Drawing Cartoons & Comics for Dummies

Index 333

printer, 45 Cul de Sac (Thompson), 327
RAM (random access memory), 43 cut and paste, 64
scanning artwork into, 277, 320 cyborgs and droids, 199–201
computer type fonts, 252–253, 256–257
consecutive panels of comic strips, 16 •D•
contracts, 305–306
conventional thinking, 79–80 da Vinci, Leonardo (artist), 69
converting dad character, 133–136
artwork The Daily Cartoonist (Web blog), 327
daily comic strip layout, 264, 265
to bitmap file, 287 deadline pressures, 296
to color mode, 280–281 deductions, 309–310
bitmap file to grayscale, 287 Democratic Party donkey, 206, 220–222
copyrights, 306 desk, 236
correction fluid, white, 64 development deal, from syndicates, 301
Cosmopolitan magazine, 26 Dick Tracy (Locher), 325
costs digital format. See Photoshop; scanner
art table, 36 Dilbert (Adams)
business, 309–310
CDs, 44 inspiration for, 131
legal fees, 309 licensing and merchandizing, 22
professional drafting table, 37 simple art style of, 74
RAM (random access memory), 43 success of, 21–22
scanners, 276 workplace humor, 20
tablets, 46 dip pens, 40
costumes and clothing distorted or exaggerated eyes, 91
accessories, 128 dogs, 184–186
animals with, 125 donkey, Democratic Party icon, 206,
for bully, 157–158
changing outfits, 128 220–222
collar on a shirt, 126–127 Doonesbury (Trudeau), 16, 20
for dad character, 135–136 DPI (dots per inch), setting, 277–278
drawing, 125–128 drafting cabinets (flat files), 39
for geek/nerdy guy, 141–142 drafting chairs, 37
for girl next door, 150 drafting table, professional, 36, 37
for little kids, 155 drafting top, 36
for matronly grandmother, 147 drama
for modern mom, 145
for the occasion, 127–128 action words creating, 260
for TV news anchor/used car visual, 267–268
drawing basics. See also inking
salesman, 139 arms, hands, and fingers, 119–122
cover letter, 302–303 choosing pencil and paper, 50
CPU (Central Processing Unit) speed, 44 classic cartoon body, 109–114
Creators Syndicate, 306, 322 ears, 97–99
criticism, using, 77 erasing sketch lines, 58, 284
crosshatching, 62 eyes, 91–94
Crowder, David and Rhonda (Building a fixing mistakes, 63–64

Web Site For Dummies), 312

334 Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies

drawing basics (continued) EIN (Employer Identification Number), 308
getting started, 10–12 elephant, Republican Party icon, 206,
head shapes, 11, 83–91
honing your skills, 12 217–219
legs and feet, 122–124 e-mailing your art files, 293–294
from lines to making shapes, 51–53 emotions. See also facial features
mouth, 99–102
nose, 94–97 distorting/exaggerating the head and,
rough sketches, 54, 318–319 86–87
spacing legs and hips, 124
teeth, 100–101 happy or laughing face, 104–105
tightening up a sketch, 54–55 mad or angry face, 103
tone and texture, 58–62 sad face, 104
scared or surprised face, 105–106
drawing supplies Employer Identification Number (EIN), 308
brushes, 41, 56 entertainment deductions, 309
ink, 42 EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), 293
overview, 39–40 eraser, 63
paper, 41 Eraser tool, Photoshop, 282, 284–285
pens and pencils, 40, 56, 251 erasing sketch lines, 58, 284
ergonomics of the workspace, 35
dress. See clothing and costumes evaluating your work, 297–298
droids and cyborgs, 199–201 expenses, 309–310
Duoshade (shading material), 280 expressions. See emotions
external hard drive, 43
•E• eyebrows, drawing, 94
eyelids, 91
ears, 97–99 eyes. See also glasses
editorial cartoons basic, 91–92
buggin’ out, 92–93
alternative (altie) style, 207, 212 raising an eyebrow, 94
caricatures for, 212–216
characteristics of, 23–24 •F•
classic characters
face-lift/modernization of characters, 132
Democratic Party donkey, 206, 220–222 facial features. See also emotions; head
Republican Party elephant, 206, 217–219
Uncle Sam, 206, 222–224 about, 11
dealing with readers’ responses, 225 bully, 157
defining, 205–207 facial hair, 101–102
forming and expressing an opinion, family cat, 187, 188
family dog, 184–185, 186
207–209 family goldfish, 190, 191
history of, 9, 24–25 geek/nerdy guy, 141
by Jeff MacNelly, 25–26 girl next door, 150
by Pat Oliphant, 25 happy or laughing face, 104–105
role of, 205, 207–208 jaw, 102
setting the scene for, 209–212 little kids, 155
traditional style, 207 mad or angry face, 103
two-fer-one (tying two topics together), matronly grandmother, 147

