"You don't have to be a web genius or have a lot of disposable income to put out a quality webcomic."  This idea has resulted in more cyber-kicks to the head than I care to remember.  I don't care who says it, whether I like their work or not- knowledge of html and web functions does not qualify you to make a webcomic.  Conversely, ignorance of those things does not preclude you.

Of course, the question sporadically comes up about how I make 'Gunz!  So, I decided to put it up here, in hopes of corrupting other webcomics.  (Insert insane laugh and other maniacal-ness.)

Paper-  I use whatever unlined paper I have handy, preferring mid to high grade computer paper.  My first strip was done on lined, and I'm not fortunate enough to have my scanner not pick up those blue lines.  So, I went through and took them out manually.  I still have nightmares.

Computer-  It is essential, when doing a webcomic, to have a computer.  There, I said it and I'm a better person for it.  Currently, I use a Packard Bell Platinum with a Pentium II processor and running Windows 95.  It does get the job done.

Scanner-  Not as necessary as you think it is.  Lots of comics go without it, relying solely on paint programs and the like.  If you use a touchpad simulator, that's better.  However, that's not 'Gunz! certified: Neato.  I draw them and then scan them in using a Hewlett Packard ScanJet 3300C.  Note:  Gluing your comic to the monitor does not work.

Drawing Utensils- I have two pencils for this job.  One is my non-photo blue pencil for rough sketches.  This allows me to draw what is for all means and purposes the rough draft.  Since the blue does not show up on the scanner, I can draw right on top of it.  The other is my final draft pencil.  For this I use any ol' #2 pencil.  Sharp.  Very sharp.

Software- The great programme debate.  I use Adobe, myself, for the actual strip.  Some may use MS Paint for all I know.  For the site I utilize MS Front Page.  However, I would say that it is not necessary, although pretty convenient.  Plus, when publishing your web, you have problems with FTP.  However, I am able to know that it should take approximately 3 seconds over a 28.8 for this page to load.  If you have a computer with speed like the one at my work, though, you have to start measuring in half-lives and it just gets messy.  I don't use the publish function on FP and opt to do it manually via WS_FTP Pro.

A NOTE ON HTML-  You will hear many people rant about people putting up webcomics without knowing html and what a crisis this is.  Ignore them.  I started out knowing squat about html and currently don't need FP to do my pages for me.  I use it to store my pages and test out new code because I spent two buttloads on it.  This isn't necessary, do a search on "free html editor" or the like.  But don't let the elitist narcissi ruin your fun.  While I encourage you to learn and use html and advanced markup languages it is not the point.  Make your strip available to a large community of readers. That is the point. 

So that's the DL on the HPSJ3300C, the MS FP, the FTP with enough BS to make it DOA on its DOB, ASAP. 'G'.

        First things first, I script my comic.  By this point I'm already thinking about how I want it to look.  Pacing, placement, etc.  The script can and does change once I start putting it to paper.  Now, I put it away for a while and then come back to it later (unless, of course, I publish it right off hand because I didn't plan ahead).  If I laugh, giggle, or smile with the fresh look at it, it goes into production.  Or, more often, as long as I don't yawn while reading it.  Yeah.

        Rough draft time.  I think rough drafts are essential.  You can erase, mess up, and resketch as much as you want.  Here's where I work out any problems with the script.  Most of it I do in "gedanken experiments", in my head, however there is no substitute for seeing it on paper.  Work it out and work it out until it's in a form you are satisfied (or in the perfectionist's case, not disgusted) with because there's little to no edit on the final draft.  I must confess that I've done a few one-drafters, but it's not a habit.

        Final drafts happen one of two ways.  Either you copy the rough draft or you free-sketch it with the rough draft in mind.  I prefer to copy over my rough draft work because this is my final draft and I hate, repeat HATE, to erase on it.  This is where the non-photo blue pencil saves the day.  Also,  I usually choose to leave it uncolored at this point.  Uncolored, by the way, refers here to both black and white as well as full color strips.   As of now I do not ink.  So don't ask me.  I've played with it and found it exceedingly messy.  Which of course means I'm addicted to it.  But, I'm not good enough at it yet for me to use it in 'Gunz!

        Now, I scan it in at 150 dpi to Adobe and fix any problems that may arise from that process.  I can't always fix them, and sometimes I create other ones, but that's the deal.  At this point I fill in all the color (be it black, gray, or color) on the strip.  To do so, we usually employ what's called layers or skins.  This allows us to paint over things without compromising the lines.  You can see that when we first started, we didn't use it and the lines suffered.  I also do the little FX that you regularly see on 'Gunz!  Oswan's hair in particular.  I'd tell you how but I... won't. No, no just get creative.  Now, I also do the lettering on the computer using the font "City Blueprint".  If it's a Sunday strip then my colorist, Nico, does all the coloring.  Usually.  Now just upload it (via WS_FTP PRO), coded for the auto-update system (AutoKeen a go-go),  and I'm done.  Whoo!