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z-kun, 07 Jan 2008 10:58 am

Commentary: And my longest photocomic so far comes to a close! I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out, although I've tweaked the word bubbles a bit since posting. I'll probably upload the tweaked images at a later date. I'm not completely happy with the layout of the montage towards the end, so that may possibly get tweaked a bit yet. I also used the wrong version of one of the photos.... x.X

We don't get very much snow where I live , so including real snow in the comic was pretty much out of the question. However, snow is one of my favourite parts of winter, and sometimes I get bitter about the lack of it. I knew Roy's not too fond of rain, and we were finally getting a lot of rain, so I thought that expressing my feelings about the weather through Roy would work pretty well. The trick was squeezing all the scenes I wanted to happen into ten pages. I even had to assemble a couple of the page layouts from the end of the scene to the beginning of the scene in order to make sure to get the layouts right on the first time.

I originally planned to use the natural fog and condensation on the window, but while I was setting up, some of it evaporated! I used the old trick of putting a clear, greasy substance on the window (on the outside) in order to obscure the view of the vehicle and parking lot outside. I didn't have any Vaseline or grease handy, so I used a Neosporin knock-off. I especially like how the shots where Roy's curled up by the window turned out. During this experience, I learned that dish soap will take Neosporin right off of glass. I also got an idea for a short photocomic....

Some of the "living room" type shots turned out quite blurry. :( I wound up having to utilize a shot that was taken as an extra while he was conversing with Peter. Heh, I never really planned on Roy holding the snowflake ornament, but it hit me on the spur of the moment to have him holding it.

The TV scene was pretty much the first scene I had completely planned out. It's sort of an homage to Garfield comics with the way it's formated.... Arranging the word bubbles from the TV was a fun process, as was thinking of which quotes to use. Most of them come from specific specials and movies, one's a typical weather report, two are generic things said all the time in specials and movies, and one's from a song that I don't know to ever have had a TV appearance. It might have; I just don't know.

Roy got stubborn during the photoshoots in the field (the "Saber scene" and for the cover art). XD He posed fine for the actual scene, but he wouldn't pose well for other pictures. Then, some of the pictures wound up headless! For the cover art, I wound up sticking the shaft of a clear plastic trident that came with some flowers up his pants leg to help him stand on the rock he was on.

Finally, the snow.... I have a couple vials of some prank gel that strongly resembles soggy snow around SOMEWHERE, but I couldn't find it. That left me wondering what to do for the snow. I didn't have time to wait on canned instant "snow" to ship, and I don't know where to find any locally, so that was out of the question. For a while, I was even thinking of using baby powder. However, that was an undesirable option since the powder's too fine to control well and wouldn't be able to be played with. Since it was only needed for the last scene, I bided my time by finishing up the other scenes first. I started to get worried as the deadline drew near and I still didn't have a good plan for the snow. Finally, it hit me that white grits just might work, so I acquired some and used it. Despite the creamy colour and the fact that I over-cooked it, it worked out pretty well. I did have to wash some of their costumes, hands, and hair a bit, though. >.o

z-kun, 07 Jan 2008 10:59 am

Figure Details: Roy (Full Metal Alchemist) - Custom (Obitsu slim male, modified Obitsu female head #3). His sweaters and socks are home-made from socks. The navy coloured v-neck sweater is based on one he wears in an official artwork of him. Black coat is custom-made with nylon material. Based on the one in some official artwork of Roy. All the tops were hand-stitched (except for the cuffs on the coat sleeves)
The pants are from Irwin's "casual" version of Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon.
Barbie (Ken) shoes.

Ed (Full Metal Alchemist) - Medicom Toy version. Pants, belt, watch, and shoes are stock. Tights under pants in final scene are Marmit. White shirt is custom made from cotton with hook-and-eye enclosures. Based on the one he wears in the Full Metal Alchemist movie. Machine-stitched with cuffs and sleeves attached by hand.
Red jacket with black lining is made from red velvet (tinted with RIT dye) and black cotton. Partially machine-stitched, partially hand-stitched. Based on the one in an official artwork of the characters having a snowball fight.

Nagisa (Pretty Cure: Max Heart) - Bandai version. Stock shoes. Christmas dress is hand-stitched. Red is satin, white is velvet yarn.

Saber (Fate/Hollow Ataraxia) - Azone version. Costume in outdoor scene is stock. Costume in final scene consists of Bratz-male shirts and stock skirt and boots.

Peter (original character) - Unaltered Marmit. Azone Pure Neemo Portolodam School summer uniform (regulation version). Stock socks and shoes.

Hikari (Pretty Cure: Max Heart) - Bandai version. Stock shoes. Christmas dress is hand-stitched from a pink/white fuzzy material.

Rei (Neon Genesis Evangelion) - Marmit version. Christmas dress and stockings are hand-stitched with brown velvet and red lace. Marmit shoes.

z-kun, 07 Jan 2008 11:00 am

Prop Details: “Fog” on window - Neosporin knock-off

Snowflake ornament - I believe this was from a craft store, but I’m not sure. It’s an ornament for mini-tees. If it wasn’t from Michael’s Craft Store, then it was from Wal-Mart.
Box of ornaments - Origami box with various ornaments from Michael’s, JoAnne’s, and Wal-Mart. The green garland was a scrap I found.
Presents - Some are origami boxes, some are ornaments for mini-trees.
Table - Barbie (90’s school setting).
Wreath - Evergreen-type pipe-cleaners from Michael’s Craft Store.
Deer sculpture - From Walgreens. It’s a sculpture for those miniature Christmas-towns.

Chair - Pincushion from Michael’s Craft Store.
TV - Bratz (Sushi and Karaoke Bar)
Remote Control - Rubbery cell-phone shoe charm. All these 1/6 TVs, but no one ever makes a remote.... As if the majority of people actually use the buttons on the TV (says the person who has a TV with a dial)....

Sword - Came with Saber. ^_^

Snow - White grits (a regional breakfast food made of corn meal). Most of it's cooked, with some raw sprinkled on top.
Plastic tarp - clear vinyl.

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