78–80

Index 335

modern mom, 144 free association, 66, 70
mouth showing, 100 FTP (File Transfer Protocol), 294
placing, 87–89 full-time cartooning career, 295–298
sad face, 104 funny papers. See comic strips
scared or surprised face, 105–106 furniture. See also chairs
talking babies, 153
talking cars, 177 art table, 36–37
talking toaster, 179 desk, 236
TV news anchor/used car salesman, sofa, 161–163
worktable, 35–37
138–139 future of cartooning, 12–14
facial hair, 101–102
family car, 168–170 •G•
Family Circus (cartoon), 84, 253
Family Guy (TV cartoon), 133 gag cartoons
family members as main characters, 131 characteristics of, 9, 26–27
The Far Side (Larson), 9, 28, 253 by Charles Addams, 27–28
fax and phone line, 310 by Gary Larson, 28, 253
Federal Tax ID number, 308 history of, 27–28
feedback in magazines, 324
in New Yorker magazine, 26, 28–30, 325
from friends and family, 303
on story lines, 77 geek/nerdy guy, 139–142
female characters genres, 8–10, 15. See also specific genres
girl next door, 148–151 GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), 293
matronly grandmother, 145–148 Gilligan’s Island (TV show), 306
modern mom, 143–145 giraffe, 192–194
female nose, 96 girl next door, 148–151
File Transfer Protocol (FTP), 294 glasses
filing cabinets, 39
fingers. See arms, hands, and fingers drawing, 93
fixing mistakes for geek/nerdy guy, 140, 141
cut and paste, 64 for matronly grandmother, 147
using an eraser, 63 for smiling sun, 181, 182
white correction fluid for, 64 goldfish, 189–191
flat panel monitor, 46 grandmother, 145–148
flattened file, 292 grayscale image
Fontifier (software program), 257 bitmap image converted to, 287
fonts. See also lettering choosing, 279–280
choosing, 251 converting to color mode, 280
computer type, 252–253, 256–257 Greeting card companies, 324
creating your own, 257–259
handwritten, 252–253, 257–259 •H•
For Better or For Worse (Johnston), 20, 133
foreground. See also layout hair
objects in extreme close-up, 267–268 for dad character, 135
placing characters in, 244–247, 265–266 facial, 101–102
Franklin, Ben (statesman), 24 for geek/nerdy guy, 141

