America's leading comic book publisher brings its superstar creators and classic characters to the fourth in an authoritative series of books on how to create comics. Acclaimed comic book illustrator Mark Chiarello and award-winning letterer Todd Klein demonstrate dozens of surefire strategies, practical techniques, and professional secrets for dynamic comic book coloring and lettering. They use DC's world-famous characters to demonstrate an array of techniques, covering such topics as the pros and cons of lettering by hand or by computer, creating balloons and fonts, logo designs, working with color, and creating special effects. The animated step-by-step instructions are informative, stimulating, and clear enough for even beginners to follow. In addition, every technique shown in this guide conforms to up-to-date industry standards. The perfect how-to on everything coloring and lettering, this one-stop sourcebook is packed with a wealth of tested techniques, practical advice, and professional secrets for the aspiring comic artist.
The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 54 people found the following review helpful
By Nate Piekos
Format:Paperback
LETTERING:
Mr. Todd Klein is a seasond veteran in the field of comic book lettering and I've never seen a more concise, enagaging, and useful field guide on the subject of lettering in our industry. Along with the ABC's of computer lettering (pun intended), Mr. Klein pulls back the shroud of mystery on hand lettering; tools, tips and great advice. This is the most definitive text ever written on the subject, hands down.
COLORING:
As far as comic coloring is concerned, there are many places online to get the hard and fast techincal aspects of the trade, but the most important lessons Mark Chiarello gives the reader is color theory as it realtes to comics... How color evokes mood, how complimentary and muted tones can be used most effectively -- and perhaps the most important lesson in computer coloring: what NOT to do. The majority of examples in this section provide a sample of technique gone wrong as well as what to aim for. Another great lesson lost on most colorists is made a priority here: Let the art dictate the style of coloring.
I wish I'd had this book when I first started out. It will be kept in easy reach in my studio from now on!
Nate Piekos
Director, Blambot Comic Fonts & Lettering
Mr. Todd Klein is a seasond veteran in the field of comic book lettering and I've never seen a more concise, enagaging, and useful field guide on the subject of lettering in our industry. Along with the ABC's of computer lettering (pun intended), Mr. Klein pulls back the shroud of mystery on hand lettering; tools, tips and great advice. This is the most definitive text ever written on the subject, hands down.
COLORING:
As far as comic coloring is concerned, there are many places online to get the hard and fast techincal aspects of the trade, but the most important lessons Mark Chiarello gives the reader is color theory as it realtes to comics... How color evokes mood, how complimentary and muted tones can be used most effectively -- and perhaps the most important lesson in computer coloring: what NOT to do. The majority of examples in this section provide a sample of technique gone wrong as well as what to aim for. Another great lesson lost on most colorists is made a priority here: Let the art dictate the style of coloring.
I wish I'd had this book when I first started out. It will be kept in easy reach in my studio from now on!
Nate Piekos
Director, Blambot Comic Fonts & Lettering
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
More Theory Than Practice - ONLY Helpful to Those with Experience
August 12, 2009
By CB
Format:Paperback
Just to start off - if you are just beginning to learn how to do computer coloring, DO NOT buy this book. Not yet, at least. The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics is not written for the novice, but seems largely aimed at those who have had at least some experience with coloring before. While I'm sure I'll get some use out of this book later on, right now it is simply sitting on my shelf, unused, next to my other computer coloring books.
The DC Comics Guides are always interesting, but they never offer what is really needed - hands-on examples and tutorials. Computer coloring is difficult enough - especially in the early stages when you are trying to isolate your line art and get it ready for coloring in the first place (this can be a highly difficult and, indeed, frustrating process) and you need a book that will hold your hand through the process. The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering is, unfortunately, not that book. While DC certainly means well, trying to publish useful books with their brand name to get a foothold in the "How to Draw" market, they haven't yet hit upon a successful formula in my opinion.
Why isn't this book successful, you ask? First, the lack of "how tos". There is really not one part of this book that offers tutorials with step-by-step instructions and screen shots to help you out. This is a book on the theory of coloring - in other words, once you know what you're doing, it will teach you how to improve, create subtlety, select the right colors and effects, etc. It is a finesse book, for those who want to add that extra something to their work. For those of us who are still on the first level, learning what to do, this book is a ways ahead of us. This goes for the "lettering" portion of this book as well. Second, the unclear instructions. Their section on how to set up your files for coloring, for example, is so confusing that I had to go through the steps several times, over and over again, and I'm still not convinced I've gotten it right. If you're trying to teach a subject, you've got to be able to communicate more clearly than this.
For those who want really good books on computer coloring, here are three that I recommend without reservation:
1. Hi-Fi Color For Comics: Digital Techniques for Professional Results - An amazing resource with a excellent DVD-ROM full of exercises you can do along with the book.
2. How To Color For Comics - While not as great as "Hi-Fi", this book is great at teaching understanding of more painterly techniques in comic book coloring and can help troubleshoot some issues. Also has a great DVD-ROM full of tutorials and exercises you can do along with the book. Though it's out of print, it's worth the trouble to get it.
3. Digital Manga Workshop: An Artist's Guide to Creating Manga Illustrations on Your Computer - A great book on how to achieve cel-style coloring and other effects, especially if you are a manga enthusiast.
If you want a great book on how to do comic book lettering, here is my suggestion:
1. Comic Book Lettering: The Comicraft Way - This, quite literally, is the last word in comic book lettering, and is very inexpensive.
Good luck with your artistic endeavors!
