Programs in General for Manga

[KaYoKitten]

This one's probably going to blow out of proportion, but I need to ask. I've heard of several programs and demoed three. I need a toning program. That's it! That's all I need! I need to be able to tone, and tone easily and effectively. I can't use Manga Studio--it's a download, and I honestly don't trust it. I tried it in the demo mode (I've taken to calling it the "demon mode" now, if that's any indication). I've tried Photoshop. Wonderful program, but overkill for my needs and I'd rather not shell out however much it costs. And I've used MS Paint--actually a decent program if you know how to use it effectively. Unfortunately, tone is not a part of that program. ^^;

What about Deleter ComicWorks? Is it decent? I haven't been able to find a demon mode for it. Paint Shop Pro, I've heard of, but haven't had the pleasure of even looking at the interface or seeing price ranges. I'm poor, guys. I'm dirt poor. Would it even be cheaper in the long haul to attempt normal tones? Someone mentioned computones, as well, but I've continuously been steered away from it as a professional use in manga.

So...help?:o

[PeterAhlstrom]

If you don't trust a download, you can order the boxed version in the mail. Or maybe you can go to a local computer software store and have them order in a copy for you.

In any case, software costs money, and good software for a production environment costs lots of money. That's just the way the world works.

In the short run, physical tone is cheaper, but in the long run, a computer toning program is cheaper.

[nicolepalmer]

you can get a downloaded version hm i didnt know that

[franchan]

You can make up pretend tones in paint. ;)

[Comic_Burn]

Is there a way to tone in photoshop, or do you need to download (and pay for) the screentones extra? I know how to adjust the opacity in order to make monochromatic pictures w/various shades of grey, but is this method acceptable for printed work.

[PeterAhlstrom]

You can make tones in Photoshop by selecting a gray area, copying it to a new document, and changing the new document to Bitmap mode, selecting Halftone Screen in the window that pops up. Then copy the result back to your original document.

If you just use the Halftone Screen filter instead, it will give you antialiased halftone dots, which is not what you want. If you're going for a toned look, your final document should have no gray at all, just black pixels and white pixels.

[KaYoKitten]

If you don't trust a download, you can order the boxed version in the mail. Or maybe you can go to a local computer software store and have them order in a copy for you.

In any case, software costs money, and good software for a production environment costs lots of money. That's just the way the world works.

In the short run, physical tone is cheaper, but in the long run, a computer toning program is cheaper.

I didn't see that on the site...>< Better go back and look. If it does have it, I'm going to get MP3.0--it's the best I've seen so far, and I'll learn the layering system eventually. Even if it makes me wanna drive my head through the wall. :eek:

Edit: You don't actually find out that there is a physical disc until you click the "order" button, and then it's rather obscure. But it's official: I'm buying it. ^_^

[Comic_Burn]

You can make tones in Photoshop by selecting a gray area, copying it to a new document, and changing the new document to Bitmap mode, selecting Halftone Screen in the window that pops up. Then copy the result back to your original document.

If you just use the Halftone Screen filter instead, it will give you antialiased halftone dots, which is not what you want. If you're going for a toned look, your final document should have no gray at all, just black pixels and white pixels.

Thanks a lot, I'll be trying this out. You guys are great. (P.S. Would this technique be suitable quality for printing)

[PeterAhlstrom]

If it's done right, yes.

[dazzleanddestroy]

comicworks is the way to go..
really easy to use, very straight forward.
manga studio is a bit messy.. but it's just as good as comicworks, it's just that it starts off confusing at first. I still need to look around it some more. :)
I don't like using photoshop to tone my stuff.. i only use it to cg. :)

[KaYoKitten]

manga studio is a bit messy.. but it's just as good as comicworks, it's just that it starts off confusing at first.

You got that right, cakes! X__X I feel like a dead woman stalkin' here! I can't figure anything out at all...I guess I'll get it eventually. I wish there were more tutorials out there, but since the program is relatively new, there are very few. >< I think I'm doing something wrong...*sigh*

[yukineko]

yep, it's a bit messy because it have like 34830483 tools @_@, 2 layers windows,etc but if you know some photoshop you'll find that some of the tools are exactly the same as Photoshop (magic wand, lasso tool, etc) and also it has most photoshop filters and effects :O!