336 Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies

hand lettering. See also lettering editorial cartoons using, 24
action words, 260 Republican Party elephant, 206, 217–219
creating your own fonts, 257–259 Santa Claus, 206
handwritten fonts, 252–253, 257–259 Uncle Sam, 206, 222–224
spacing between words and letters, 261 ideas. See also story lines
connecting to theme, 67–68
hands and fingers. See arms, hands, and developing, 316–317
fingers for editorial cartoons, 208–209
inspiration for story lines, 65–66, 78–80
happy or laughing mouth, 100 looking for and keeping track of, 66–67
hard drive, computer, 43 imagination, 20, 21
head. See also facial features inanimate objects
about, 159
angles for, 89–91 animating
basic shapes, 84–86
described, 11 appliances, 165–167
exaggerating and distorting, 86–87 smiling sunshine, 180–181
little kids, 154, 155 talking cars, 175–178
talking babies, 152 talking toaster, 178–180
Hearst, William Randolph (newspaper blender, 166–167
family car, 168–170
publisher), 16, 17 lounge chair, 163–165
hips, drawing, 124 microwave, 166
history refrigerator, 236–237, 240
sofa, 161–163
of cartoons, 11 sports car, 170–172
of comic strips, 16–20 television, 52–53, 209
of editorial cartoons, 9, 24–25 toaster, 166–167
of gag cartoons, 27–28 trucks, 172–174, 239–240
hobby, turning into a business, 307–311 income. See also business
Holkins, Jerry (Web cartoonist), 32 advertising, 14, 31, 312
home office tax deductions, 310 books and merchandise, 31, 312
horizon line and vanishing point, 230–231 selling cartoons
household items to local newspaper, 299–300
appliances, animating, 165–167 to magazines, 324–325
lounge chair, 163–165 to syndicates, 300
sofa, 161–163 from webcomics, 13–14, 31
humor. See also caricatures what to expect, 305–306
adding to story lines, 68–69, 74–78 indoor scenes, drawing, 270–271
cartoon’s theme determining, 68 ink. See also inking; washes
comic timing, 75–76 choosing, 42
of gag cartoons, 27 shading with, 59–60
unnecessary, 77 washes, 60
workplace, 21–22 ink jet printer, 45
hyperbole, 29 inking. See also ink
described, 42, 55, 319
•I• erasing sketch lines, 58, 284

icons
in comic strips, 16
Democratic Party donkey, 206, 220–222

Index 337

how-to steps, 56–58 layers, Photoshop, 288–290
using a brush, 56 layout
inspiration for story lines, 65–66, 78–80
Internet. See also Web sites creating visual drama, 267–268
modem or wireless connection, 44 for daily comic strip, 264, 265
promoting your work online, 13, 311–312 described, 263–264
IRS requirements, 308–309 foreground and background, 244–247,

•J• 265–266
importance of, 263–264
jaw, drawing, 102 planning, 264–265
Johnston, Lynn (For Better or For Worse), for Sunday comic strip, 264–265
telling the story in shadow, 267
20, 133 LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, 46
“Join or Die” (political cartoon), 24 legal fees, 309
jokes, writing, 75 legs and feet
Journalista (Web blog), 327 bully, 156
JPEG files, 293 dad character, 135
drawing, 122–124
•K• geek/nerdy guy, 141
girl next door, 150
Kelly, Walt (Pogo) modern mom, 144
animals characters in, 184 talking babies, 152
benefits of studying, 18 TV news anchor/used car salesman, 138
groundbreaking traits of, 17–18 lettering
inking technique, 57 described, 319–320
fitting in, 254–255
Kennedy, John F. (U.S. president), 212 fonts
King Features Syndicate, 17, 322
kitchen items choosing, 251
computer type, 252–253, 256–257
blender, 166–167 creating your own, 257–260
drawing, 270–271 handwritten, 252–253, 257–259
refrigerator, 236–237, 240 importance of, 249–250, 252
toaster, 166–167, 178–180 line width, examples, 250
kneaded eraser, 63 pens for, 250, 251
Krahulik, Mike (Web cartoonist), 32 placing, 253–255
Kurtz, Scott (Web cartoonist), 32 skill development, 251
spacing between words and letters, 261
•L• word balloons, 255–256
librarians, comics about, 31
large scale, 246–247 licensing, 21, 22
Larson, Gary (The Far Side), 9, 28, 253 lighting for workspace, 38
laser printer, 45 Limited Liability Companies For Dummies
Lasso tool, Photoshop, 282, 285–287
laughing or happy face, 104–105 (Reuting), 308
laughing or happy mouth, 100 Limited Liability Company (LLC), 307–308
lawyers, stereotypes of, 211 linear body shape, 241–242
Layers palette feature, 290–291 lion metaphor, 210
little kids, 154–155
Little Nemo in Slumberland (McCay), 20

