Making Comics / Printing Comics / Putting Comics Online / Places To Buy Comics

Our resource list isn't exhaustive, but hopefully it will help. Feel free to suggest other resources by emailing colin at artforest dot org.

MAKING COMICS

Jessica Abel's DIY Tutorials - Good lessons on materials and the process of drawing comics.
Comic Script Templates For Microsoft Word - Automates and simplifies script formatting. For older versions but presumably still functional because they were recommended by w.MA writer Michael Finger.
Comic Tools - "Snooping into cartoonists' tool boxes. Updated weekdays." MK Reed posts the results of her survey of artists' habits - take the survey yourself!
DIY Comix - an instructional pamphlet by Shawn Granton (some assembly required).
John MacLeod's Small Press Comics FAQ - Info on making comics.
Make Comics Forever!! - Cartoonists share their thoughts and advice on productivity.
Brian Lee O'Malley's Comics Advice - Posted in response to some questions.

Software

Free Serif Software - Serif Software offers older versions of its software for desktop publishing, image manipulation, making webpages and more for free.
GIMP - Image manipulation program.

PRINTING COMICS

Jessica Abel's DIY Tutorials - Good lesson on making minicomics.
ComiXpress - A print-on-demand service that specializes in comics.
DIY Comix - an instructional pamphlet by Shawn Granton (some assembly required).
Dream Weaver Press - Small run printing, run by self-published comics artists.
Guerilla Press - "a free independent publishing resource site...promoting a DIY approach to the small press world."
Lulu - Print-on-demand publishing.
John MacLeod's Small Press Comics FAQ - Info on self-publishing.
No Media Kings: DIY Book Press - Self-publishing info, with a bookmaking emphasis.
Reproguide - By Ron Rege Jr., David Choe, Brian Ralph, & Jordan Crane. "It's a fairly thorough guide to Xerography, Silkscreening, and Offset Printing" in PDF format (requires Adobe Reader) from Reddingk Books.

PUTTING COMICS ONLINE

HTML Help

HTML Goodies - Extensive.
Lissa Explains It All - Aimed at kids, but good for anyone.

Webspace

Blogger - Free blogs, hosted on your site or theirs. Not designed as a comics site template but will do in a pinch. You'll need an image host.
Comic Genesis - Free, customizable comics host w/ automatic updater. The help files could use a real overhaul to make it easier to get started, but plenty of people are using it & it seems useful if you can get the hang of it.
DeviantArt - Not great for multi-page comics, but it's free and has a large community.
DreamHost - For if you just want to rent some plain ol' webspace and set up your own site.
LiveJournal - Free blogs. Not designed as a comics site template but does pretty well in a pinch. You can tag your posts for sorting, and there is an extensive community which includes many cartoonists. You'll need an image host unless you want to pay money.
Webcomics Nation - A pay service with automatic updating & various tools, support & community (part of the Modern Tales family of websites, which also includes our forum host).

Image Hosts

Flickr
ImageShack
PhotoBucket

Other Tools

Oh No Robot - "OhNoRobot is a free search engine service for webcomics! You can sign your comic up for a personalized search engine, along with tons of other great features. Your readers aid you in the task of transcription!"
Online Comics - Directory of online comics. Get listed!
RSSpect - Free Automatic RSS feeds - help people keep up with your site!

PLACES TO BUY COMICS

Coming soon!