Category Archives: Powil’s Thought of the Week

Window Painting on Holidays

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While most folks put up Christmas lights and trees, a member of our website has a creative way of embracing the holiday rush: painting holiday motifs on glass windows. 

Deb~or~ahh explains that this hobby of hers is turning into a profitable side project. For a couple of bucks, she turns a clear and barren glass window into a vibrant facade of bright red ribbons, cotton-white snow, the ever- omnipresent mistletoe, and gold still bells that go ding-a-ling-a-ling in your mind.

On seeing her creations, one could easily close their eyes, and feel Santa coming his way with his entourage of reindeers. Her postcard-like creations are made from nothing extraordinary—latex house paint for base layers and acrylic paint for colored and indoor projects. Window painting is a unique way to decorate your windows and a good way to earn some money, too!

If you want to know more details read Deb~or~ahh’s blog post on the website.

 

 

 

 

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

8 Halloween Illustrations

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Hi everyone! Hope you all had a fun time trick or treating. Here’s some Halloween inspired illustrations from MangaMagazine :)

Thanks for reading!

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

October Community Contests at MangaMagazine.net

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Remember months ago when MangaMagazine held illustration contests that culminated with the third London Olympics themed illustration competition? Ever since it concluded we noticed comments asking when will the next happen. While MangaMagazine hopes to host similar events in the future, there are no specifics yet!

Fortunately, those itching for contests should consider joining a few by members of the MangaMagazine.net comics website:

1. 3rd Annual Manga-apps contest by Manga-Apps administrators*. To join, make a “oneshot/standalone comic from 8-50 pages, and incorporate one of the yearly themes: bullying, wings, chase, or dehumanization.” The deadline is October 30 so hurry up! Link to details as shared by LOOM here!

*Corrected thanks to Ashikai’s comment on this blog post!

2. SIN art contest, by Drake Tsui. Contest ends December 1st and the top 3 entries get to receive sketch commissions plus cash prizes. The top entry also gets the chance to visually design a character to appear in SIN! Link to details here!

3. Gravston fan art contest. To celebrate Feature promotion this month, Gravston author James Roy, also known as Rogo, is holding this contest. The third prize is a set of 3 full color chibi drawings by Rogo, the second is 1 full color commission and the first prize is a Gravston charm! Deadline is at November 30! Full details here!

4. A contest for free art by Omi. In this contest, winners receive artworks, instead of making them! Contest runs until October 20! Full details here!

That’s all for now. Please address all concerns to the respective hosts of these contests. (and NOT MangaMagazine!)

We hope to see successful results on all these events!

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

Comic Tips: Image Resolution

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MangaMagazine makes sure that all uploaded comic and manga pages fit on most computer screens. A width of 960 pixels is used to measure if an image is within this viewing area. This means that:

  • Any comic page with width more than 960 pixels will, by default, be scaled down and look pixelated
  • Any comic page with width less than or equal to 960 pixels will not be scaled, regardless of how tall it is.

This auto-scaling feature lets our eyes notice the whole page first and then offers the option to focus on individual panels by toggling to full view. This toggle is superimposed on the top center portion of the comic page.

For smoother reading experiences, comic pages should be in the right resolution. If pages are too small there is not enough detail to make them interesting. On the other hand, if the pages are too big, readers will see possible pixelation on the scaled down view, and will go through lots of scrolling and toggling to navigate between pages. Not to mention slow loading times if file sizes unnecessarily exceed 1 megabyte for each page.

There is no one size that will fit every comic. For example, comic strips, like this one, benefit from less up and down scrolling, while Korean webtoons (a really tall format) are known to make use of downwards scroll. Widths around 600 to 800 pixels are alright for comic and manga pages. Anything below that will look too small for today’s computer screens, in my opinion.

There are also instances when going beyond the width of 960 makes sense. For example, if the artwork is amazing that readers might enjoy a closer look at the panels. Another case is when the story calls for a two-page spread. Testing first to see if the pages do not pixelate would help here (tip: stay close to the 960 pixel width). The pages should look nice on both scaled down and original sizes.

Until next month, happy comicking!