338 Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies

LLC (Limited Liability Company), 307–308 McCarthy, Joseph (senator), 17
local newspaper, selling to, 299–300 McCay, Winsor (Little Nemo in
location for workspace, 33–34
Locher Award, 325 Slumberland), 20
Locher, Dick (Dick Tracy), 325 membership fees, 309
Lorenz, Lee (cartoon editor), 29 merchandise
lossless compression, 292
lounge chair, 163–164 Bill Watterson avoiding, 21
revenue from, 31, 312
•M• Scott Adams choosing, 22
sold on Web site, 14
Mac computer, 42–43 metaphors, 24, 210
MacNelly, Jeff (Shoe), 25–26 Mickey Mouse (cartoon character),
Mad magazine, 25, 30, 207
magazines. See also The New Yorker 84, 121, 132
microwave, 166
magazine minimalist art, beauty of, 19
selling your work to, 324–325 mistakes, fixing
as source of ideas, 209
main characters. See also characters cut and paste, 64
children, 151–158 using an eraser, 63
creating, 130–131 white correction fluid for, 64
drawing consistently, 132 modem or wireless Internet connection, 44
family members as, 131 modern mom, 143–145
female, 143–151 monitor, 45–46
male, 133–142 mouth, 99–102
male characters movies based on comic books, 10, 323
about, 133 mustache, 101–102
dad, 133–136
geek/nerdy guy, 139–142 •N•
TV news anchor or used car salesman,
Nast, Thomas (political cartoonist), 206
136–139 National Cartoonists Society (NCS), 326
Mankoff, Robert (cartoon editor), 29 negative stereotypes, avoiding, 133, 211
markers, shading with, 61 The New Yorker magazine
marketing
Charles Addams featured in, 27
about, 298 contact information, 325
competition, 299 gag cartoons in, 26, 28–30, 325
consistent characters and, 132 signature cartoons of, 28–30
initial research for, 299 washes used in, 60
promoting your work online, 13, 311–312 news magazines, 209
research, 315–316 Newspaper Feature Service, 17
selling to local newspaper, 299–300 newspapers
selling to syndicates, 300 changes in, 13
Mary Worth (cartoon strip), 108 college, 300
M*A*S*H (TV show), 306 local, 299–300
matronly grandmother, 145–148 as source of ideas, 209
Mauldin, Bill (cartoonist), 212 niche comics, 79
nonlinear body shape, 242–244
nonphoto blue pencils, 40, 58, 284

Index 339

nose Pearls Before Swine (cartoon), 74
baby’s, 96, 97 Pencil tool, Photoshop, 291
basic, 94–95 pencils
sizes and shapes, 95–97
inking with a brush versus, 56
notebook. See also sketchbook nonphoto blue, 40, 58, 284
jotting down ideas, 209 shading with, 59
tips for using, 66 Penny Arcade (webcomic), 32
used as sketchbook, 69–70 pens
dip pens, 40
•O• inking with a brush versus, 56
for lettering, 250, 251
Obama, Barack (U.S. president) Pigma Micron pens, 40, 251
caricatures of, 214–216 personal computers (PCs), 42
in editorial cartoons, 210, 226 personality traits, caricaturing, 108–109
perspective. See also three-point
observational humor, 29–30
O’Connell, Erika (Artist’s & Graphic perspective
bird’s-eye view, 238–240, 244–245
Designer’s Market), 327 close-ups, extreme, 267–268
oil companies, stereotypes, 211 correct scale for, 245–247
Oliphant, Pat (political cartoonist), 25, 57 defined, 229–230
one-panel comics, 24, 27 dramatic, 267
one-point perspective, 231–232 everyday objects in, 234–237
opinion, forming and expressing, 207–209 multiple elements in, 238
organizing your workspace, 39 one-point, 231–232
outdoor scenes, 271–272 putting characters in, 240–247
oval head shape, 85 two-point, 232, 234–235, 236–237
overlapping images, 269 vanishing point and horizon line, 230–231
worm’s-eye view, 247
•P• wrong, 233–234
pets. See also animals
Painter software program, 47 in cartoons, 183–184
panel cartoons. See gag cartoons family cat, 187–189
paper for drawing, choosing, 41 family dog, 184–186
PDF (Portable Document Format), 293 goldfish, 189–191
Peanuts (Schulz) philosophical humor, 18
Photoshop. See also scanner
about, 18–19 cleaning up artwork
character consistency, 132
characters’ clothing, 127 erasing sketch lines, 284–285
Charlie Brown character, 18, 84, moving or scaling an image, 285–287
color modes, 280–281
110, 127, 317 coloring artwork
conventionality of, 80 converting bitmap file, 287
copyrights, 306 shading and highlighting, 291–292
large heads of characters, 110, 127 tools for, 290–291
revenue from, 306 working in layers, 288–290
simple art style of, 74
Snoopy, the family dog, 18, 110, 184

