ZB ENTRY #11 COMPLETE END OF LINE!

I know it's been a while since my last entry, however I just wanted to report that Zombot is now complete!

Thank you all for your support and attention. I hope that the blog has been fun and informative.

ZB ENTRY #10 Represent!

Just wanted to share some Avatars with you all. Feel free to copy paste them and use them for Messengers, Icons, Facebook Profiles, etc.

For ZIP file containing more Avatars please email snstrsin@gmail.com and get on the mailing list.

ZB ENTRY #09 Things To Come

Oh boy! By now I am sure you are either tired of reading post after post about my silly ZOMBOT Book or you can't stand the excitement!

I hope its the latter that you find yourself in. But just as always I like to share little hints and clues of the current projects at hand.

And so here is a little bit. The image you see here in this entry is of BOT 17 from Page 1 of Chapter 1 that was completed about 20 minutes ago.

Tonight I will soldier on and start painting Pages 7-10 of Chapter 2. I sure hope you all stay tuned, I am having a blast creating the book and I hope to have it complete and ready for you to enjoy.

ZB ENTRY #08 Story Story Story

Just wanted to share a Storyboard frame from the book. I started out with rough sketches of the story and that lead to the development of the pages. So here is a rough being colored in Photoshop of some virus infected robots! Storyboards are used to get a quick idea of what is happening within a story. This scene you see here has changed, but this is what it looked like in the conceptual stage of the book.

I plan of releasing all the story boards in their original black and white state soon. But just to give you all an idea of how I work.

1. I first doodle some sketches.
2. Then those sketches turn into a full length story board
3. Color the boards using Photoshop
4. Draw each frame onto water color paper
5. Paint each frame or page
6. Import each page into Photoshop ( Effects )
7. Then add copy.

ZB ENTRY #07 HALLOWBOT

How cool is this?! Kristin Brandt carved a Zombot pumpkin! I was taken back by how cool the idea was to make something like this. Yet alone the time she took in creating it. I am truly honored by this, being that I love Halloween.

So I posted the images she took here on the blog for all to see how talented she is!

Thank you Kristin.

ZB ENTRY #06 Cover Exposed

Last week I sent out an email to a fan with the cover design for the book attached! However that is only 1 of 6 different designs I have in mind. I feel its time to show off the cover I sent out to the rest of the fans.

As for the others? I will post them up once the book is done. But for this entry I have posted the book cover version 1. The technical title for the file is ZB_CVR_01 as I try to catalog all my work.

I used the original artwork and Photoshop which is the the style I chose to create ZOMBOT. I'm sure you all have seen the artwork used at Binary 2.0 and on the Facebook page. It was created as a test for the water color effects I wanted to use. I also want to show the process and why it takes so long to create a page in the book.

PROCESS:

1. Stretch Paper - I'm using water color paper that comes in rolls and then cut into tablet sized paper that needs stretching. What that means is that for every page in ZOMBOT, I need to soak the paper in water for 10 seconds and then lay it flat between two pieces of cardboard and weigh it down with heavy objects and let it dry for 1 day. This will make the paper "wave" and then dry flat.

2. Sketch Page - Once dry I can then take a NON PHOTO BLUE pencil and sketch out the page. Why NON PHOTO BLUE? Because that allows me the ability to hide the sketch marks later on.
JOSH WILL.COM - NON PHOTO BLUE Even though ZOMBOT is an illustrated "book" I am treating it as a Comic Book so the process is similar except for the stock or paper type.

3. Paint Cycle 1 - For Zombot I am using water colors that way I can paint in layers. I can also give more dept of field or D.O.F. to the zombies. Not to mention other effects that I will release later on. But this process is my favorite, I color in all the scenes, characters, and environments. This process again wets the paper and I need to let it dry usually 1 hour or 2. but I tend to get to this point at 3am so the next day works better to get to the next step.

4. Inking - By this time the water is dry the page is flat and the NON PHOTO BLUE is still visible and I'm ready to go. I basically laid out a map for this process and the previous ones mentioned above which make my work easy, step by step there is no second guessing. Again this is another favorite of mine. I fell in love with inking from reading comics. I love to see pencil art that is converted to ink ( BY HAND ). Now comics are scanned in and " Inked " using photoshop. Which I use half the process they use for the book and other illustrations, like VUDU RIPLIE.

Hand Ink Comic here

Digital Ink Comic here
Jae Lee is one of my favorite artist, his pencil sketches are later taken into photoshop and " Inked " in.

So I first ink in all the lineart in ZOMBOT and use the Photoshop process for the final.

5. Scanning / Photographing - For Comics people use flat bed scanners with a minimum of 1600 DPI for each page illustrated. I have used this process in the past, however for this I layout the final sketched, colored, inked page and do both scan and photograph. Scanning hides the NON PHOTO BLUE but keeps the paper texture, and Photograph gives me a fast process. It also gives me color options. So this step is a no brainer.

