"Kirby Krackle" Tutorial

[Bruce Lee]

I prepared this little tutorial for a fellow over on Critical Mass who's had difficulty grasping how to construct the "Kirby crackle" (also known as "Kirby dots"). I think it might be of benefit to some of you here also. I can't recall the subject coming up here before, so here goes--

The "Kirby dots" or "crackles" are tough to do--especially if you haven't tried to do them before, or aren't overly familiar with Jack Kirby's work. A lot of comic artists use the "Kirby dots" when conveying massive amounts of energy, but saddly, only a handful seem to really understand the proper way to do it.

I prepared this quick tutorial for you in hopes it would shead some light on the subject:
http://www.lostonwallace.com/kirbydots.jpg

The first thing I did was to decide where my blast radius would be. In light pencil (in red here, for your convenience) I doodled in the blast radius around the flying vehicle.

The actual "Kirby dots" should take place around the actual projected rays of the blast (indeed it should frame your blast), so with that in mind, the next thing to do is to start adding in the largest "dots." Here, I've started from at the outer most corners of the panel. Notice that the larger "dots" are generally found at the panel's edge. As I move in towards the center of the blast, I make the "dots" slightly smaller. The smallest "dots" are located near the blast impact.

What makes the "Kirby dots" work is not the dots themselves, but the NEGATIVE SPACE around the dots. Notice how the negative space between the dots should look like lightning or energy. Well, that's the effect that is desired, and it's the entire point of adding in all those "dots". The "dots" make the "crackle" of energy.

One thing to remember when doing the "Kirby crackle" is that you want the effect to look somewhat random and natural--certainly not mechanical--so throw in the occasional large "dot" cluster near the blast radius and have several dots overlapping here and there from time to time.

I hope this sheads some light on how to approach the "Kirby crackle."

http://www.lostonwallace.com/krackle1.jpg

Loston
http://www.lostonwallace.com

[KrisDiaz]

thats some old school stuff....nowadays people just photshop effects in.....sad when you think about it.

[jeremy dale]

thats some old school stuff....nowadays people just photshop effects in.....sad when you think about it.

And yet it NEVER looks as good when done that way.

[Bruce Lee]

And yet it NEVER looks as good when done that way.

There's always a life to something done by hand that is extremely difficult to capture via a computer program function.

Loston

[malachimanson]

thanks for this tut i used its info on my rushed draw off. First time i used the Kirby Krackle.

[Bruce Lee]

thanks for this tut i used its info on my rushed draw off. First time i used the Kirby Krackle.

Glad I could be of some help. :)

Loston

[noface]

Glad I could be of some help. :)

Loston

Yeah the "Kirby crackle" is a classic. Great post.

[dezz]

I'm old school and often use the kirby krackle but now that I see the theory behind it I think it will help me to give the effect some real power, thanks for the tut.

[Bruce Lee]

I'm old school and often use the kirby krackle but now that I see the theory behind it I think it will help me to give the effect some real power, thanks for the tut.

Your welcome, dezz. Happy drawing. :)

Loston

[ThomasV]

I really liked this tutorial. I've been thinking about how to add some kirby to my work. I'm gonna use it

[SamuraiPaul]

did you use a dropper or a brush to make the dots?

[jeremy dale]

did you use a dropper or a brush to make the dots?

Neither-- he dips "something" in ink and uh... well, yeah. Don't look him in the eye, it only empowers him. ;)


- jeremy

[Bruce Lee]

did you use a dropper or a brush to make the dots?

Heh.

Those drawings are actually done with Sharpie markers.

Loston

[jeremy dale]

Heh.

Those drawings are actually done with Sharpie markers.

Loston

Good call, stick to that story :)



- jeremy

[Bruce]

Great step by step.
Question. In the 4th image at top, should the negative space of the blast be larger then the surrounding negative space. At least for that frame?
It would show a stronger blast.
With out the first two images I'm not sure I would know where the energy was coming from and would think that he is releasing it.
I don't know. Is it supposed to work that way?

[Bruce Lee]

Great step by step.
Question. In the 4th image at top, should the negative space of the blast be larger then the surrounding negative space. At least for that frame?
It would show a stronger blast.
With out the first two images I'm not sure I would know where the energy was coming from and would think that he is releasing it.
I don't know. Is it supposed to work that way?