340 Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies

Photoshop (continued) full-time work, 295–298
font suite package, 257 future of cartooning, 12–14
overview, 46–47, 281 joining a professional association, 298
saving your work, 292–293 marketing your work, 298–300
selecting a mode, 278–281 promoting your work online, 13, 311–312
toolbar, 281–283 turning a hobby into a business, 307–311
tools promoting your work online, 13, 311–312
Airbrush, 291 Pulitzer, Joseph (newspaper publisher), 16
Brush, 290 PvP (webcomic), 32
Burn and Dodge, 291–292
Eraser, 282, 284–285 •R•
Lasso, 282, 285–287
list of, 281–283 radio, 209
Pencil, 291 RAM (random access memory), 43
Ratatouille (animated film), 184
Photoshop CS4 For Dummies (Bauer), 281 RBG color mode, 280
Picasso, Pablo (artist), 69 readers’ responses, dealing with, 225
Pigma Micron pens, 40, 251 recordkeeping for business, 310–311
pixels, 47, 279 recurring characters, 16
Pogo (Kelly) refrigerator, 236–237, 240
rejection, coping with, 304–305
animals characters in, 184 rejection letter, 301
benefits of studying, 18 Republican Party elephant icon, 206,
groundbreaking traits of, 17–18, 204
inking technique, 57 217–219
political cartoons. See editorial cartoons researching the market, 299, 315–316
political satire, 17, 25 resolution on scanner, setting, 277–278
politicians, 211, 212 resume and cover letter, 302–303
popularity of comics, 22–23 Reuting, Jennifer (Limited Liability
portfolio, 303
Powerpuff Girls, 84 Companies For Dummies), 308
pregnant pause, 75–76 revenue. See also business
president, drawing, 214–216
printer, choosing, 45 advertising, 14, 31, 312
printing artwork, 277 books, 31, 312
professional associations merchandise, 31, 312
Association of American Editorial selling cartoons

Cartoonists, 325 to local newspaper, 299–300
joining, 298 to magazines, 324–325
membership fees, 309 to syndicates, 300
professional cartoonists. See also business; from webcomics, 13–14
what to expect, 305–306
syndication; specific cartoonists rhinos, 194–196
belonging to a syndicate, 322–323 Richards Poor Almanac (Web blog), 327
books about, 328 robots, 201–203
choosing to be, 295–297 rough sketches, 54, 318–319
creating a submission package, 302–304 round head shape, 84
dealing with ups and downs, 304–306 rural outdoor settings, 272
evaluating your work, 297–298

Index 341

•S• outdoor scenes, 271–272
overview, 317–318
sad mouth, 100 stereotypes, 211
salesman, 136–139 visual metaphors for, 210
San Diego Comic-Con, 323 setup for jokes, 76
Santa Claus image, 206 shading
satire described, 59
with ink, 59–60
in editorial cartoons, 23, 24, 207 with markers, 61
political, 17, 25 with pencils, 59
social, 18, 25, 26 with Photoshop, 291–292
saving artwork files, 292–293 with washes, 60–61
scanner. See also Photoshop shadow or silhouette, 267
about, 275–276 shapes, drawing, 51–53
choosing, 276–277 shirt collar, 126–127
connecting to computer, 277 Shoe (MacNelly), 25–26
described, 44–45 shoes, 118, 125
resolution for scanning, 277–278 Shrek (animated film), 191
scanning artwork Silly Putty, 161
The Simpsons (comedy show), 22, 127, 132
as bitmap, 279 single panel images, 24, 27
into computer, 277, 320 Sipress, David (cartoonist), 30
scared or surprised face, 105–106 size of comic strip layout, 264–265
Schulz, Charles (Peanuts) sketch lines, erasing, 58, 284
about, 18–19 sketchbook. See also story lines
character consistency, 132 benefits of, 69–70
characters’ clothing, 127 drawing stick figures, 72–74
Charlie Brown character, 18, 84, 110, 127, by famous artists, 69
for keeping creativity flowing, 70–72
317 small scale, 245–246
conventionality of, 80 small workspaces, utilizing, 34
copyrights, 306 smile
large heads of characters, 110, 127 geek/nerdy guy, 141
life of, 19 salesman’s, 138, 139
revenue of, 306 smiling or smirking, 100
simple art style of, 74 smiling sunshine, 180–182
Snoopy, the family dog, 18, 110, 184 Snoopy cartoon character, 18, 110, 184
Schwartz, Sherwood (film producer), 306 social satire, 18, 25, 26
script. See story lines; writing sofa, 161–163
setting the scene. See also story lines software. See also computer; Photoshop
adding details, 268–269 accounting, 309
alternative (altie) style, 207, 212 Adobe Acrobat Reader, 293
for editorial cartoons, 209–212 Adobe Illustrator, 47
foreground and background, 244–247, for creating handwritten fonts, 257–258
Painter, 47
265–266 tax deduction, 310
importance of, 160
indoor scenes, 270–271
letting art tell the story, 211–212

