Page 875…
The downside to 3D comics…
I sometimes get a section of the book that requires a new 3D model. But the scene is only in one or two panels.
Since each environment can cost me upwards of $2000 each. I try not to waste the money if I will only see it for a couple of panels….and never again.
In the distance for this page…we were supposed to see a devastated forest.
Where Paddington’s people used to live.
Stefano was only notified that I NEEDED a model for this like LAST WEEK.
I hadn’t really thought about it…since it’s not a major environment (he’s currently working on environments needed for chapter 16…that’s like a year or two from now).
Anyways. I put the sunset in…and felt it didn’t affect the story one way or another.
There’s another scene on Thursday’s page that has Kiwi glancing over the forest. I’ll see if it’s OK too.
Maybe I’m overthinking it. But please let me know (maybe after this whole “paddington/kiwi” sequence is over) if I should go back and put that in the background later on.
Other than that…hope your 3 day weekend was good. And hope you enjoyed the page.
🙂
Scott
first post? woohoo!! I like the sunset…I think seeing the ruins of the rock-people village would be devastatingly sad…
I like the sunset background that you have now. It adds a nice touch to the moment between Kiwi and Paddington.
Why are the trees all gone? Didn’t the rock giants establish tree farms to sustain themselves? Or did something happen, like a forest fire or Nick’s goons from the Nightmare Realm?
I was wondering why you simply do not get something like Vue7 for the backgrounds? It would save you a ton of money and put more control in your hands. Then you can stick to the models that are absolutely necessary and avoid the unnecessary ones. email me if you need cheaper models or matte paintings.
The sunset background is really awesome but Paddington still looks sad 🙁
Sustainable agroforestry at the rate they seem to eat might not be possible. Could we be looking at the end of Dreamland…
To me as a reader, I don’t think adding in the scene of a devastated forest would make too terribly much of a difference. However, this is your webcomic, and I think it’s probably best if you make it how you think it SHOULD be. If that means putting in the devastated forest in the background, then by all means.
I actually think adding the forest would detract from the scene, and make the Rock People look a little too menacing. We see devastated forests now and immediately think “Bad! Evil!” etc. without thinking much about why the people doing the cutting pretty much have to do that, due to economic/political issues in their homes.
By not showing the forest, I can feel a little more sympathy for the rock folk here, too. I know what it would look like, but I dont see it and thus just feel anger – which really would be directed in the wrong place.
But that said, why do they not sustain themselves? Or devour EVERYTHING? It seems pretty careless. Even people know to leave new growth on their farms.
wow, thats expensive, I admire you for making this webcomic, even though it must have cost a fortune, i really enjoy it 🙂
keep it up, I’m gonna try to convince my parents to get me a paddington, he’s cute ^^
The sunset really works well… although there is a clump of trees in the distance… must be a type they are alergic to. Other than that, what would a devestated forest really look like? Paddington eats the trees whole, so the end result would be a flat plain… maybe with potholes, which could be added by texture as opposed to actually making the pot holes in the model.
Whoa, I never had a clue it cost that much! (And seeing such dedication might be why I’ve finally taken the big step and posted a comment after being a reader for about 2 months).
I do wonder if its irresponsibility on the rock giants’ part or some other influence; surely they’re able to sustain their food supply somehow!
Also, if they’ve moved on from their home, what happened to their tablet?…
I really like the sunsets. They’re so beautiful! Besides, a tree scene might retrack from the Kiwi/Paddington connection right now.
I hope the rock giants are ok, especially Paddington’s parents…
If I say it’s okay, would you give me that $2000 ??? LOL! Just kidding… It’s okay for me. If it was cheaper, I would suggest to redraw the scene, but the cust/benefit does not allow and sunset does the job very well.
Morning all.
Thanks.
I’ll see if I decide to come back to these pages later on.
But for now…I am happy with them.
🙂
I think it works just fine … the text TEXT tells all you need to know and the Background shot is gorgeous … so I vote to leave it be.
