This tutorial I did has been languishing at the RUSH blog for two years now, so I thought I'd bring it here, since the methods are sound - this isn't how all graphic novelists write and create their books - but this is how I operate when working in a team.

The book being used here is a gay graphic novel called 'Roulette' and it used to be published by Dramaqueen, until I voided our contract [sorry, if you don't pay us, we don't work--nor do you get to profit from our work.] I resold the title to German publisher The Wild Side, and it should release in winter of this year [2009].

The artist is ~LauraZel

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1. The Outline. This is the part of the manga that gives your editor an idea of what’s going to take place in every installment [or scene]. Once they approve it, you can write the script.

2. The Script. The script is then written, and [depending on the writer] artists’ direction sketches are made. These are done by the writer for the artist only as a guide. The editor goes over the script and makes suggestions and or grammar changes… [see final letters image on this post to spot them ^_-] Once the script is approved, the artist gets it.

3. Pencils are then laid down by Laura, based on the script. If Laura needs to make changes because the direction sketches are unbalanced or the frames aren’t working, she does so. In teams, it's a collaborative effort, not like relationships typically found on WFH [work for hire]jobs. Laura uses 240gr smooth paper. Pencils are sent to the editor for approval.

4. Inks. Laura applies India ink, a using a brush and a nib, over the pencils. And while she admits that digital inking is cleaner [she is very impressed with MangaSt Ex’s line correction feature] she finds she can only achieve her unique style of heavy lines, by hand.

5. Screentones for the sake of Roulette, are applied in Photoshop. Laura can use other programs, and even actual tone paper; but Roulette is all about 80’s shine, decadence and old-school-style gaudy! Toning in Photoshop delivered the perfect look and feel, for what we are striving for.

6. Letters. Once the tones are set, the images go to our editor Akito, so she can score the trim and bind lines properly. Once these are in place, then I open the files in MS EX and letter. I’ve managed to learn new ways of making balloons recently, and so I’ll no longer be tied down to the default balloons in the program [as you can see, I used the default ones here and I really hate them!] The German edition will have my OWN Balloons...muwhahahaha!