LOE 002 HYPERCOLOR

Going into Photoshop to add color to a LOST ON EARTH strip isn't nearly as easy as it was doing the I DIG DUG strips. I could usually get an IDD strip colored in 10-15 minutes, depending on the level of detail I wanted to accomplish. Thus far...I'd say the LOE strips are taking me anywhere from 25-30 minutes to color, with a few of them coming closer to 45 minutes. It's crazy.

I think the main reason for this, is the level of detail in the characters' costumes. That is to say, they aren't highly detailed like you'd see in a comic book...but the fact that I wanted to give them the impression of being 'metal' or 'shiny', with small variations in gradation that makes the coloring process more time consuming. And you'll notice that as I progress, the coloring gets more and more crisp and clear. The first three strips are really 'work in progress' mode, as I'm just trying to find my stride with how Photoshop will work with these characters. I just finished adding color to strip six this morning, and I'm finally hitting my stride. So, as I begin to color from here on out (strip seven on) I think you'll begin to see a more consistent color palette and scheme for the characters and their environments.

I'm going to keep posting the color versions from the next few weeks, as I continue to get ahead in the black and white strips. I just pencilled numbers 11, 12, and 13, and have the story written up to number twenty. At twenty we're getting close to the characters leaving the comfort of their ship (which I've tentatively named the Blue Crustacean). That's where I think the story will really pick up. And...we're going to see that goal of 'stealing the Earth's supply of Twinkies' get put on the back burner as the characters end up in other interesting predicaments. Should be fun...but I'm getting WAY ahead of myself.

-dug!