Hi everyone!
on September 11, 2017 at 12:10 am
hullo
I might’ve been slacking off… productively!
EDIT: I found out how I can actually export videos now using Flash. Perhaps that new video card I bought helped with that!
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286 results.
Handy Myany 1
on September 8, 2017 at 11:35 pm
First part of a four-part patron-exclusive comic that takes place during page 35. The original idea didn’t actually take place during page 35, but having Myan a litty giddy with using her newfound hands seems perfect for said page.
And like I said earlier, these multi-part comics will be available for everyone even to non-patrons, but I’ll only let you guys read the first page of these things, so better become a patron if you want to see the rest!
Notes for myself
It was time to move up from black and white & screentones to using colors using Clip Studio. And since I still have a couple of bonus comics and art to do, might as well get some practice with it!
- Used multiply using a dark reddish brown for my shadows (30% multiply blend mode), and a lighter reddish brown for the highlights (30% screen blend mode) instead of using the unique shadow/highlight colors for each character. Saves a ton of time while still looking good. The red hue doesn’t work too well for black and cooler colors (i.e. Keith’s hair and Myan’s pants), so had to find a proper color.
- Use maximum anti-aliasing for the lineart. Doesn’t seem to useful here and I probably won’t use it next time, but it looks alright for cel-shading using India ink brush.
- Shading and highlighting things here is of course very different from Flash. If I wanted to mimic the shading/highlighting style there, I may have to use the selection tools. But heck, this was an opportunity to try it a different way, so I did.
- So instead, I used the India ink brush > Bit husky. Looks a bit messy, but it works. I also like the slight transparency effect it does.
- In Flash, I had to make do with using gradients and cel-shading for the backgrounds… but not anymore in CS! Wanted to start simple first, so I just used Watercolor brush > transparent watercolor. Looking pretty good even though I have no idea how to do any watercolor/painterly effects.
- Speaking about backgrounds, the perspective tool is frigging useful. Making anything in perspective in Flash is a mess of lines. Kinda hard to draw the floorboards here though, but wanted to try using an asset/material anyway. Access to free (and frequently updated?) assets made by other people using Clip Studio was one of my considerations for buying it, so I’m glad I’m actually getting some use from it.
- Lastly, airbrushing for the last panel. Again, have no idea how to airbrush at all, but it turned out alright even if it’s not 100% airbrushed. The subview window and the ability to rotate the whole canvas also helped a lot in drawing it! And oh yeah, the Special ruler > focus line was extremely helpful as well.
Transcript
Myan: om nom nom
Keith: Hey get down from there!
Myan: W-what else can these "hands" do...?
Schoolgirl Myan
on September 1, 2017 at 4:43 pm
First finished artwork, ever, using Clip Studio. Had to say, this was pretty fun to do even if I didn’t do it 100%. Anyway, I’m still getting familiar with CS, and made this more fun without the pressure. Some notes for me:
- Used a huge working canvas size at 4961×7016. With a canvas as large as this, it somewhat feels like I’m working in Flash.
- Still unsure about my sketching here. Perhaps it’s just been too long since I’ve sketched anything.
- Playing around with the screentones was definitely interesting, albeit time-consuming for my current skill level. My layers were a real mess here too, so I better keep layer management in mind next time.
- Didn’t use ant-aliasing for the lineart here. Made applying colors and screentones a breeze. Doesn’t look too bad as well, although that might change if I used a lower canvas size. And a quick research shows Flash doesn’t use anti-aliasing anyways…
- The rulers (and being able to rotate the whole canvas )were definitely useful for drawing the bag here.
- Had to export it in JPEG (at 90% quality) this time, it was too large, particularly for the HD version. Quality doesn’t seem to bad, and I think the lower quality might actually contribute to the classic B&W manga look.
- I better close Google Drive. It interferes with saving the file.
- No crashes so far! No autosaves as too far as I know, so I better be careful of sudden blackouts and the like.
I can say, Clip Studio is a worthy replacement for Flash! I can think of a few cons though, but I think I’ll try making a few more things with CS before I decide.
Wolf enclosure
on August 27, 2017 at 1:22 am
First comic made using Illustrator! Like I mentioned last time, making this took WAY too long compared to drawing it in Flash, particularly the shading/highlighting part if you’d believe it. At least I actually learned how to shade/highlight faster while working on this, but it’s still way complicated than Flash. Just reminds me why I liked Flash in the first place, it’s simplicity.
