hoping to do more comic-book projects, which are generally drawn at 10" x 15". I have never, ever drawn so large. 0.o Even the pages I did for Carpe Diem were 9" x 12", and felt huge. But the reason I did them at that size was because I hate, hate, hate scan-n-stitch. If I can't get the whole piece of art in one pass, then it's not worth scanning! >.< 10" x 15" ... my brain can't even wrap around a canvas that size. But the thing is, scanners that can handle that size generally start at $1200 and go up from there. So if I start socking away $100/mo, in a year I'll have it. If I need it sooner than that, I may do some kind of fundraising gimmick to help defray costs. It doesn't bug me to ask for help on a single specific item, the way it would to just say "Hey, give me money 'cuz I'm awesome!" three times a week.



3. Another hardware upgrade that might happen this year, is replacing both my ancient and beloved HP Laserjet 4p and my primadonna Epson Stylus Color 1520 with a single color laser or high-end inkjet. These days my posters and prints are handled by the formidable mammallamadevil and her army of willing accomplices, mostly eliminating my need for a large-format printer of my own. I generally only use the Epson for gaming handouts or similar things, and even then I avoid it because it's so wonky. This, we'll just have to see how it goes.



4. I am considering Comic-Con and Conifur this year, but have not decided on either. I will not be back at MFM this year, much as I love everybody there -- I'll be doing Dragon-Con again. MFF depends on Conifur -- I expect that I'll do one or the other, but not both. I am also looking with serious intent at Portmericon in Wales in 2007, but right now that's entirely up in the air.



5. I have trouble drawing otters and ferrets. Just sayin'.



6. There is no No. 6.

-The Gneech

Comments

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

If you want an 11 x 17 scanner for not too expensive, try eBay.

That's where I got mine. Kismetropolis took so long to get started because I share your abundant hatred of Scan-n-stitch.

Now I can just scan the page at its right size.

[rhanlav.livejournal.com]

I found an Epson scanner that does 11x17 (our typical worksheet size here at work), and it was gunna cost us $3400 to replace one of the two Microtek SCSI scanners we got 3 years ago for about $1200 each. I know you're pain.

And ferrets are easy to draw. Long body. short arms and legs, cute little faces. ^_^ Draw more of them. Yes, practice. Uh, nono, no ulterior motive here! 0:) Hehe. But good luck anyways.

And I think No. 6 wants to know who No. 1 is. ;) Just saying.

--Salen

Cheap large-format scanner

[rowyn]

Mustek makes an A3 scanner (11"x17") for cheap -- Amazon sells it for $160.99.

It's got bad reviews for color scans (which I have not yet used) but I've had no problems scanning b&w with it.

Re: Cheap large-format scanner

[mammallamadevil.livejournal.com]

actually, I'm trying to remember if Loxley and Kheetor got one of these too????...you two out there???

MLD

Re: Cheap large-format scanner

[goodluckfox.livejournal.com]

Yes, I bought her one. She says, "Nice and big. Only thing is, I really wish that I didn't have to re-ink for it to pick up some of the finer lines. I'm happy with it, I just wish it would do better on the lines."

I've never tweaked the settings to see if maybe I could solve that little problem. And yes, the colors aren't reproduced exactly.

Also, it may have required a driver download to make the scanner work with WinXP. I've slept since then.

I'll see if I can get Kheetor to draw a test image so that performance can be gauged.

All that said, for scanning in large-format black and white images, you can't beat that price.

Loxley

Re: Cheap large-format scanner

[kheetor84.livejournal.com]

Here we go.



If you want to see a bigger image of it, Gneech-sama, just e-mail me. :D

Re: Cheap large-format scanner

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! =) That's useful to know!

-TG

Re: Cheap large-format scanner

[rowyn]

Both images in my post from today were scanned by my Mustek A3. The colors did come out a bit off, I think, but I also tweaked them. Hard for me to say if another scanner would do better or not.

Re: Cheap large-format scanner

[rhanlav.livejournal.com]

I don't need one, work does. And being in an architecture firm, decent color scans are the issue. The color on the ones we have already are bad enough, so we don't really need to trade in one bad color scanner for a new bad one. ;)

--Salen

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

I've no doubt you won't be surprised that Conifur gets my vote. Even with a permanent teaching job, I would be able to come see you with only minimal repercussions, unlike my (failed) attempt to go to MFM.

Have the best

-=TK

[dagucoon.livejournal.com]

otters n' ferrets are the best characters, though. from what other people have said it's because their bodies are funky lean and slender is hard to draw.

[savant-da-rat.livejournal.com]

YOU are number six... (couldn't resist :) )

-Digit

[klepsydra.livejournal.com]

I'm aiming for MFF myself, but it's all very nebulous yet and much depends on how badly I get screwed by insurance over my car accident.

Ironically, my comic-to-be has an otter as a main character because kashyfox can draw them, but another lead character had to be switched from a horse to a tiger because he couldn't get the look right. (And I'm planning to have a talk with him about various tips that came from your panel at FC...)

[confusedoo.livejournal.com]

I'd love a color laser printer, but can't justify the expense. Even though they're a ton cheaper in operating costs, the initial outlay is too much. Course, buying inkjet cartridges is a quick way to go broke, too. That's why I bring my own paper and print things at work. Just wish we had color, though.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Otters & ferrets are HARD...

Comicon is nice ;-)

As much as I agree piecing together scans is a pain, the thought of putting a full-size scanner makes my furniture hurt.

[kamau-d-lyon.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan for getting the new hardware you need. Certainly make it known if your need to accelerate the schedule on getting the scanner. I'd certainly say you got some good tips from the others already on what's out there and not as expensive as you first believed. As for the printer if you don't need to have the large format take a look at this one. I just picked it up (on sale from Staples for $299) and the output is absolutely awesome! Ask Camstone to show you one at CompUSA where we first laid eyes on it. Oh yes, and it does 48" banners!

[katayamma.livejournal.com]

Is there a 6½?