openCanvas Users Forum

Leo Ki · Newbie Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 34

Hi again,

I'm trying to draw a graphic novel on oC 4.5.11+ but I'm bumping into a few problems.

-The calligraphic pen, which I use for text, behaves badly at small sizes (radius below 5 pixels). Even with spacing set to minimum (1%) it leaves blanks in the middle of the strokes - not visible when the picture is sized down but enough to change the hue of the letters. Custom nibs are even worse.

-The select and fill tools are systematically inaccurate regarding pointed pixels, so it's a hell to make frames.

Any tips that could make my life easier? Thanks!

Here's a dirty draft of the first board:

Herb Montes · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:48 am Post subject:

You could create a template outside of OC and import the panels in. I use a vector program like Corel Draw to make panels. Or you could use a free program like this one:

http://simulatedcomicproduct.com/boxen/

Leo Ki · Newbie Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 34

Thanks, Herb Montes. Smile

I think I'll use a method similar to yours.

Here's a tip I developed to prevent oil and watercolor from taking white from out of the frames when painting near the borders:
Fill your frame in solid color (your mini-canvas base color so to say),
then lock the alpha channel;
when you paint near the borders, insist until the color is OK
- this is because the color gets smeared out of the borders too but remains invisible because of the lock.

Regarding the spacing problem with the calligraphic tool I'm still clueless -- short of writing very big on a layer, then scaling that layer down, then merging it down.