Countdown #9: Every journey starts with a destination…

A few years ago Kristy and I traveled from Arizona to Florida where we met-up with her parents to visit Walt Disney World for the Holidays.  Her mother, step-father, and the family dog had arrived in fine style towing a fifth wheel style travel trailer behind their Chevy truck.  All the RV campers and trailers where decorated with Christmas lights and so many outdoor decorations I couldn’t imagine how these caravaners had managed to get them from their far away home states to the campground at the Disney Resort. Sitting at the dining table inside the RV we looked at the Walt Disney World resort map and started to chat about which rides, shows, and attractions we wanted to see.  The Tower of Terror at Disney-MGM studios topped Kristy’s list, her mother wanted to experience a traditional British high-tea at the Grand Floridian at Disney World, I was interested in the new GM Test Track ride at Epcot Center and step-father in-law, Bill, was ready for the safari at Animal Kingdom.  Walt Disney World was the destination we had journeyed to.  Once their we realized there was so much to see and do we were each drawn to different areas on the map.

Less fun than swimming with concrete boots on

Flash forward to Fall 2008 when Kristy and I sat down to write Hi-Fi Color for Comics 2 (the book that would later become Master Digital Color). We knew from your feedback that everyone wanted a follow-up book and from that same reader input we knew the focus of the book should be mastering color styles. We also received input from the Art Institute and several community colleges who were teaching classes based on Hi-Fi Color for Comics.  And feedback from coloring panels and workshops Kristy and I had given across the U.S. at schools and comic conventions. After considering all the input and our own ideas for a second book we decided Hi-Fi Color for Comics 2: Mastering Color Styles should be radically different from the majority of art instruction books available. With our plan in hand I set about constructing a rough outline for this new book.  Readers wouldn’t be forced to start on page 1 and work their way through to the end.  Instead of chapters I wanted to create zones or destinations within the pages where you could choose the project that was most appealing to you at any given time and color it.  How would this work?  What would it look like?

Let's see, how's this work again?

First I wanted to give returning readers and new readers a quick refresher of the most important tips, tricks, and techniques from Hi-Fi Color for Comics.  As I was working out the details for this refresher I decided to contact my good friend Dave Bryant and ask him for a favor.  If you don’t know Dave Bryant, well, you’re not alone.  He is one of the most talented artist I have ever had the pleasure of working with.  He can do it all, pencil, ink, & color and he is as gifted a character designer as you will ever meet.  How Dave has managed to fly under the radar of most comic book fans for so many years I’ll never know.

“Dave?  Hello, this is Brian… Miller.” I said into the telephone.  “Kristy and I are writing a sequel to Hi-Fi Color for Comics and I have this idea for a two page comic to remind our readers about the important skills they learned in the first book”. Dave and I chat about the details and I hang-up knowing Dave will come up with something that will blow me away.  Meanwhile I sit down and start working on this refresher material.  I don’t want to repeat information from Hi-Fi Color for Comics in every new tutorial so I need someway to convey when to use a certain script, action, or technique without becoming receptive and boring.  Then it strikes me, some sort of road signs or icons.  My mind swirls with images of Route 66, old diners, the twin arrows near Flagstaff Arizona, and the type of classic neon motel signs that died along with the nom and pop motels and the advent of superhighways.  Right at this moment a sketch from Dave arrives in my inbox.  He has done a brilliant design with a cute female magician, top hat and rabbit incorporating everything I had asked for… smeg me.

This is going to be a tricky phone call, “Hello, Dave?” I stumbled,  “Me again. The sketch looks great but I have an entire vision for the book now.  Yes, like a road trip, with various destinations.  You will, great, thank you.  I owe you.” Yes, I do owe Dave, he is so talented and knew just what to do.  The next day I receive a sketch that knocks me right out of my chair.  Dave has completely nailed the concept.  Now instead of  two pages of boring text to refresh you on the important skills and techniques you will find a beautiful double page spread cartoon pencilled and inked by Dave Bryant, colored by yours truly and lettered by my good friends at Comicraft.

Amazing cartoon by Dave Bryant recaps important info from Hi-Fi Color for Comics

So now we have this wonderful cartoon and a solid visual concept for the book.  What next? Well with those images of road trips across America dancing in my head I started designing various elements to help guide you through each tutorial and on to the next destination and the next.

Icons indicate when to use automation scripts, actions or special techniques.

Like traffic signs these icons remind you to perform a certain task or implement a specific technique

When I travel across he country on motorcycle trips I always enjoy passing through every small town and reading signs like, ‘Welcome to Excelsior Springs, Pop: 14,800′.  These road signs welcome you to new destinations throughout the book.  Each destination is like a journeying through a small town or village.  You will get a feel for the style, learn from people who work in that style every day, and have the opportunity to get hands on with step-by-step tutorials to help you master each color style.  Kristy has even worked with industry pros to craft a series of Homework Challenges for you to complete on your own.

Similar to 'City Limits' signs these images welcome you to each destination

While every good journey is about the destination sometimes the unplanned road-stops and chance encounters add a richness to the trip you cherish for years to come.  That roadside diner with the best slice of pecan pie you ever tasted, or that funny old guy and his dog who chatted with you outside a gas station for 20 minutes about the local area and the hidden spots you need to see for yourself.  Likewise Kristy and I wanted Hi-Fi Color for Comics 2 to feature special bonus content within the book and on the included DVD.  Look for these signs to point out special tips, techniques and content created just for you.

Like Exit signs these icons alert you to bonus material beyond the printed page

What good are all these signs and icons without a map? I worked out a destination guide for the book.  You the reader will be at the center with each color style all around you all options open.  Choose a style, select the tutorial and go to the page number listed.  Choose your adventure so to speak.  You should have heard the silence on the phone when I excitedly told our editor I wanted to get rid of the table of contents and replace it with a map instead.

Original Destination Guide concept art

Speaking of maps, when Kristy and I were in Florida for the Holidays, we did manage to see the Safari at Animal Kingdom.  We also enjoyed  high tea at Disney World with Kristy’s mother, after waiting in a very long line Kristy and I did manage to ride the (disappointing) test track at Epcot, and fall to earth kicking and screaming from MGM’s Tower of Terror.  With the map we were able to navigate our way around Walt Disney World resort and find each of our destinations successfully.  A great time was had by all.  Hopefully you will have the same experience with Master Digital Color (more on the new name of the book in a future installment of Countdown) when it arrives in your mailbox, bookstore, or classroom this spring.  Until then if you are like me you might spend much of  this winter looking at your maps and dreaming of the places you will visit when the weather turns warm again. Every journey starts with a destination.

Brian is a comic book colorist, founder of Hi-Fi colour design, and co-author of Hi-Fi Color for Comics and the upcoming sequel Master Digital Color.

Pre-order Master Digital Color from Amazon.com today you will save close to $10 off the cover price and show Impact Books you support art instruction for the aspiring digital colorist.