The new art style

[Cuthalion]

Well, we'll see how gloved hands look next time Thor comes into the picture.

A few of the background dwarves have gloves. Wait, never mind. He just has dark skin.

[zimmerwald1915]

A few of the background dwarves have gloves.

Are you sure? They all look bare-handed to me.

[Cuthalion]

Are you sure? They all look bare-handed to me.

You're right, I was wrong, he just has dark skin.

[The Giant]

It takes literally the exact same amount of time to draw the new hands, because Illustrator CS6 has a Blob brush that creates an outlined shape from a brush stroke and merges everything you draw with that brush automatically. I just select a round Blob brush, draw the hand, then apply a color. It takes maaaaaybe a fraction of a second more per hand—though I can draw several and then color them together, so less if you average it.

So if you want to complain about how they look, whatever, but the changes to the feet consumed way more time. And all the feet in the comic put together didn't hold a candle to the time it took to draw the one entrance to the dwarven tunnels in perspective. And I don't see anyone complaining about that.

EDIT: Here's a demonstration of the Blob from Adobe:

[zimmerwald1915]

It takes literally the exact same amount of time to draw the new hands, because Illustrator CS6 has a Blob brush that creates an outlined shape from a brush stroke and merges everything you draw with that brush automatically.

What spoor of madness is this!?

[ChristianSt]

It takes literally the exact same amount of time to draw the new hands, because Illustrator CS6 has a Blob brush that creates an outlined shape from a brush stroke and merges everything you draw with that brush automatically. I just select a round Blob brush, draw the hand, then apply a color. It takes maaaaaybe a fraction of a second more per hand—though I can draw several and then color them together, so less if you average it.

Actually then it works exactly how I imagined it should work. (Though I didn't want to speculate on it, since I never really worked with CS).

And I personally haven't spend a single moment to think about how long any specific part of the comic takes to do or not.
I just look at an awesome result and can only bow my head to a newly epic piece of OotS art

[Smolder]

Then the problem is just that the black outline of the hand should not be as thick as the colored part. It should be easy to adjust this setting of the blob brush.

[zimmerwald1915]

It should be easy to adjust this setting of the blob brush.

Yes, it should. Anyone with Illustrator care to confirm?

[The Giant]

Then the problem is just that the black outline of the hand should not be as thick as the colored part. It should be easy to adjust this setting of the blob brush.

It is incredibly easy. I am not going to do it.

[Smolder]

It is incredibly easy. I am not going to do it.

Nor should you. I'm not the one with the art degree here.

[Cuthalion]

It takes literally the exact same amount of time to draw the new hands, because Illustrator CS6 has a Blob brush that creates an outlined shape from a brush stroke and merges everything you draw with that brush automatically. I just select a round Blob brush, draw the hand, then apply a color. It takes maaaaaybe a fraction of a second more per hand—though I can draw several and then color them together, so less if you average it.

So if you want to complain about how they look, whatever, but the changes to the feet consumed way more time. And all the feet in the comic put together didn't hold a candle to the time it took to draw the one entrance to the dwarven tunnels in perspective. And I don't see anyone complaining about that.

EDIT: Here's a demonstration of the Blob from Adobe:

-snip-

Ah, thank you. I didn't know quite how advanced Adobe Illustrator was, then. I imagined an Inkscape with maybe a better interface and a few more minor tools. The entrance to the tunnels does look awesome, just so you know. Thank you for the comic.

EDIT:Pretty sure this is what Zz'dtri would have looked like.

[WindStruck]

Why would anyone be complaining about the entrance to the dwarf tunnel though? It doesn't look all deformed and weird.

[Silmarwen]

OMG! OMG! I can't wait to see Belkars' feet!!!

[zimmerwald1915]

Why would anyone be complaining about the entrance to the dwarf tunnel though? It doesn't look all deformed and weird.

Neither does anything else...well, no more than it always did

[Cuthalion]

OMG! OMG! I can't wait to see Belkars' feet!!!

I... tried.



Thing is, Belkar's feet already have an outline. So I didn't really change much there.

[jere7my]

What the hell is up with the entrance to the dwarf tunnels? I don't have Illustrator, but if I try to recreate that using only chewing gum and sticks it takes me over thirteen hours. Rich must be brain-crazy!

[WindStruck]

The issue I have with the Z and V drawings is that I'm almost certain they wear some sort of shoes...

[Cuthalion]

The issue I have with the Z and V drawings is that I'm almost certain they wear some sort of shoes...

Elan, second panel.

All the characters with shoes have them drawn.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Elan, second panel.

All the characters with shoes have them drawn.

I wonder why they don't wear them. Belkar, I can understand, since he's a halfling. But why the Elves?

[Gift Jeraff]

Elan, second panel.

All the characters with shoes have them drawn.

Elan thought he was barefoot, meaning he wasn't. Durkon did not have shoes drawn until the most recent strip.

[Cuthalion]

I wonder why they don't wear them. Belkar, I can understand, since he's a halfling. But why the Elves?

Perhaps because they fly a lot?

Elan thought he was barefoot, meaning he wasn't. Durkon did not have shoes drawn until the most recent strip.

But then there was the art upgrade and all the characters that were supposed to have shoes had shoes. I'll be drawing shoeless characters shoeless until I get any evidence to the contrary.

[Keltest]

I wonder why they don't wear them. Belkar, I can understand, since he's a halfling. But why the Elves?

I believe V and Z wear sandals or slippers of some variety. Or perhaps being elves they automatically wear "footwear of elvenkind" which conform to whichever class's armor requirements they need to.

[Jasdoif]

But then there was the art upgrade and all the characters that were supposed to have shoes had shoes. I'll be drawing shoeless characters shoeless until I get any evidence to the contrary.

You know, I wasn't really looking for this, but since I just came across this 2004 post....

Belkar IS barefoot--those are his hairy halfling feet you're seeing there. And Elan, Durkon, and V aren't actually barefoot, I just don't draw their shoes in any detail, because it would make the character design too busy.

[Cuthalion]

You know, I wasn't really looking for this, but since I just came across this 2004 post....

And neither do I until I see what the Giant thinks their shoes are like.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

You know, I wasn't really looking for this, but since I just came across this 2004 post....

Well then, forget my previous question.

[Cuthalion]

Well then, forget my previous question.

I'll never forget it. Ever.

[WindStruck]

Elan, second panel.

All the characters with shoes have them drawn.

It's been pointed out that Durkon actually wears shoes. I can only imagine that if shoes AREN'T drawn that it means the shoe is fairly standard, maybe flimsy, and just plain non-magical. It doesn't necessarily mean the character is barefoot. I'd find it hard to believe THAT many people wander about like that.

[Cuthalion]

It's been pointed out that Durkon actually wears shoes. I can only imagine that if shoes AREN'T drawn that it means the shoe is fairly standard, maybe flimsy, and just plain non-magical. It doesn't necessarily mean the character is barefoot. I'd find it hard to believe THAT many people wander about like that.

So you're saying Elan's shoes are magical?

The point just got pointed a few posts ago. They have shoes. But since Durkon is now confirmed with shoes, I'd find it likely that V will get them too. I can add them onto the art if you'd like, then.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I'll never forget it. Ever.

I'm gonna hold you to that promise.

[Cuthalion]

I'm gonna hold you to that promise.

Shoot.