I have been using a different paint program to do the last few comics. Not really a new program, but a “new” version. I have to admit to being an old-timer, in the fact that I was very comfortable using Paint Shop Pro 6. When it came out, I bought Version 7, and then got Version 8 free with one of the computers we bought. But, I could never really get into the newer versions. So, I plugged along with 6. Oddly enough, the reason I have finally moved to the newer versions was not Bitmap World, but the fact that I have been doing a lot of animated gifs and glitter graphics. Some of the plug-in and effects I wanted to accomplish, I could not do in Version 6. So…

I actually use 7 the most. I have often read that Version 7 was most people’s favorite version. And I have to agree. I need Version 8 to do some higher level effects, but the navigation and layout of 7 is much easier for me to use. That said, there are still things I can simply do faster in Version 6. So, I now have all 3 installed on my machine and go back and forth. It’s kinda funny.

Oh, and if anyone wants to know why I don’t use Photoshop, I’ll simply say this: Money. Don’t have the money, and since PSP can do 90% of what Photoshop can, I really can’t justify spending 6 times as much for that software. I mean $100 as opposed to $700 is a big thing. Also, I know that many people recommend GIMP as a free alternative to PS, but I have some serious issues with the interfaces and controls. So, I’ll stay with my PSP, thank you.

All of that said, using PSP7 has been great, but there is a re-learning curve. Strips are taking a tad bit longer to do, but overall I’m happy and think that in the long run it will help things speed along a little better.

I do want to note that Jim’s program of preference is still Windows Paint.  Though, he does do a lot more in PSP now. Perhaps he’ll finally cross over once and for all…though I doubt it.

More pop-culture references in this strip (Issue 180).  Had fun with the nods in the the last issue.  This strip I pay a little homage to one of my all-time favorite fantasy movies.  In fact, I got all so nostaglic doing this strip, I’m gonna have to brush off the DVD this weekend and watch it.  Post in the comments or in the forum if you know what movie it is!

Oh goodness. Issue 179. This strip took FOR-EVER! 4 hours!!! That’s like the old days when I first started this strip. Ugh. Of course, doing the interior of the pub was a huge endeavor. Since this is not really traditional art, the technique is a bit different. I talk about building “sets” and that is what it is. I have to admit, so much of my days in theater comes into play with Bitmap World. You build the set, which is essentially a panel with a background. Then you get the props–many of which need to be drawn from scratch. Then you put in the people. I did manage to snatch some of the art, but a lot of it needed to be heavily modified. Granted, not nearly as time consuming as drawing it from scratch, but particularly since the size-ratio was off, I needed to remaster everything anyway.

That said, the set is built, and I did work ahead on the next few strips. I’m proud of how it looks. Am also pretty proud of the jokes in there…a good number which were Jim’s! See you on Tuesday.

Well, this one (Issue 178) was done BEFORE midnight, but I wanted to do a blog so it will be up just a wee bit afterwards. Though, Jim argued it is still Tuesday on the West Coast, so he is putting a Tuesday date on the front page!

Of course, this one has new art. The Cosmic Dungeon scenery are mostly from pre-existing video game backgrounds (though they are moderately to heavily modified by me), but the Inn is all new and original. It took me forever to decide what style I wanted to do the building. We always knew we wanted the big sign on the top, but actually putting it up there, with the neon arrow was a bit tricky. Anyhow, I spent a good deal of a day looking at tons of medieval inn and pub pictures, and finally decided that I wanted to use this one. When I finally showed it to Jim, he thought it was a pretty good pixelation! What do you think?

The Inn would not prove my greatest challenge. Instead it would be the wording on the sign. Reason being is that there are TONS of gothic and medieval fonts available on the Web, but very FEW that are pixel/bitmap. The difference between a bitmap and regular font is that bitmap fonts are created to be legible at very small sizes. Most regular fonts degrade badly and are illegible at small point sizes. Considering the fonts in Bitmap World range from 10 to 6 points, I was having a very difficult time finding a gothic font that would look good. Most needed to be 12 to 14 points, and we didn’t have enough room in the panel–which I learned the hard way after spending the time to do 2 different signs in 2 different fonts, to have both be a bust. Ugh! I probably Googled about 50 different combinations of keywords trying to narrow down a “gothic pixel font” or “medieval bitmap font” or…you get the idea. I was actually getting pretty desperate and considered drawing my own font, but I had already taken so much time with this! What I eventually ended up doing is hitting bitmap fonts sites and just manually going through their whole catalog until I found something.

And I did! Hours and hours later. But, I am very happy to say that the font in the last panel is a pixel font called HeinzHeinrich, and it’s awesome. And I think it looks awesome too. I do love the gag on the sign. I meant is to be more of a play on words, but thinking about it, it really does seem to be a sign of our times as we have more businesses sharing space to save money.

I am very hopeful Friday’s comic will be a tad easier, even though I have to do the inside of the pub.

Yes, lately we’ve been doing the slice-of-life strips.  You know the old saying, “write what you know.”  Today’s strip is actually one that hits home for me. I have to admit, one of my worst pet peeves is when my kids run around the house saying they are starving to death, asking every 2 minutes when dinner will be done, then when it’s time to eat, I have to yell and scream for them to come to the table!  I mean, if you are truly wasting away, I shouldn’t have to call you 3 times to come to the dinner!  So, I instituted a rule that if the kids don’t come in, I’m not chasing them.  Everyone who comes will eat, and the rest will just have to wait.  Granted, I haven’t resorted to PB&Js for the kids yet, but they do have to eat alone after everyone else.  And if it’s so late the leftovers are put up, they have to go and make their own plate.  Since I made that rule, the kids are much better at coming to dinner right away–though on occasion I’ve had the straggler come in after the fact, upset they were left out. Another true-life element is how the kids pass the buck all the way down when telling the other to tell the others it’s dinnertime. Including telling the baby. That is so how it is in our house.

I want to go back and talk a little about the previous strip.  I’ve gotten a lot of nice compliments about the fireworks.  I really wanted to do a 4th of July strip, but realized that holiday may not translate well to the inhabitants of a computer server.  Not that that stopped us from celebrating Halloween, Christmas, and Easter, mind you, but I figured this one might be a bit too America-only.  Anyhow, I liked the challenge of interpreting that holiday within the confines of that universe, and I was pleased when I came up with this.  As for the fireworks…major work!  There are over 20 cells in that animated gif, and it took me well over an hour just to do the fireworks part. But we are happy with how it looks, so it’s worth it.  Another thing to note, another reason I went with this is because I have been doing animated graphics for another non-BMW project.  Since I was already messing around with Animation Shop, I figured another “moving” Bitmapworld strip would be fun to do.

We got a dog about the same time (real-life time) as the Pixels did. The Pixels’ dog looks a lot like ours, too. The breed is a “Puggle” — half Pug, half Beagle. They’re pack dogs, which is good considering our house. She likes to be with other people, even at night. She’ll go to bed with me and Michelle, and she’ll be with us in the morning, so we always assumed she spent the night in our bed. Until one morning we had to get up extremely early, and discovered the dog would make her rounds — she would sleep for a while next to each of the children.

So, this is another cute slice-of-life comic we couldn’t resist doing.