342 Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies

spacing between words and letters, 261 surprised or scared face, 105–106
SpongeBob SquarePants (cartoon), 92 syndicates, 300, 322–323
sports car, 170–172 syndication. See also submission package
square head shape, 85
stand-alone stories for gag cartoons, 27 about, 300
Star Wars (film), 201 belonging to a syndicate, 322–323
stereotypes, 133, 211 contracts, 305–306
stick figures, sketching, 72–74 process for, 301–302
story lines. See also setting the scene;
•T•
sketchbook
adding humor to, 68–69, 74–78 tables
believable, 68–69 adjusting the angle of, 35
connecting ideas to cartoon theme, 67–68 art table, 36–37
feedback on, 77 professional drafting table, 36, 37
inspiration for, 65–66, 78–80
letting art tell the story, 211–212 tablet and stylus, 46
looking for and keeping track of ideas, Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), 292
talking babies, 151–153
66–67 talking cars, 175–178
overview, 318 talking dog, 184
pacing the dialogue, 318 talking toaster, 178–180
thinking outside the box versus tax deductions, 309–310
tax ID number, 308
conventional, 79–80 teeth, 100–101
thought-provoking or poignant, 77 television
tying two topics together, 78–79
Strathmore Bristol drawing paper, 41 drawing, 52–53
STUFFIT format, 294 as source of ideas, 209
stylus, 46 terrorist stereotype, 211
submission package. See also syndication theme
contract offers, 305–306 composing, 316–317
coping with rejection, 304–305 connecting ideas to, 67–68
keeping record of, 311 described, 316
resume and cover letter, 302–303 thinking outside the box, 79–80
samples of your work, 303 Thompson, Richard (Cul de Sac), 327
suburban outdoor settings, 272 three-point perspective
success, 305–306 about, 233
sun, smiling, 180–182 bird’s-eye view, 238–240, 244
Sunday comic strip layout, 264–265 for chairs, 235
supplies, drawing for desks, 236
brushes, 41, 56 for linear body shapes, 241–242
ink, 42 multiple objects in, 238
overview, 39–40 for nonlinear body shapes, 243–244
paper, 41 worm’s-eye view, 247
pens and pencils, 40, 56, 251 Thurber, James (gag cartoonist), 28, 29
supporting characters, 130 tie, drawing, 128

Index 343

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), 292 Universal Press Syndicate, 323
tightening up a sketch, 54–55 Unshelved (webcomic), 31
timing used car salesman, 136–139

