I am completely astounded at the number of thoughtful responses I got on that colors posting. You guys all *rock*. That was really, really cool to read and think about.
My own choice is the just-barely-favored #2, for a lot of the reasons that have been ennumerated. It pays more attention to actual lighting sources, the depth and shading is good, and I love the night sky behind her (it works *so* well with the next page, too!). My second favorite is #5, with #6 in there at just about the same place, except it’s just a little too dark for me. #1 is a little too cartoonish: the colors are good and I love the depth and richness, but it just doesn’t quite work for me.
The Controversial Blue Lipstick: my first reaction was AUGH. My second reaction was ‘huh’. My third reaction, especially after talking to one of the colorists who did it (a friend did #3; he was doing it more experimentally, having never done comic colors before, than as an actual audition), was, “…I really like that.” His thought was along the lines of, “This is a character whose behavior necessarily draws attention to herself, but who wears a mask: she doesn’t want to be recognized. Blue lipstick is *distracting as hell*.” Similarly, he added blue piping to the costume (as did #4, which I liked a lot) as another draw-the-eye-away technique. I really, *really* like that.
I am *completely* torn on whether to ask the colorist to actually do the blue lipstick, because I *really* like the psychology behind it and it *really* threw me the first several times I looked at it. The last thing I want is for somebody to be thrown out of the comic at panel one. o.O
I am in agreement with those who liked the obvious toxicity of the clouds in panels 3 and 5; that needs to be addressed in #2. I’ll probably end up eventually posting another final version of the colors, after I’ve talked to this guy about some of the changes that might be good to see.
The only awful part about this is having to tell several people that they didn’t get the job.
I was one of the folks who chose #1 in part because it did look cartoonish. It’s a comic. :)
I’m just wondering if the blue lipstick idea is something that will appeal to an audience. Same goes for color job, really. I know I chose based on something more standard. I know that it’s strange for me to follow convention, but I wonder if that’s not more prudent in this case.
Maybe if you tone down the blue lipstick and make it indigo? I just think electric blue looks garrish, though I like the mask idea. I’m not sure a wider audience will appreciate that. They usually respond with first impressions, just as you did.
Just as a random thought… the coloration in #1 is much more like the coloration in the Image lines that I’ve read.
Ahh…those were toxic clouds. I withdraw objections to them being too visible, then :D
Hmmmmm…I agree with you that the psychology of the blue lipstick is Neat, and also that it’s jarring. Do you have Chance all scripted for the first zillion issues already? If not, maybe you could have her switch to the blue later and explain why?
I was torn between #1 and #2. I really appreciate the richness of the color in #1, but I liked the final panel in #2, and some of the other little touches. I didn’t think #1 came off as cartoony, so much as vibrant, where a lot of the others just felt flat, to me. I don’t know how that translates from LCD screen to Paper, though.
Colorist #2 has in fact done a fair bit of work for Image, so I’m pretty confident of them liking his work. I honestly can’t remember if I’ve seen the supersaturated colors in their comics, but I suspect it depends on what the story looks for, too.
Yeah, seconded. Turn those criticisms over green clouds to be praise!
Can’t wait until this hits Previews. (Yeah, yeah, there’s some steps between now and then. But having seen it, I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t get published.)
C.E. Murphy, Famous Writer!