Best way to copy similar panels

[Tommy]

I'm doing a page where there are 4 panels that are the same, except for small differences. I was wondering the easiest way to do these panels; just lightbox them and draw in the difference, or copy them in PS, and edit in the changes. I'm thinking the latter choice, to save time. What would David Finch do?

[Caimano]

I recently adopted the method to print my pencil in blue on the comic board...so my suggestion is to clone the panel 4 times and print the whole board in blue, in this way you add the differences in each panel just when you ink over them.

[ccicconi]

I also print my pencils in blue line for inking, and found that copying and pasting the needed panel in photoshop is a very easy method.

Chad

[Tommy]

We're not doing inks, going straight to color, but that's a good suggestion. I't'll probably be easiest to clone in PS, then copy & paste my changes.

[e_t_i]

Only one method makes you a better artist in the long run; just draw them.

[Tony Moore]

you have to weigh a couple of things, mainly:
how quickly do you need/want it done
versus
how important is it to have nice original art you can sell.

if having good looking original art isn't an issue, i'd just copy and paste 'em digitally. i often lay in a quick tracing paper transfer to properly place the small differences i plan to redraw, and then put 'em in place in photoshop.

if you want finished looking originals, i recommend doing the main bit of pencilling on loose sheet, scanning it, and then printing out a non-repro to ink, which has the panel copied and pasted however many time you need it in the page's final layout, so you can go through and ink the same thing every time, making your changes.

-T