6. Photoshop - Here I use filters, layers, color correction, levels, custom brushes, and a host of other things that remain a ZOMBOT secret. But basically it gives the book its unique look. This process also takes some time, due to the effects and typesetting needed to get each page print ready.

Here is the final result. Cover Page Design #1

ZB ENTRY #05 The Road Home

And so begins the long process of painting the images that will become ZOMBOT. I have re-worked the story and page layouts, to a more non traditional style.

For the most part Children Books when it comes to illustrations, either has the artwork "boxed in " or " faded edges ". When I first wrote the story I created a series of images on lined paper like the one you see here in this blog entry.


I wrote and sketched, wrote and sketched. And when it was all said and done, I looked at what I have created, and was taken back by the story and images. But I was disappointed with the layout. Zombot is love story, there are no hidden plots. Just a simple love story.

So I wanted to capture the feeling of being in love. The soft yet subtle tones that play in our minds when we experience that kind of love. Warmth, and that slow moving feeling that carries the love from one partner to the other.


The video I posted yesterday hopefully conveys that message. With the combination of the poem by Sheelagh Lennon, and the music of Trent Reznor I feel that these two things are the back bone to the story.

So I plan to paint each page in an open format, a flow that will carry the story. I want to give you all something neat to read and view. So I plan to intertwine the images and the writing.


A special world for you and me
A special bond one cannot see
It wraps us up in its cocoon
And holds us fiercely in its womb.

Its fingers spread like fine spun gold
Gently nestling us to the fold
Like silken thread it holds us fast
Bonds like this are meant to last.

And though at times a thread may break
A new one forms in its wake
To bind us closer and keep us strong
In a special world, where we belong.

- Sheelagh Lennon -

ZB ENTRY #04 Poetry In Motion

Thank you!

Special thanks go out to Travis Thornton for sending me this AWESOME! art, please keep em coming. I am so honored by all the love!

We are getting close soon I will begin to paint the pages, so stay tuned.

ZB ENTRY #03 Take Cover!

So I'm big on teasing, its fun! So this morning I sent some one of four cover designs to someone.

It was really neat because that person has been following me for a while now and it is only fair that this person get to see some behind the scenes activity. And I have a few surprises up my sleeve.

So for the rest of you, sorry but you get the image that you see here on this blog.

Tease, tease, tease... :)

ZB ENTRY #02 Re-write Complete!

So late last night I finished the second write up of Zombot. I was happy with the original one but felt that the story needed to be more than just a kids book, so I wrote a second story added more and imported a lot of the original.

I wanted to make sure that I had plenty or room to create the images that will accompany the story, I feel I got something really nice. So now I will work on the rough sketches for the pages and over all layout to see how it flows. I have an idea that will defy conventional formats but its totally ZOMBOT!

Love Is Eternal. ZB ENTRY#01 L.I.E.

Love is eternal or so they say, I say it is. For most it may not be the same, but I know one thing is for certain.

You can always come back here and check on the process of ZOMBOT© For at least that will remain the same!

I got the idea from an artist that I admire a lot, his name Gris Grimly. He began a Blog to capture the process of Frankenstein a graphic novel he is currently working on. And every once in a while he will post up an image and talk a little bit about the book, art, and his life.

So I am following in his foot steps for anyone interested in this. But I will post up an image from time to time show you how its going. So this will be the 1st official post, to prove that I am actually working on the book.

ZB ENTRY#01 L.I.E.

As of right now I have a rough draft of the story, its about 20 pages long. Along with some rough line art and color schemes. I showed some of this to fans at my last Binary 2.0 art show, and got a nice response. So I decided to go back and change the format of the pages, rewrite the book, and enhance the over all look of the book. To give fans something they can love! I'm always the perfectionist so I hope this new look will do the trick.

I also settled on using water color on water paper and Photoshop to give ZOMBOT© its unique look. I hope you all like it just as much as I do.

So after my Vudu Cinema 2010 event on Sept 18th. I hope to go back and start writing ZOMBOT© so that I can make the Megacon deadline.

AWESOME! Gift from Kristin Brandt

This was sent to me via Facebook. Photographer Kristin Brandt made a render and send it to me, so in her honor. I am posting it here on the Official ZOMBOT Blog!

How awesome is that! Check out here amazing photography.












Here is another one from Kristin. Again many thanks to her and others who are fans of the book!

ZOMBOT© To Make An Apperance at VUDU CINEMA?!

Here is something nice for the fans attending Sinister's VUDU CINEMA 2010 this Sept. 18th at Cricketers Arms.

Printing

Here is what I got to say about printing. Yes it is true that most publishing houses denied ZOMBOT©. And I am not at all surprised, it is a strange publication!! No one is willing to take a chance on this, but that should never stop you.

The common mistake is that people hold fast to their creations in the hopes that it will become the next Harry Potter, or Twilight. When in fact cases like that are rare, that is why they are so popular. For us little folk we need to create and release and see what sticks. Make mistakes, they are needed to advance. And don't measure success by the failures.