On a side note … ARE YOU GOING TO HEROESCON?
If so, my family is going to make the trip.
Thanks,
TedRx
Hi Scott,
I think the scene is fine with the sunset, but then again, you did say that you are taking us into the life of Paddington… so I guess it would depend on what you are planning to convey to us the readers. Paddington so, far says that his people had to move north because there are no more trees left. We can see the sadness in Paddington. Someone made the comment as to why there are no more trees; if it is because of some disaster or attack, something that would greatly affect Paddington personally then I think it would be beneficial to show the devastation that forced the rock giants to leave there home. if they just depleted there food supply and moved on, then I would assume that the rock giants are basically nomads that follow the food, thus would have no personal impact to Paddington; just another move. in that case, the sunset is fine. So I guess it depends on what you are trying to show us.
I never had a clue to the costs. Other artists have used subdued greytones or modified photographs for background images which are important to the story but don’t detract from the character yet convey much details. Or you could perhaps use a difused image (unfocused) as a memory or illusion.
Just thoughts. You’re the master of your art and ANYTHING you decide will be, I’m sure, excellent.
I’ve been under the impression that the Centaur village is on a plateau, surrounded by flat lands and canyons. Paddington and Kiwi seem to be sitting on a cliff and looking down across the land. If this is the case, then who’s to say how far away some of that land is, or how far away his homeland is? Chances are you wouldn’t see the detail of the shattered forest, ESPECIALLY with the sun in your face, sinking down below the horizon and shadowing the land. So, keep it as-is. If, however, at some point in the future, you were to have them going to/through/near his tribe’s old home, then obviously, it would be totally worth making.
P.S. Thanks for doing this comic! I love it.
Sunset vs devastated forest?
I’m happy with the panels as is, Scott!
You just rest and don’t fret over it, the last thing you need is stress :), the panels are just fine as they are,if they ate all the trees it would be just a moonlike area with no vegetation? (do tell what you had in mind for the landscape, I’m pretty curious)
as for people saying they should be able to sustain their foodsource, i dont think that is possible, they are big and they need food, and probably quite a lot of it. Trees dont grow like bamboo (some varieties grow up to 1m a day) and since it is probably a community you cant grow enough trees in time for them to be able to stay in one place right? So they have to live a bit like nomads i think, and move around the whole time to where food is, like bisons or wild horses did in the past, eat and move on, that way (i supose dreamland is pretty big) they can keep on moving and eventually return to for instance this place when the trees have grown back ^^
just my thoughts:) sometimes i wish i could draw or make up a coherent storyline, i always have ideas but never anything big, just bits and pieces and rarely can they fit in 1 story, ah well i can live on comics like these on the web
keep it up scott, we all love ya 😉
I think the panels are great! I totally agree with Heartsong in that since they are on a cliff, the distance would be blurry so you couldn’t see a ruined forest, like, at all, especially at sunset.
Also, Paddington mentions the Tanbury Hills, and we have hills in the background. Having the sunset/hills background seemed to me that Paddington, while looking off into the sunset above the hills, is thinking about his family IN the hills and hoping that they are doing ok. Mentioning and picturing the hills (maybe not the same hills, but hills nonetheless) gives off a hopeful image: “they’re out there somewhere…” kinda thing. If there was a devastated forest in the background, it would feel negative and dwelling on the past. Besides, that sunset is gorgeous! Show it off some more! XD And, $2,000 is a lot for an environment you only see once! I’m going to encourage you to funnel that money into other awesome things, this page is already awesome as is.
Of course, I don’t know what Paddington and Kiwi are going to talk about next. Depending on what they say/do/express, scenes of ruins might be necessary. Other people in comments mentioned other things than having another whole 3D environment built- photoshopping some textures in on the image file after you render the 3D to look like a pot-holed landscape or messing around with an actual photo for a background. I’m sure this is relatively cheaper than making a 3D environment and it might even work out better!