Even with Illustrator’s more adjustable brushes (only 8 brush sizes in Flash, but if you zoom in/out, the brush adjusts), and massive zoom (Flash up to 2000%, Illustrator up to 6500%!), group-able and nameable swatches, it’s still not a good choice for making comics because you’ll need to micromanage the layers and paths a lot (other artists, imagine every brush stroke you did creates a new layer!). Still, I’m glad I finished this to the end! Illustrator will still be useful, perhaps for lineart (I certainly had an easier time drawing here), backgrounds, and wallpapers, which are, you know, illustrations.
Anyway, like I mentioned in another tweet, I think I’ll learn about Clip Studio next. I’ve downloaded video tutorials which I’ve been watching whenever there’s some spare time (i.e. in the bathroom). When I learned about its Rulers (like the Perspective Ruler. Watching this is free.), Clip Studio suddenly looked much more attractive to me since they’re exactly what I’ve been looking for! Drawing complicated backgrounds in perspective is very hard ti in Flash, and is the real reason why I haven’t been drawing them that often.
Transcript
These three notice a wolf that’s lethargic and alone at the zoo’s wolf enclosure...
Keith: It’s a... slothful solitary canine.
Cruz: An idle isolated lupus.
Tammy: A laidback lorn pooch!
Episode 4 – End
on August 19, 2017 at 1:04 pm
So, yeah, just gonna learn Illustrator and get some practice with it. I’ve already been learning it during some of my free time, and oh boyyyy. I hope you’ll be patient with me for now! I’ll keep you guys busy with some of the bonus comics that should’ve been made/posted while Ep4 was going on, but honestly I just didn’t have the time to make them. Perhaps I should make these bonus comics after an Episode ends from now on…
If anyone needs me, I’ll be hanging out in Cat Nine’s Discord. Just use the big ol’ purple button to the left!
NomAd – Pledge at least $7
- Kaisoni
- Yugo Ryan
- Knut Breitschuh
- Scarekitty
- BlueDavrial
- Fishmeistercod
- Linas Venskevicius
- Sir Wuffles
Reader’s Choice – Pledge at least $3
- Henry K9
Starter Pack – Pledge at least $1
- Alex Neumann
- AMoldyDoughnut
- Philip Dorr
- Figerl Jörg a.k.a. Zervikalsyndrom
- Frank Garcia
ko-fi Enablers – Donated through ko-fi
- Some anonymous but also totally awesome guy – 100 coffees?!
- Anonymous – 2 coffees, yum!
Goals reached
True Pioneers & First Weekers – Pledged from the first week (May 4-11, 2017) of Cat Nine’s Patreon launch, and kept it up until the end of the July 2017! Thank you so much!
- Fishmeistercod
- Yugo Ryan
- ZetashockCat
- Daniel Bordelon
- Kaisoni
First Monthers – Pledged during the first month (May 12 – June 1)
- Red Marine
- Knut Breitschuh
- Henry K9
- Hothead
- Alex Neumann
Pioneer – Pledged during Cat Nine’s Patreon page launch (May 2017 to July 2017)
- AMoldyDoughnut
- Linas Venskevicius
- Philip Dorr
- Figerl Jörg a.k.a. Zervikalsyndrom
- Scarekitty
- BlueDavrial
- Frank Garcia
1-up – Reached $50 Goal on May 2017, June 2017. This is enough to keep Cat Nine running every year and have some extra for advertising. Thank you so much!
Transcript
For Episode 5, patrons have voted for: Moon
Everyone! Thanks for reading Episode 4! It only took, what, two years? Not a bad time frame eh? Hahaha...hah.
Anyway, just wanna announce a short hiatus. Now now, I know what you're thinking... I'm seriously trying to learn Illustrator so I can draw more complicated stuff, and I feel Flash is too limited for me now. And I still want to work out the story, colors (cause it's night), and character designs.
Don't worry though, I'll be making some bonus comics and art for everyone and patrons! And hey, they're practice for Illustrator too!
So, see you all when I come back!
146 – Exit, stage left
on August 17, 2017 at 10:04 pm
And so Episode 4 finally ends. I’ll try not to end future Episodes with Myan going emotional too often!
This page’s RAWR and nomAd Patrons
nomAds
- Kaisoni
- Yugo Ryan
- Knut Breitschuh
- Scarekitty
- BlueDavrial
- Fishmeistercod
- Aliumas147
- Scarekitty
- Sir Wuffles
RAWRs
- ZetashockCat
- Red Marine
- Hothead
- ZeroKelvinKeyboard
Transcript
Tammy: We just worry about you two, and your dad here...