The DC Comics Guides are always interesting, but they never offer what is really needed - hands-on examples and tutorials. Computer coloring is difficult enough - especially in the early stages when you are trying to isolate your line art and get it ready for coloring in the first place (this can be a highly difficult and, indeed, frustrating process) and you need a book that will hold your hand through the process. The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering is, unfortunately, not that book. While DC certainly means well, trying to publish useful books with their brand name to get a foothold in the "How to Draw" market, they haven't yet hit upon a successful formula in my opinion.
Why isn't this book successful, you ask? First, the lack of "how tos". There is really not one part of this book that offers tutorials with step-by-step instructions and screen shots to help you out. This is a book on the theory of coloring - in other words, once you know what you're doing, it will teach you how to improve, create subtlety, select the right colors and effects, etc. It is a finesse book, for those who want to add that extra something to their work. For those of us who are still on the first level, learning what to do, this book is a ways ahead of us. This goes for the "lettering" portion of this book as well. Second, the unclear instructions. Their section on how to set up your files for coloring, for example, is so confusing that I had to go through the steps several times, over and over again, and I'm still not convinced I've gotten it right. If you're trying to teach a subject, you've got to be able to communicate more clearly than this.
For those who want really good books on computer coloring, here are three that I recommend without reservation:
1. Hi-Fi Color For Comics: Digital Techniques for Professional Results - An amazing resource with a excellent DVD-ROM full of exercises you can do along with the book.
2. How To Color For Comics - While not as great as "Hi-Fi", this book is great at teaching understanding of more painterly techniques in comic book coloring and can help troubleshoot some issues. Also has a great DVD-ROM full of tutorials and exercises you can do along with the book. Though it's out of print, it's worth the trouble to get it.
3. Digital Manga Workshop: An Artist's Guide to Creating Manga Illustrations on Your Computer - A great book on how to achieve cel-style coloring and other effects, especially if you are a manga enthusiast.
If you want a great book on how to do comic book lettering, here is my suggestion:
1. Comic Book Lettering: The Comicraft Way - This, quite literally, is the last word in comic book lettering, and is very inexpensive.
Good luck with your artistic endeavors!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Jonow
Format:Paperback
It's refreshing when a book as thorough as this comes out, AND it's written by industry professionals.
The colouring section was very informative, giving both colour theory, balanced with practical steps and illustrations. I found the reviews on colouring fads such as using Photoshop filters/SFX to be informative.
The thing that stands out from all other material I've read on colouring comics are the definitive procedures and clear explanations on things to do and to avoid.
THE LETTERING SECTION was just as good. With good examples and explanations as to WHY and HOW things are done.
If you're into comic colouring and/or lettering, this book must adorn your shelf; It is that helpful.
The colouring section was very informative, giving both colour theory, balanced with practical steps and illustrations. I found the reviews on colouring fads such as using Photoshop filters/SFX to be informative.
The thing that stands out from all other material I've read on colouring comics are the definitive procedures and clear explanations on things to do and to avoid.
THE LETTERING SECTION was just as good. With good examples and explanations as to WHY and HOW things are done.
If you're into comic colouring and/or lettering, this book must adorn your shelf; It is that helpful.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful
This is a great book. If you are starting out in comics, this is a good place to start. Stan Lee's book is good if you don't already know how to draw.
Published 11 months ago by Stephen K. Pavlovic
3.0 out of 5 stars
Neat book :D
The section on coloring was nice actually; its pretty informative regarding the history of the industry, the professional terminology, and the aspects of coloring. Read more
Published 16 months ago by H. Cornejo
3.0 out of 5 stars
What they said is true...
I bought this book after buying The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing Comics. I was looking for something with tutorials on actually making comics (the actual doing, not just... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Felicia Welton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful
This book is a great help to my comics work as well as my illustration and fine art work. It gives great instructions for traditional and digital coloring and lettering. Read more
Published on February 8, 2011 by Philip A. Buck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best one yet
I'm new to digital coloring and I've bought them all. This book was the best for me out of the DC Guides because I want to focus on comic art. Read more
Published on August 24, 2010 by Kenya
2.0 out of 5 stars
Okay but short of expectations
I got this book to accelerate my knowledge, but I decided that it s not as good as other books of the same kind. Read more
Published on June 27, 2009 by Brian D. Rogers
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good guide for beginners...
This book is a good guide for begginers on comic bussiness, helps to know about how to color a modern comic book, the best way to finish a printable product and how to letter; and... Read more
Published on June 26, 2009 by L. Garciandia
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book but not an in depth tutorial (example) of coloring
I bought this book thinking that it would guide me by hand and show me HOW DC colorists actually go about coloring. I was not disappointed but I still was not satiated. Read more
Published on May 26, 2009 by Seth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Third in the DC Comics Masterclass on Creating Comic Book Art
The introduction by legendary artist Jim Steranko (mould-breaking artist on "Nick Fury of SHIELD") says it all. " . . . Read more
Published on March 1, 2009 by John Joyce
4.0 out of 5 stars
More and less
This isn't the first "DC Comics Guide" I've purchased. Prior to this, I also purchased "Writing" (meh) and "Inking" (FANTASTIC!). This book comes somewhere between the two. Read more
Published on January 13, 2009 by Mark Elton
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 14
books:
See all 14 books this book cites
- New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke on page 21, and page 68
- Green Arrow by Kevin Et Al Smith on page 64, and page 69
- Mighty Love by Howard Chaykin on page 25, and page 28
- Batman: Dark Victory by Jeph Loeb on page 46, and page 66
- Superman: Secret Identity (Superman (Graphic Novels)) by Kurt Busiek on page 100
See all 14 books this book cites
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