It can work however you want it to work. The beam that's impacting with our hero doesn't really even have to be composed of "Kirby dots". It could be a lightning bolt or any other kind of energy you'd want to draw, and that might work much better in terms of contrast and clarity:

http://www.lostonwallace.com/kirbydots1.jpg


The sky is the limit, and the success depends on the planning. This was a spontaneous effort, part of a PJ critique I did back in 2002 or 2003--a fast and dirty step-by-step sketch illustrating the basic ideas behind the "Kirby Krackle". The dots on the beam is a bit over the top, but does illustrate how one might go about doing a beam of energy using Kirby dots. It's overkill, I admit. It's a bit over-rendered, and the image isn't as successful as I'd like it to be in terms of visual clarity, but you should still be able to get something out of this tutorial regardless. The basic theory presented here is sound and intact.

Loston

[Craig DeBoard]

Quick question.

A lot of characters have powers such as energry beams from the eyes. Doing the Kirby Crackle around an energized fist is one thing, but can it be done successful if a character had energry pouring from there eyes? I have a character i'd like to do this with, but i'm a little apprehensive to try it.

[yomark]

I know I'm inappropriately reviving an old thread, but after all this time, I just had to tell y'all for the record:
…Googling "Kirby Dots" is how I found this tutorial, and, therefore, this forum in the first place.
Loston: I am eternally grateful that you led me here.

[yomark]

Quick question.

A lot of characters have powers such as energry beams from the eyes. Doing the Kirby Crackle around an energized fist is one thing, but can it be done successful if a character had energry pouring from there eyes? I have a character i'd like to do this with, but i'm a little apprehensive to try it.

You know: I beleive I've seen that very thing done before, although I don't have any examples to link or anything (unfortunately).

[Bruce Lee]

I know I'm inappropriately reviving an old thread, but after all this time, I just had to tell y'all for the record:
…Googling "Kirby Dots" is how I found this tutorial, and, therefore, this forum in the first place.
Loston: I am eternally grateful that you led me here.

Thanks, yomark. I'm glad that my tutorial is still pulling some folks in--like a Siren luring sailors too their doom. Heh. :D

I also hoped my "Kirby Krackle" tut was helpful to you.

[Doomsmith]

Heh.

Those drawings are actually done with Sharpie markers.

Loston





I thought about doing that but there's something I notice when I use Sharpies - it bleeds out slightly after I use them. Do you get that when you use them?




D2k10!

[Bruce Lee]

I thought about doing that but there's something I notice when I use Sharpies - it bleeds out slightly after I use them. Do you get that when you use them? D2k10!

Yeah, Sharpies will bleed all over the place. I wouldn't suggest using Sharpie markers on any sort of finished artwork. I used sharpies on the images in this particular tutorial only because the images were quick sketches, meant only to serve as a visual to get across some points of the tutorial. If I was doing actual comic pages, commissions, etc, I would use a quality inking brush and Super Black India ink and bristol board for inking the dots, like I did when I did this Galactus and Silver Surfer commission several years back:

http://www.lostonwallace.com/GALACTUS.jpg

Brush works great for inking anything organic.

[golgotha]

that is an awesome galactus.

[Lonrott]

It really is awe inspiring. I see you go back to the Surfer from Kirby's time with those dark rings around his eyes. And the Surfer here does not look anorexic!

[Bruce Lee]

that is an awesome galactus.

Thanks! That's a pretty old commission, actually, but it was fun to do! :)



It really is awe inspiring. I see you go back to the Surfer from Kirby's time with those dark rings around his eyes. And the Surfer here does not look anorexic!

The client wanted a "Kirby meets Buscema" Galactus and Silver Surfer image. I did my best to do something in-between that felt a little like both artists versions of the characters. It was a very interesting commission. :)

[Juggertha]

thanks for this, Loston.

[Bruce Lee]

thanks for this, Loston.

It was my pleasure, Ed. :)

[Geekboy]

I have used this at least a half dozen times, just so you know. You're a gentleman and a scholar.

[Bruce Lee]

I have used this at least a half dozen times, just so you know. You're a gentleman and a scholar.

Thanks for letting me know that, Geekboy! I appreciate it.