humor and, 75–77 •V•
pregnant pause, 75–76
setup, 76 vanishing point and horizon line, 230–231
toaster vector graphics program, 47
drawing, 166–167 vectors, 47
talking, 178–180 visual drama, 267–268
Toles, Tom (editorial cartoon writer), 24 visual metaphors, 24, 210
tone and texture. See also shading
to carry a message, 27 •W•
creating, 58–59
crosshatching, 62 Wacom Tablet, 46
determining, 77 washes, 60–61
of New Yorker cartoons, 29 Washington Post Writers Group, 323
toolbar, Photoshop, 281–283 Watterson, Bill (Calvin and Hobbes)
tools, Photoshop
Airbrush, 291 characters’ clothing, 127
Brush, 290 characters’ large head, 110
Burn and Dodge, 291–292 conventionality of, 80
Eraser, 282, 284–285 coping with rejection, 304
Lasso, 282, 285–287 creation of, 304
list of, 281–283 inking technique, 57
Pencil, 291 revising his story lines, 305
topics, two-fer-one, 78–79 uniqueness of, 20–21
torso, 109–110 Web sites
tough guy, 115–119 Apple Computers, 43
travel expenses, 309 Association of American Editorial
triangle head shapes, 86
Tribune Media Services (syndicate), 322 Cartoonists, 325
trucks, 172–174, 239–240 Cagle’s Professional Cartoon Index,
Trudeau, Garry (Doonesbury), 16, 20
TV news anchorman, 136–139 326–327
two-point perspective merchandise and books sold on, 14
about, 232 most popular cartoon site, 326–327
for chairs, 234–235 National Cartoonists Society (NCS), 326
multiple objects in, 238 setting up, 312
for refrigerator, 236–237 as source of ideas, 209
webcomics
•U• advantages of, 311–312
cartoon blogs, 327
Uncle Sam icon, 206, 222–224 characteristics of, 31
unflattened file, 292 overview, 13–14
United Media (syndicate), 322 Penny Arcade, 32
PvP, 32

344 Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies

webcomics (continued) worktable
revenue generated from, 13–14, 31 adjusting the angle of, 35
size and layout, 264–265 art table, 36–37
successful, 32 professional drafting table, 36, 37
Unshelved, 31
worm’s-eye view, 247
whimsical art, 26 writing. See also story lines
white correction fluid, 64
Wiley Publishing overview, 318
priority over art, 22
Building a Web Site For Dummies, 312 trumps bad art, 74, 76
Limited Liability Companies what you know, 22
from your strength, 28
For Dummies, 308
Photoshop CS4 For Dummies, 281 •Y•
Will Eisner Award, 32
Wilson, Gahan (gag cartoonist), 29 YourFonts (software program), 257
Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II brushes,
•Z•
41, 56
wireless Internet connection, 44 ZIP (compression program), 294
word balloons, 255–256 Zip-a-tone (shading material), 280
workplace humor, 21–22 zoo animals
workspace. See also drawing supplies
in cartoons, 191
chairs for, 35, 37–38 giraffe, 192–194
ergonomics, 35 rhinos, 194–196
lighting, 38
location for, 33–34
organizing, 39
utilizing a small space, 34
worktable, 35–37

Your real-world guide Art/Drawing/Cartoons
to creating and marketing
original cartoons Open the book and find:

Do you love comics? Want to become a cartoonist? This • An overview of the different
practical, hands-on guide is packed with step-by-step cartooning genres
instructions and plenty of tips for creating your own • Drawing techniques, such as
cartoons. From inanimate objects to animals to aliens, you shading and crosshatching
can see how to breathe life into your characters and make • An exploration of body, gender,
your cartoons stand out. Plus, you discover how to species, and character types
• Tips for developing a cast of
• Master the basic building blocks — set up your workspace; start characters
creating with pencil, ink, and pens; and fix mistakes • The lowdown on drawing editorial
cartoons
• Get the creative juices flowing — find inspiration and formulate • How to add color to your creations
your cartoon idea, gag, or concept, and make it work • Ten steps to a finished comic strip
• Hints on breaking into the
• Create your characters — from their heads to their toes, give business
your characters personality and presence

• Assemble your comic strip — create an effective background,
plan your layout, letter your cartoons, create drama, and more

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Brian Fairrington is a nationally syndicated cartoonist whose work has $19.99 US / $23.99 CN / £14.99 UK
appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, and Time magazine, as well ISBN 978-0-470-42683-8
as on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. Fairrington has won many awards,
including the Charles M. Schulz award for college cartooning and the John
Locher Memorial Award, given annually by the Association of American
Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC).