h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What medium do you like to use?

(Look at today's FP, that was illustrated by hand...)

I draw the illustrations the same way I do my comics. Sketch in pencil, then ink over them (on semitransparent butterpaper) with dip pens and india ink, scan, and colour in Photoshop.

I've just drawn a Chameleon for the Constellation Entry that's coming up. I'll scan it in and see if I can find Photoshop. Where do I submit it?

Well, in order to join the Community Artists, you'll need to follow the correct procedure... Meaning upload a sample blob somewhere of your own (Fotki, Photobucket, etc...) and then put a link in a new thread on the Volunteer page.

Oh, and Photoshop is quit expensive, so you might want to try The Gimp, which is similar, but open-source and free.

Right I've uploaded the picture into my photo album in h2g2 photographers.

I couldn't find Photoshop but will look into getting gimp.

Ok - I can't see it there, but I suppose the Eds can...

I think I posted it in the wrong part

Could be.

Right posted in the correct place too now

What program did you use?

I scanned the image into Photo Suite and then uploaded it to Fotki

That's what I thought. Just as a tip, you'll want to either colour completely by hand or use a *real* graphics program (photoshop, gimp, or similar) to work with, where you can use separate layers and adjust the sensitivity of the tools. That's really the only way to avoid those jagged lines around the scanned artwork.

for the tip I'll bear it in mind

And you'll need to make them square, too, they no longer accept rectangular blobs! (I fell into that trap, too. The one for Caesar was once much bigger. )

Does the square formation have to be by any particular measurements?

I recommend you start by actually reading the Artists' volunteer page! That has all the requirements.

ah missed those measurements...mind you I don't normally count pixels and such like so am still a little bamboozled.

See, that's a big part of being able to work as a Community Artist. Maybe you should practice working to a set size first? I'm not trying to discourage you, but you need to know how to be able to do it!

how do I work to a set size? I'm ready