:)

[Geekboy]

I won't post my work in your thread, but I even used this for my first real commission (I've just started doing them). It's in the Finished forum and I want to thank you again because you arguably helped me make money. I know I'm responding to a small conversation we had more than a month ago, but I can't heap enough praise on you.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/Geekboy5000/Final.jpg

[Bruce Lee]

I won't post my work in your thread, but I even used this for my first real commission (I've just started doing them). It's in the Finished forum and I want to thank you again because you arguably helped me make money. I know I'm responding to a small conversation we had more than a month ago, but I can't heap enough praise on you.

I'm glad I could help you understand the "Kirby Krackle", but the credit should really go to Kirby and Joe Sinnott, who really introduced the effect to comicdom in the first place! :) I'm always thrilled to see the technique show up outside of comics too--in animated shows, etc. I've even seen one electrician's business card with the Kirby dots around the edges. Pretty amazing to think about, really.

Can't say as to why your art didn't post in this thread though. Did you use the tags properly? Regardless, I edited your post, and added your image in for you. Should be there now. :)

[Geekboy]

I actually left it out on purpose so I wasn't cluttering your thread with my work. Obviously you have less of a problem with that than I do. :)

All credit to Kirby and Sinnott, who will never be replaced.

[DDeal12]

I used this tutorial and the side view fist tutorial to make a Green Lantern sketch card.

I'm not sure if I pulled off the "krackle" well but it was fun anyways.

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/220/2/e/green_lantern_kirby_crackle_by_ddeal12-d45x1wv.jpg

[Bruce Lee]

Well, you have a good start, DDeal12, but to really pull off the "krackle"you really have to incorporate a few more loose dots that are positioned just outside and away from the dot cluster areas. The idea is to use the clustering dot areas as a base to start with, then you can gradually add a few floating dots as islands around the clusters. Remember that it's the negative space around the dots that matters most. You want the negative space areas to look more like crackling energy/electricity. That's what really sells the effect. Don't be afraid to break up your dot clusters a little bit, because that is actually the point of the effect, as the negative space is the key to success. Here's a Photoshop overlay illustrating what I mean:

http://www.lostonwallace.com/greenkrackle.jpg

I went a little overboard with my overlay to show you what is possible, but you don't have to take things that far to make your Kirby Krackle effect work. Just a few loose dots here and there will help you achieve a more desirable energy effect. I recommend that you practice with the Kirby dots from time to time and try to have fun with things. You can decide what the balance of dots you want to use will be after you've done the effect a few times. Anyway, I hope the side-by-side comparison helps some.



Loston

[Bruce Lee]

So...a show of hands...

How many of you PJers have actually looked at this tutorial when drawing the Kirby Krackle? Has this tut helped?

[CWmax]

Hand!



CW

[Bruce Lee]

Cool beans, Chris!

[hydekomiksink]

Hand. It's funny my eyes always just saw dots in cool paterns. After reading your tut I understand a lot more how the krakles interact in positive and nagative space, and how you can play with that to get the effect you're looking for. Thanks!

[sirandal]

Yes!

I used it http://fedaykin.com/pummel/april2011/tb2_2.jpg.

I can't say that I was super-successful, but that was my very first time to try it (and I had just looked at your tutorial).

[Bruce Lee]

Yes!

I used it http://fedaykin.com/pummel/april2011/tb2_2.jpg.

I can't say that I was super-successful, but that was my very first time to try it (and I had just looked at your tutorial).

Very nice use of the technique, sirandal!

[CWmax]

Now I overuse Krackle on everything! But it tastes so good!

CW

[Bruce Lee]

Now I overuse Krackle on everything! But it tastes so good!

CW


LOL! "Kirby Krackle" would be a great name for a breakfast cereal, Chris!

[Spooko]

I come back to your Kirby Krackle all the time, Loston!

[e_t_i]

I just googled it by coincidence and found this thread http://www.penciljack.com/forum/showthread.php?42222-Kirby-Crackles-tutorial

[Bruce Lee]

You know guys--it's kind of funny. I was at HeroesCon this weekend, and I heard from four different artists about the "Kirby Krackle" and How to Draw the Thing tutorials. People have found them to be very helpful, and I'm very pleased by that.