Have an idea for next month’s article? Send them over to powil@mangamagazine.net! This topic was suggested by Tony Saavedra – thanks!

 

 

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

Arguably the Punniest Banters in MangaMagazine

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Even before I joined MangaMagazine as community manager I knew how rewarding interacting with authors on their profile pages can be. Here is an incident that happened a few months ago that was apparently started by Pow Flip (author of Long Arm) on Blyu’s profile page:

  • Pow Flip (Mar 10, 2012 6:18 PM) u just blyu my mind

  •  Pow Flip (Mar 13, 2012 10:42 PM)（・◇・）i see blyu

blyu (Mar 13, 2012 11:16 PM) Pow, wow! :0

  •  LOOM (Mar 14, 2012 7:50 PM) Peek-a-blyu.
  • Pow Flip (Mar 14, 2012 8:23 PM) one blyu over the cuckoo’s nest

LOOM (Mar 14, 2012 7:57 PM) …once in a blyu moon. (This is harassment. Yes it is. Kekeke.)

blyu (Mar 15, 2012 5:55 PM) once in a blyu loom


  • LOOM (Apr 5, 2012 10:47 PM) (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

blyu (Apr 6, 2012 8:26 PM) ┬──┬ ノ( ゜-゜ノ)


Now let us switch over to LOOM’s profile page and see what was happening:


  • Pow Flip (Mar 10, 2012 8:45 PM) fly me to the loom (〜￣▽￣)〜

blyu (Mar 10, 2012 10:26 PM) that’s some POWerful stuff.

  • blyu (Mar 14, 2012 4:52 PM) We’re all loomed.

LOOM (Mar 14, 2012 7:54 PM) Then you better hide. I’m behind blyu. < Kekekeke >


  • LOOM (Mar 15, 2012 4:00 AM) This comment has been hidden by the user.

blyu (Mar 15, 2012 6:03 PM) HIDING YOUR MISTAKES. THE WORLD CAN SEE IT LOOM.

LOOM (Mar 15, 2012 3:59 AM) This comment has been hidden by the user. 

LOOM (Mar 16, 2012 2:45 AM) HTML test


  • Pow Flip (Mar 19, 2012 4:06 AM) 99 luft balLooms
  • Pow Flip (Mar 16, 2012 3:07 AM) You have a good nom de loom.

LOOM (Mar 20, 2012 8:24 AM) In memory of…? :O Did I die?

Twill (Mar 20, 2012 2:13 PM) YES. Your soul died a long time ago. The dead remnants of it are rotting inside your black heart.

  • Pow Flip (Apr 27, 2012 12:10 PM) dear loom remember when we used to write things just for pun?

crazycatlady (Apr 29, 2012 12:13 PM) I read them all.. God why..

LOOM (Apr 29, 2012 12:44 PM) I’m wondering the same. I feel spammed. :B


Twill is LOOM’s assistant in the making Vampire Fetish. Let us see what was happening on her profile page:

  • Pow Flip (Mar 16, 2012 3:05 AM) (´▽｀)ノ♪ what twill you do

Twill (Mar 16, 2012 7:52 AM) Oh, no. NOT me. I am NOT joining in on this. Not when I experience the horror of puns every day of my life. Every flippin’ day due to the looming presence in the room nextdoor. =___= *exhaustion*

blyu (Mar 20, 2012 6:46 PM) aw that’s a twill shame

Twill (Apr 6, 2012 12:13 AM) You GUYS.


We can not end without looking at Pow Flip’s. Here is the description written in Pow Flip’s profile page during those times:

“Pow Flip is a world champion cat petter, apple tester, and member of the informal guild of grass watchers. He draws comics like Long Arm for Manga Magazine, and Tracks for Fixit Magazine. Dislikes sudden movements and loud noises.

His fingers are inky.”

And the comments:


  • LOOM (Apr 5, 2012 11:04 PM) I would love to sneak up behind and pop a balloon by Powflip’s head. Ever since I read that description…

blyu (Apr 6, 2012 8:30 PM) we should plan a surprise balloon party

LOOM (Apr 6, 2012 8:49 PM) That is a delicious thought.


