Relate what is said in this chapter to a work/artist/designer you have seen in lectures. Image, brief description, link to a source of information on the web.
This chapter is pre-dominantly about colour and the use of it in comics over time with the main influences being commerce and technology.
McCloud also discusses the different ideas of "Additive" and "Subtractive" primaries, the main gist of which is illustrated in the picture below:
[Ref: http://www.diycalculator.com/imgs/console-09.gif ]
The first use of color in comics would be in newspaper comics, where sales rocketed, which called for more streamlined and cost-effective processes to be implemented. The fact that this cost-awareness indirectly produced the "look" and "Feel" of comics in America is amazing! In order to produce more cost-effective newspapers, the standard "Four Color" process was used, which: "...restricted the intensity of the three primaries to 100%, 50% and 20% using black ink for the line work" [p.g.187]. This resulted in a distinctive "look": the comics were printed on cheap newsprint, with bold black outlines and simplified colours. To remedy this "dulling down" effect and to make the comics stand out more; "...heros were clad in bright, primary colours and "fought in a bright, primary world!" [p.g.188]
Comic colors could be said to be an icon in themselves. By using the same colors repeatedly for a super-hero, a comic artist can render the hero unforgettable, especially in a child's mind!
Some famous super-heros!
[Ref: http://comicsmedia.ign.com/comics/image/article/674/674213/dc-superheroes-get-licked-20051207021349520-000.jpg ]
Colour is used in comics in various ways, a few examples are noted below:
-flat colours ("Tintin" by Herge)
[Ref: http://www.bunchofmonkeys.com/words/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/Tintin.jpg ]
-intense, subjective colours (Claveloux, Caza & Moebius)
-colour as a sensation, or as an environment!
McCloud also touches on a very important point: the differences between black-and-white and colour. I believe that this is one of the most important points as they make a huge difference in what the audience sees and perceives. I personally love Frank Miller's graphic novels; they make use of bold, contrasting black and white shapes, and manage to look absolutely stunning even without all the added complexities and emotions colour brings to a comic.
A page from a graphic novel by Frank Miller
[Ref: http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1143969/photo_21.jpg]
No comments:
Post a Comment