Comments for The Mercurials http://www.twilson.com/mercurials A sci-fi photo graphic novel - created with LEGO® bricks. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:43:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on Dialogue Guide by twilson http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/06/27/dialogue-guide/#comment-236 twilson Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:20:47 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/06/27/dialogue-guide/#comment-236 Thanks for the feedback! Work on the Mercurials has sort of languished as I've worked on other projects, but we'll be getting back to it. You're right that I've tried to keep the file sizes on the pics down a bit, also to keep people at lower screen resolutions from having to scroll too much. The graphic novel format has worked out well for us. I like to think it helps cheat the fact that their faces aren't animated. You can still do a lot with "body language", I think. I just don't have the patience for stop-motion anyway! The effects are done in Paint.net, a free graphics program (well, I've donated to the project, but free to download). It's not as full-featured as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, but it is a heck of a lot easier to use and has everything I need. That's what I use to crop, adjust, and assemble the pages as well. By the way, if you are anyone else is interested in trying the graphic novel format, I'd be glad to share my code. Probably I should re-write it since I've learned a lot more programming since I wrote it, but if you think it would be helpful I'd be glad to share. After all, nearly everything I use is open-source! Thanks for the feedback! Work on the Mercurials has sort of languished as I’ve worked on other projects, but we’ll be getting back to it. You’re right that I’ve tried to keep the file sizes on the pics down a bit, also to keep people at lower screen resolutions from having to scroll too much.

The graphic novel format has worked out well for us. I like to think it helps cheat the fact that their faces aren’t animated. You can still do a lot with “body language”, I think. I just don’t have the patience for stop-motion anyway!

The effects are done in Paint.net, a free graphics program (well, I’ve donated to the project, but free to download). It’s not as full-featured as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, but it is a heck of a lot easier to use and has everything I need. That’s what I use to crop, adjust, and assemble the pages as well.

By the way, if you are anyone else is interested in trying the graphic novel format, I’d be glad to share my code. Probably I should re-write it since I’ve learned a lot more programming since I wrote it, but if you think it would be helpful I’d be glad to share. After all, nearly everything I use is open-source!

]]> Comment on Dialogue Guide by joompah http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/06/27/dialogue-guide/#comment-235 joompah Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:10:49 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/06/27/dialogue-guide/#comment-235 I love the whole idea. I would like to do a stop motion film, but just not enough time. So the graphic novel is very appealling for me - build and go and if I have to stop, no sets to wreck... I would enjoy larger photos and a bit more lighting. But mayne your trying to keep the files small. So maybe some closr shots for details.... I can follow the dialog wioth the avatars and think it's a LOT better than dialog balloons!!!! One question, did you just photoshop the SFX? I have to read the speacila features section.... Keep up the good work and waiting for the next chapter!!! I love the whole idea. I would like to do a stop motion film, but just not enough time. So the graphic novel is very appealling for me - build and go and if I have to stop, no sets to wreck…

I would enjoy larger photos and a bit more lighting. But mayne your trying to keep the files small. So maybe some closr shots for details…. I can follow the dialog wioth the avatars and think it’s a LOT better than dialog balloons!!!!

One question, did you just photoshop the SFX? I have to read the speacila features section….

Keep up the good work and waiting for the next chapter!!!

]]> Comment on Chapter 01 - Complete by Ty http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/19/chapter-01-complete/#comment-181 Ty Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:55:52 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/19/chapter-01-complete/#comment-181 Please do produce more! I can't wait! Please do produce more! I can’t wait!

]]> Comment on Chapter 01 - Complete by twilson http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/19/chapter-01-complete/#comment-180 twilson Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:21:46 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/19/chapter-01-complete/#comment-180 Thanks! Sorry it took me so long to reply. I'm glad you liked the combined edition. I myself am one of those people who prefer to watch shows like Deadwood and the Sopranos when I can get my hands on the whole season at once. In this case, the Mercurials episodes are one continuous story anyway. We'll keep doing future chapters that way...um, as soon as we produce some more. :o Thanks! Sorry it took me so long to reply.

I’m glad you liked the combined edition. I myself am one of those people who prefer to watch shows like Deadwood and the Sopranos when I can get my hands on the whole season at once. In this case, the Mercurials episodes are one continuous story anyway. We’ll keep doing future chapters that way…um, as soon as we produce some more. :o

]]> Comment on Milestone by twilson http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/25/milestone/#comment-179 twilson Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:16:44 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/25/milestone/#comment-179 Howdy! Actually, I've had the opposite problem: lots of other writing projects eating into my free time. But never fear, the main hold-up now is building our next big set: the bridge! Shouldn't be hard to coax myself into playing with LEGOs...er, I mean LEGO brand building blocks. :) Howdy! Actually, I’ve had the opposite problem: lots of other writing projects eating into my free time. But never fear, the main hold-up now is building our next big set: the bridge! Shouldn’t be hard to coax myself into playing with LEGOs…er, I mean LEGO brand building blocks. :)

]]> Comment on Milestone by Ted http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/25/milestone/#comment-178 Ted Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:16:41 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/25/milestone/#comment-178 I hope the writer's strike is not holding up production! :) Looking forward to chapter 2. I hope the writer’s strike is not holding up production! :)

Looking forward to chapter 2.

]]> Comment on Chapter 01 - Complete by L-space http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/19/chapter-01-complete/#comment-177 L-space Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:47:00 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/09/19/chapter-01-complete/#comment-177 Thanks for the "DVD"! I enjoyed watching the episodes without having to wait for the next update. Thumbs up for the idea and presentation!!! Thanks for the “DVD”!

I enjoyed watching the episodes without having to wait for the next update.
Thumbs up for the idea and presentation!!!

]]> Comment on CERA by The Mercurials » Blog Archive » Naval Custom in SEDA http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/cera/#comment-32 The Mercurials » Blog Archive » Naval Custom in SEDA Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:47:24 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/cera/#comment-32 [...] See also Ranks [...] […] See also Ranks […]

]]> Comment on Characters by The Mercurials » Blog Archive » Characters http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/characters/#comment-24 The Mercurials » Blog Archive » Characters Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:59:17 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/characters/#comment-24 [...] Characters [...] […] Characters […]

]]> Comment on Episode 1:5 - Rescheduled by twilson http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/08/26/episode-15-rescheduled/#comment-21 twilson Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:54:16 +0000 http://www.twilson.com/mercurials/2007/08/26/episode-15-rescheduled/#comment-21 Ack! Again circumstances have conspired to delay the completion of Episode 1:5. One the upside, there's a long weekend coming up here in the U.S., so we expect to publish this weekend. Please join us then. Ack! Again circumstances have conspired to delay the completion of Episode 1:5. One the upside, there’s a long weekend coming up here in the U.S., so we expect to publish this weekend. Please join us then.

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