Just some ideas for panel shots- maybe a panel of the hole in the ground from the tree that Paddington just pulled up, with the characters off-screen, only showing text bubbles? That may convey the right image (depending on what the dialogue/feeling of the scene is, of course). Or you could do a wider or angled shot of them on the cliff where no vegetation (or the color green) is showing? You’ve got the “barren forest†idea subtly included in the panel without showing a barren forest and still keeping attention on the characters.
In the end, it’s all up to you as author. I hope my opinion helps you!
Atan: “as for people saying they should be able to sustain their foodsource, i dont think that is possible, they are big and they need food, and probably quite a lot of it. Trees dont grow like bamboo ”
well, that’s true on earth, but how about in dreamland? 🙂 again, it all depends on what Scott wants to reveal as to why they had to move.
I usually see no reason to post since most people already post what I want to say.
The way you have it now with the sunset and no trees is perfectly fine.
But I thought about this for a bit: I think it will make more sense if Paddington is looking out at the sunset when he says “there’s no more trees, though” and looking at Kiwi when he says “They used to” it’s just switching the 2nd and 3rd panels but I think it would make more sense. But I’m not saying to change it, it’s fine this way too. Just saying what I think.
To me, if you ever find yourself making the desolated forest anyway (maybe a later story arc involving Paddington’s folks? *hint, hint*), it would really bring the point home if you keep the sunset for the first part of his talk with Kiwi, and as they finish up, slowly pan over to the forest, so that the reader goes from this pretty sunset to the full impact of what must have happened back then… all-you-can-eat dramatic tension buffet, with a foreshadowing dessert. 🙂
BTW… love love love your story and please hurry with the movie!
Thanks all!
The thought of dreamland eventually stripped clean of trees is a very sad one for me. Perhaps adding that magical plantlife slowly grows behind the rock people so they slowly migrate in a large circle would make it less depressing. Sorry to criticize as i really do enjoy this comic, but i have seen far too much clearcut forests in my time and i find it quite saddening.
Hurray Paddington! He’s my favorite character! Love these panels! Very well done.
You aren’t starting back full time again too soon are you? We don’t want you to have a relapse. I really enjoy the M thru F updates but the M-W-F updates were cool too. Just don’t overdo okay?
Hey Eddie…
No I’m doing good. I’m already 4 weeks ahead on renders.
🙂
And Xenoth…
If you have the books…you’ll see the map actually has the “Barren Forest” there. Next to Aethos and below Tanburry Hills.
It’s not from the Rock Giants “eating it” that devastated the forest…as you’ll all find out shortly.
I like it as it is.
The sunset is lovely and the mood of friends sharing a moment and a bit of sadness is perfect – not melodramatic and not silly. Excellent!
I love the size difference of Kiwi and Paddington, it’s so cute, her sitting on his shoulder!
*whips out books* Amazing! You can track nearly their whole journey on these maps!
Another reason to buy the books then i guess, though it is currently beyond my financial means. Thank you for informing me of my error though. It does make me feel better
I think the sunset works on a symbolic level: end of day/end of life (of the barren forest)/unable to see for the dark, and so on…and besides, it’s prettier than a devastated forest. I’d vote to keep the sunset, at least for now. It’s like writing sonnets: the constraints help make the artwork and story work.
“they’re a bit more north now.” i would change this slightly. they’re a bit further north now.
im seeing the next couple!omg!
i thought rock giants ate rocks.
There is no sharing That does not lead to a project. ,
Damn. Sorry, but damn. That is a LOT of money.
Good thing I’m planning to be a 3D animator/graphics artist. Bad thing for whoever I work for. XD
But…rockbiters eat rocks, not tr–oh wait. Wrong fantasy. XP
Anyway…loving this story…and a webcomic using 3d-modeling is new and different and something I’ve never seen before.
They ate them all. Duh.
I always knew that grass type was super effective against rock type, though I never suspected it was in the form of temptingly delicious.
Rock Giants on a date:
And for tonight’s menu: a Cedar salad, with just a hint of cherry tree…