  • crazycatlady (Apr 29, 2012 12:24 PM) I challenge thee to a cat petting duel!

Pow Flip (May 1, 2012 1:33 AM) get your cats ready!

crazycatlady (May 2, 2012 6:26 PM) I am a cat!! *Pets own head*

Pow Flip (May 4, 2012 1:47 AM) no fair :U

crazycatlady (May 5, 2012 10:00 AM) It’s fair because you didn’t say that if I was a cat, I couldn’t pet myself!!! LOOPHOLE


  • LOOM (Mar 16, 2012 7:50 AM) stop spreading mad pow disease D:<

crazycatlady (Apr 29, 2012 12:06 PM) OH GOD STOP THE MADNESS

blyu (Mar 16, 2012 5:46 PM) it probably puns in the family.


  • blyu (Mar 14, 2012 10:01 PM) …I ate a Kung Pow chicken bao.

Pow Flip (Mar 15, 2012 1:53 PM) I ate some blyu-min onions. And now the puns have come full circle.


  • LOOM (Apr 27, 2012 7:14 PM) We’re punning out of rhyme.

crazycatlady (Apr 29, 2012 12:09 PM) Punny.

blyu (May 5, 2012 9:03 PM) *giggles like an idiot*


  • LOOM (Mar 10, 2012 8:59 PM) …and the pow jumped over the loom

crazycatlady (Apr 29, 2012 12:07 PM) NOOOOOOOOOO

blyu (Mar 10, 2012 10:24 PM) GOODNESS. i checked back just in hopes you would say something else. My wish was granted.

LOOM (Mar 10, 2012 10:29 PM) We blyu you away?

Pow Flip (Mar 11, 2012 11:48 AM) this is getting out of hand.

LOOM (Mar 11, 2012 1:08 PM) as planned

I definitely had some laughs with these. There might be more where they came from!

 

 

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

Promoting your Comics with Mirrors

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If you have kept copies of your comics at different places on the internet, you are mirroring. This enables you to reach more readers, but takes a lot of time and energy to manage. And, the more time spent on getting your work out there means less time improving your craft as a storyteller. What you might consider doing is funneling your readers to a single location. Assign one place to be your main site where the comic is a few chapters ahead of all other mirrors. Readers who really admire your work will naturally transition towards your main site. Doing this has some benefits:

  • Accurately measure how many dedicated readers (true fans!) you really have.
  • Efficiently manage your resources by focusing your efforts on one place.
  • Get credit from your main site. You probably know that there are benefits for driving unique readers to your comics hosted at MangaMagazine. These would otherwise go uncredited on other mirrors.

Until next month. Happy comicking!

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

Comic Art Schools Part 4: Center for Cartoon Studies

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This four-part blog series talks about schools in the United States that offer degrees and courses related to comic book making!

Former White River Junction Post Office and future CCS main building. © Doug Kerr, from Wikimedia Commons

The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) is a serious school that just opened on 2004 in Hartford, Vermont. It offers a Master of Fine Arts degree and issues certificates upon completion of its first and second year programs.

The school trains students to be well-rounded in all aspects of comics making. More emphasis is put on the production of student’s own stories, self-publication and promotion, rather than on specializing on a specific skill such as penciling, inking, writing and coloring.

Unsurprisingly their admissions requirements are unconventional:

1) A PORTFOLIO CONSISTING OF:
A minimum two-page comic story starring yourself, a snowman, a robot, and a piece of fruit, with one character that speaks a language other than English (real, imagined, or pictorial)…

2) ESSAY:
A three-to-four page double-spaced, typewritten essay (fiction or nonfiction) with one of the following titles:

    • Cartoonists are like that, OR
    • The future

…

5) LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
…

Renowned visiting artists elevate the learning experience to the point that the school became a place to explore what comics are as a medium for storytelling. The school is even the subject of “Cartoon College”-a documentary film about “comics and a school for the people who draw them.”

If you are interested visit the Center for Cartoon Studies website for more information. Get their brochure as well, and don’t forget to check out their free “How to Draw Comics: A Guidebook to The Center for Cartoon Studies!”