So the publishers said NO! in a polite way but it was still a no. What hopes do I have to make this dream a reality?! Where can I go, who do I get in front of?! Answer is simple. There are many publishers or private printers that will print small runs for a decent amount of money. So keep your eyes pealed.

When it comes to private printing there are 3 major companies and here they are.

1. Lulu
2. SFWA Science Fiction Writers of America
3. Winspan

Then there is a whole slue of tiny little companies that will print your works. There is way too much to say about these kind of companies both good and bad and I don't want to get into that now. I just want you to get an understanding as to how I can to find my printer.

Now I normally do not say who prints my work, be it art prints, color prints, etc. But for the sake of this blog I would like to mention my experience with printer. And how ZOMBOT© saw the light of day.

Since my work is technically and " Graphic Novel " geared to a young female audience then I started looking in another direction. I started to poke around in the world of self published or Indie comics. There are a great many small, mostly family owned printers that do an AMAZING job! And so I found a local printer that will print my work and all is great in the Universe!

Note: Most printers will offer a JPEG file proof. If you are ok with that then great. I however am not, I ALWAYS ask for a physical proof that I can inspect on my own. To guaranty that whatever I produce is to my level of satisfaction.

I wont lie proofs cost money, most of them range from $5 to $20 but trust me it is worth EVERY penny. Because I can rest assure that every copy I sell is to my liking! And so it will build confidence in the product you are trying to sell.

Great Lazaro, this is all good and dandy. Now will you give us the link to the printer so I can do the same?! I will but before I do, I want to stress that this company works for me and my publication. The same may or may not be the case for you, so please please please do not say " Hey Lazaro prints here and he made ZOMBOT© so lets print there! " What I do is the results of MY OWN ACTIONS, don't follow my lead on this and or other topics I cover. Make good choices and find what is right for you. I don't get any kick backs from this company and I don't want to promote something based on the fact that it was successful for me.

I get it all the time, Do you use Photoshop? What drawing pens do you use? Etc. etc.

So here is a start the printer I am using for ZOMBOT© is a company based out of Orlando Florida named Ka-Blam Just like any investment you want to put some money in and come back with some profit. Like a reward for all my hard work. So I chose Ka-Blam because it was affordable and because I get an ISBN number. Thus for making ZOMBOT© affordable to my
audience.

ISBN Number?! What is that!

ISBN numbers are a way to track your publications. Majir publishing houses apply for ISBN numbers so that they can sell your book, order prints, and track down other information.

What is a ISBN Number, you ask? It stands for International Standard Book Number the funky bar code image on the back cover of books. Here is more information on ISBN numbers. They can cover it better than I can.

Plus publishing through a major Publisher guaranties you the proper accolades of a "Classic" book etc. But for me it signifies the fact that people can track down my book when shopping in places like Amazon.

Copywrite?!

I know I know on the Official ZOMBOT© Facebook Page this "COPYWRITE" can be seen on all the images I have posted. One would say " Hey shouldn't that read Copyright? " Indeed it should, I did that as a joke to see who would get it. Sadly no one got it or no one wanted to mention it... But there is logic to all this. As I was looking at getting my wild idea published, I thought of copyright law, and how with a little research one can find what they need. It may seem at first that copyright is like dredging through a swamp, but with time you will understand that it is very straight forward.

I have learned that when you are writing a book, you don't have to apply for copyright because if and when a publishing house decided to make you a deal they will buy the right to copy or "Copyright". And by the way YOUR manuscript is YOUR copyright. And another thing I learned is that as an artist the minute you put pencil to paper that is your copyright! And so for me when I started sketching out Zombot© I gave myself the right to copy.

So with that being said I knew that if I posted this image on Facebook, I am already protected because I can prove that I created and own the artwork. And so I added the "ZOMBOT COPYWRITE 2010 LAZARO GOMEZ SIN ISTER" to see if anyone would catch it.

Now how does that apply to self publication?! Good question I have a copyright applied to the book because I am the full owner of the book, and that guaranties me the opportunity to go after people that may mis-represent my creation.

For example if a printer decided hey Mr. Gomez wanted 30 books and we gave him 30 books and we are good. Now the other 40 we printed, lets sell those because he forgot to... say it say it. COPYRIGHT!

Hope that helps cover copyright law in lay terms. Here is a link to more info on copyrights.

Welcome to the ZOMBOT© Blog

I wanted to start a blog about my journey in the Independent writing and publishing field. Hopefully the goal here is to help anyone else who is looking to create their own publications, and to provide some info for them which maybe you an inside to the way I handled my project.

I am NOT and I repeat not an expert on this matter nor do I claim to be, however I would like to mention that this info can be useful in many ways.

1. It can be a stepping stone to others as to the do's and don'ts of the biz, as I myself am doing the same.

2. It will serve as encouragement to others that may have an idea and not sure how to release it to the World.

For me this blog will serve as a way to capture the experience in its raw form. So I can reflect on the pros and cons. And to see how I can improve my skills as an artist and writer. So don't be shocked when you read some low moments in the journey. For I know that there will be!

So if your interested then sit back and watch the way Zombot© gets made and published.