Cruz: Yeah, this guy was crazy enough to go after Myan in the lion pit!
Keith: -I couldn't just leave her there because she's not just a cat to me...
Myan: I'M SORRY EVERYONE
Myan: mew mew~
Keith: Aww, thanks for worrying about us, you two.
145 – Friends don’t let friends…
on August 6, 2017 at 4:28 am
Was supposed to be a double comic, but well, it was kinda unnecessary. So, still got one last page to go before Episode End! Welp, at least I found a much quicker way to shade/highlight, yipee.
This page’s RAWR and nomAd Patrons
nomAds
- Kaisoni
- Yugo Ryan
- Knut Breitschuh
- Scarekitty
- BlueDavrial
- Fishmeistercod
- Aliumas147
RAWRs
- ZetashockCat
- MCWildcat
- Red Marine
- Hothead
Transcript
Keith: Well, I would feel better if you don't jump into anymore lion pits. Or cages, or any sort of enclosure for animals.
Keith: Now let's go home.
Myan: ...ok!
Tammy: Hoooollld on you two!!
Tammy: It's none of my business, but I hope this doesn't become a thing from now on. I just don't want to see any of you get hurt.
Cruz: Yeah! I wasn't expecting one of my buddies to be mauled today!
144 – Tith buth ath scrath
on July 27, 2017 at 3:29 pm
Now, how many of you actually tried to say what Myan said? And how many of you actually want to be licked ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)?
In other news:
- Again, last chance to be added as a Pioneer in the Patrons page after July ends! And thanks to all the patrons so far, seriously!
- RAWR patrons & above, I’ll make the RARchive for Ep.4 after it ends.
- Still accepting female background character suggestions for Episode 5. There’s still… five more slots left! It’s just a little thing to help me come up with background characters, and let you guys have me draw a character you want!
This page’s RAWR and nomAd Patrons
nomAds
- Kaisoni
- Yugo Ryan
- Knut Breitschuh
- Scarekitty
- BlueDavrial
RAWRs
- Fishmeistercod
- ZetashockCat
- MCWildcat
- Red Marine
- Hothead
- Aliumas147
Transcript
Cruz: So...we're banned.
Tammy: We're banned.
Keith: So banned.
Myan: ...
Myan: DAD, I'M SO SORRY YOU WERE HORRIBLY MAIMED!!
Keith: I said I'm fine!
Myan: Buth thith willth makeh ith feelth betther! (But this will make it feel better!)
143 – Lion vs. Lion
on July 6, 2017 at 10:00 pm
Sorry for the delay guys! Had some chores that I needed to do and been trying to uh, what’s that word… process (?) the documents needed for a Japan visa. Like, did you guys know you need an itinerary when applying for a Japan visa? Ugh.
If anyone’s still interested in submitting guest comics for next week (cause I’ll be in Japan), I’ll extend the deadline until next week since I can probably post it while I’m over there.
Also, thanks for another month of patronage, my patrons! For everyone else, this is your last chance (after July ends) to get added to the Hall of Fame in the Patrons page. I’ll make a thank you for all the patrons that pledged any amount during the whole Episode, which I’ll post below the final page of that Episode. I’ll start doing this every Episode from now on!
This page’s RAWR and nomAd Patrons
nomAds
- Kaisoni
- Yugo Ryan
- Knut Breitschuh
RAWRs
- Fishmeistercod
- ZetashockCat
- MCWildcat
- Red Marine
- Hothead
- Aliumas147
Transcript
Rallidae: Don't panic everyone! The emergency team is almost here!
Rallidae: Why are YOU in there?!
Keith: O-oh, heyyy...
Rallidae: Don't just oh hey me, what-
Rallidae: WHAT
IS GOING ON HERE?!!
142 – LION WHISPERER
on June 25, 2017 at 10:00 pm
If you didn’t notice, there’s an ongoing poll about (re)drawing Myan’s old outfit until June 28. Vote if you want!
This page’s RAWR Patrons. Okay I’m running out of things to say here, except thank you guys so much!
Transcript
Keith: I-I'm not sure I want to "get to know each other" Myan...
Myan: I told him not to hurt you!
Keith: Yes. I heard.
Keith: Well, this is kinda awesome.
Keith: But... it's time to go.
Keith: ow. hey. But we really have to go!
Rory: nom nom
Keith (echo): ow. hey.
Keith (echo): OW. HEY.