 

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

Comic Art Schools Part 3: School of Visual Arts

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This four-part blog series talks about schools in the United States that offer degrees and courses related to comic book making!

If I want to be in New York studying comics then I will probably be in SVA.

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) was founded way back in the 1940s.

1940s!

SVA in New York. © Christopher Hsu, from Wikimedia Commons

Originally called Cartoonists and Illustrators School, the school has since been renamed and grown to include animation, art history, fine arts, graphic design, illustration, photography as well as film making.

The course we should be interested in is the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cartooning. First year covers painting, drawing, sculpting and writing. Second year focuses on comic strip, the graphic novel, satirical images, gag panels and sequential art. Third year aims to find a personal drawing style and narrative voice. And fourth year focuses on developing a professional portfolio.

If you are not interested in a four-year course, SVA has a host of cool short-term offerings. Two such classes are “Intuitive Perspective” and “Comics as Journalism.” You have to check their continuing education listings to see what else is currently available.

One last thing that makes SVA appealing to me is its library! This means tons of comics reading. Also its library maintains a blog and recommends good books to read!

 

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

Comic Art Schools Part 2: The Kubert School

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This four-part blog series talks about schools in the United States that offer degrees and courses related to comic book making!

The Kubert School is located in Dover, New Jersey – perfect for students to really concentrate on its intensive 3-year certificate course.

The school has close ties with large and well-known comic book publishers in the United States, such that graduating third year students will surely have the opportunity to show their portfolios to top employees of these publishers.

For those looking for introductory comic art classes, the school offers Saturday, Evening and Summer courses great for those who want to start getting into comics, or for those who can not commit to the 3-year program. Some classes tackle manga, life drawing for adults, basic and intermediate drawing and Photoshop.

Correspondence courses are also available for long distance learners. Students receive books, art materials and instruction videos plus assignments to send back. Corrections will be mailed via post to the student afterwards. Topics include: Heroes and Superheroes, Horror, Penciling, Inking and Super Villains.

What I really like about this school is their emphasis in hard work, discipline and being in class drawing five days a week.
And the location is known to provide little distractions. The school might seem small but if you are serious on drawing in the superhero genre, The Kubert School might just be for you!

 

Postscript: Let us join the comics community in remembering Joe Kubert who passed away last week. He founded the school mentioned in this blog post. Here is an article in the New York Times, and an interview done by Michael Furth.

 

 

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net

Comic Art Schools Part 1: Savannah College of Art and Design

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This four-part blog series talks about schools in the United States that offer degrees and courses related to comic book making!

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) offers sequential arts degrees under its School of Communication Arts.

According to their website, a Bachelor of Arts is available in their Atlanta and Savannah campuses. This degree covers art foundation subjects, general education and sequential arts. A Bachelor of Fine Arts is also offered for those who want to explore more of the sequential arts curriculum. It is additionally available in SCAD Hong Kong.

Foundation studies classes are taught in Anderson Hall. © Shawn Lipowski, SeanMack, from the Wikimedia Commons.

What to expect inside the sequential arts program?

The first year is spent studying anatomy, perspectives, rhythm, line, unity with all the basic but very important stuffs. The second year begins with a subject I wish I really had in college: Introduction to Sequential Arts. Students are assigned a variety of assignments in just a short few weeks! Exercises include experiments on comics making with silhouettes, script to thumbnail, comic strip, mini-comics and comics anthologies. Students are welcome to try different styles just as long as its within the range of realism.

The Sequential Arts Department also organizes “Editor’s Day” where editors from publishing companies give talks and review student works. Conventions, comic collaborations and other comics events are part of the regular plannning as well.

Sounds like my dream college! If you are looking for a school to learn about making comics, be sure to add SCAD to your list!

The SCAD online landscape is lively. Aside from the official website here are two online communities: SCAD’s eLearner blog and a podcast dedicated to comics by SCAD sequential arts department, from which parts of the contents of this article is sourced from.

 

powil

About powil

Hi, I'm a community manager at Mangamagazine.net