Ask me anything
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I've been searching and searching, but i can't find the response you made YEARS ago, about your scanning/initial photoshop process when editing comix for print. believe it or not, i used that shit like a bible in my teenage years. run me thru it again?
I just found it, and I can't believe I answered that question in 2010. HOW HAVE I BEEN ON FORMSPRING THAT LONG!!!!
Here's the link: http://www.formspring.me/helllllen/q/635859950
But I will also just copy and paste that shit here:
"do you use a certain method when scanning your drawings to make them look all nice?
helllllen 3 Jun 10
Well, for one thing, I have a really fucking nice scanner, the mighty EPSON GT-20000. However, before that, I used the gimpy but very reliable CanoScan N 650U for nine years, with similar results. No matter which scanner you own, you can make nice scans of your work! Generally, here's how I scan shit:
IN COLOR:
1. I scan the image at 300dpi, save as tiff.
2. In Photoshop, I up the contrast and brightness a bit.
3. I also like to open Image > Adjustments > Color Balance, and add an equal amount (usually around +40) of Red and Blue in the midtones. For some reason, this makes shit more crisp. I don't adjust much beyond that.
4a. For print, I save it at 300dpi as a tiff with LZW compression (no image quality loss!)
4b. For the web, I knock it down to 72dpi and save as jpg.
IN BLACK & WHITE (FOR PRINT):
1. I scan the image in GREYSCALE, NOT BLACK AND WHITE, at 600dpi, save as tiff. Scanning in B&W is a blaspheme to the holy precision of line!
2. Then in Photoshop, I upsample the file to 1270dpi.
3. Resize the file to the correct print size (meaning, change the inches back to 8.5x11" or 11x17" or whatever your intended print size).
4. Go to Image > Adjustments > Threshold, and threshold to 145.
5. Save as a BITMAP TIFF (not greyscale).
IN BLACK & WHITE (FOR WEB):
1. Scan image in greyscale at 300dpi, save as tiff.
2. In Photoshop, I up the contrast a couple times times to get rid of stray marks. I just use the erase tool on any other mess.
3. Knock it down to 72dpi and save as jpg.
I hope that information is useful to you dudes; everyone seems to have their own (better) ways to scan in color, so I welcome any suggestions. That is just a way I figured out for myself after a bit of trial and error. The method for scanning B&W for printing, though, is the Sovereign Means, passed onto me by my publisher, Dylan. I AIN'T FUCKING AROUND WITH THAT SHIT SO RESPEC!" -
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im wondering what do you usually ink with? or if you were to do some inking, what method would you choose?
I ink with a Pocket Pentel brush pen, usually on top of Arches cold press watercolor paper or bristol vellum. Sometimes I ink with a nib and the blood of my enemies. Or egg yolks.
I'm just kidding, I don't fucking use nibs -
Dear Hellen, I am going to San Francisco and Los Angeles for a trip this winter, and was wondering if you have any suggested eateries/galleries/fun things to look at and enjoy? And if you had any work up anywhere to see in person? Much lov
I currently have no work in any show at this time, just some comics floating around here and there.
Here's a previous Formspring question I answered with my list of favorite things to do in San Francisco, though you might find it somewhat out of date (SF, especially in the Mission, has changed so rapidly just in the last year; I barely recognize it when I go back, but there are so many new and exciting things to try!)
http://www.formspring.me/helllllen/q/314951885981227076
As far as LA goes, I'll give you a condensed list of shit. I really like to eat at 101 Noodle Express in Monterey Park; they have really good xiao long bao (dumpling with liquid pork fat inside) and INCREDIBLE sour vegetable noodle soup. It is my single most favorite thing to eat in the San Gabriel Valley (don't go to Chinatown to eat; just drive to Alhambra and MP). If you find yourself stranded in Burbank, eat at Porto's. LACMA has a really awesome Stanley Kubrick show going on right now, with tons of production photos, film props, poster art, etc, and all of their other collections and exhibits are always very solid. Visit the Neutra House for an educational architecture tour. There's nice shit to do and eat in Silver Lake and Echo Park and Los Feliz and Atwater Village, but you can find all that crap on Yelp.
I wish I had a cool list like the one I wrote while fondly recalling San Francisco, but I am old and boring now; I spend all my free time fondling the tomato plants and seed packets at Home Depot these days. -
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how does the show pick voice actors? Or CN in general?
I dunno how CN in general does it, but whenever we turn in a board we're asked for a cast list. That's reviewed by JG or Mike and then phone calls are made.
We've written in some pretty crazy names, like James Earl Jones or Willem Dafoe. Sometimes we're really specific and pick out comedians or voice actors we're really into. For Skips vs. Technology, there was no question we wanted Steve Blum as Techmo.
If casting can't get the people we write in, they try to get soundalikes. We wrote in Hulk Hogan for Muscle Dad and when we couldn't get him they got a guy that sounds exactly like him. It fooled me when I first listened to the animatic. But casting still tries really hard to get the first choice. It's kind of nuts. If we write in "Mel Gibson" somebody's gotta call Mel Gibson and ask him if he wants to be paid scale to be on a kids cartoon, hahaha -
What is your favorite color?
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Why do you cuss so much! Little kids probaly read your answers! Do you think ur a good example? -.-
Holy shit, you're SO right! By cursing on that wholesome Wonderland called Internet, I am directly contributing not only to the Downfall of Modern Youth, but also to the Decline of Western Civilization!!!!!!!! OH NO, BRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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How can I get a copy of Deep Cut?
Be patient, friend. I ran out at TCAF, and I'm out of the country on vacation. Once I return, I'll re-print, staple, trim, and fold that shit, and then I will post it for sale online. But I won't do it fast cuz I'm shitty like that
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I was telling Mr. Seery about how I'm getting a job and apartment soon and will be buying my own food from now on. He told me to ask you about it, so... What's some good, cheap food to plan meals around?
shit! i love cheap ass food.
Invest in a bucket of dried beans. I have a tub of dried black beans. Before work, I'll soak a quarter cup in water, then drain them when i come home. then you boil them (get a good pot) for an hour. while it's boiling, mash up some garlic in a bowl (i have a mortar and pestle made out of lava rock, but a garlic press is probably fine) and let it sit on the side while your beans are cooking (the longer you let garlic sit, the better it gets, the nutrients in it multiply somehow). when your beans are done, drain them in the pot, and add the mashed garlic and salt.
also invest in a bucket of quinoa! i cook it in my ricecooker, but you can also do it on stove top. quinoa and beans are a really cheap, nutrient rich meal. it forms a perfect protein. you can also add veggies and fruits to it (lightly steamed kale, onions, lemon, dried cranberry).
I guess you'll save the most money by buying dried foods in bulk. try to only buy vegetables in season, and buy them when you plan to use them that day or the next. I get really bummed out when my produce goes bad, i tend to grocery shop almost every day and just buy a little bit of produce just for the meal i'm making that night.
another good investment are sauces that have a longer shelf life (soy sauce, bbq sauces, vinegars, flavored oils, mayo, mustards), you can add those to meals to make them taste better or different.
eggs are also really cheap, i eat them almost every day. canned tuna is also really cheap (when they go on sale near my place, i can get 3 cans for a buck!).
also see if you like almond milk better than normal milk. i know it's more expensive, but my roomie drinks cows milk, but it expires faster than she can drink it, which is a bummer. almond milk lasts in the fridge for MONTHS. and i like the way it tastes (the vanilla ones anyway).
and canned food... try to only buy it when it's on sale. then buy a lot of it. haha... ahhh. you could also just eat lots of mcdonalds though.
i hope that helps. -
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If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
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CheyJanuary’s Bio
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
