Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: brian miller, Comics, comics coloring, entertainment, Hi-fi Colors For Comics, kickstarter, Kristy Miller, Marvel Comics

Kickstart from the Heart – Hi-Fi Color For Comics Is Coming Back

Shawn Demumbrum writes:

Brian Miller started Hi-Fi Colour Design with his wife, Kristy, 15 years ago. On any given day, he could be painting covers for IDW licensed comics, coloring pages for the latest DC weekly comic book project or designing his latest pop culture mashup pinup for his Oktopolis imprint.

In 2007, Brian and Kristy wrote Hi-Fi Color for Comics, an extensive instruction book on the art and science of color illustration, published by Impact Books. Recently, the publishing rights to Hi-Fi Color for Comics reverted back to the Millers. They are attempting to reprint the now out-of-print book through a Kickstarter campaign with some amazing rewards for the aspiring comic book colorist. I talked with Brian about his Kickstarter. 

Shawn Demumbrum: New copies of Hi-Fi Color for Comics are selling for over $100 on Amazon.com. Used copies are over $70. Is this why you are leading a Kickstarter campaign to reprint the book?

Brian Miller: When you look around online and in bookstores you will find many professional art-instruction resources for comic book pencilling, inking, even lettering, but there is very little good info about digital comic book coloring. This has created a strong demand for used copies of Hi-Fi Color for Comics. The problem has been the scammers who list copies of the book for sale and some fans are paying $100 or more only to receive less than what they are paying for. In some instances people are receiving used copies of the book with pages damaged or the bonus disc missing. Some of the books people are buying online have been stolen from libraries or college bookstores and resold as new. I have received emails from people who are disappointed or angry and there is nothing I could do to help them.

After listening to the problems so people have dealt with trying to get their hands of a copy of the book it is nice to offer our backers on Kickstarter a brand new Hi-Fi Color for Comics starting at only $25 for the print edition. They know they are going to receive the rewards listed in the campaign direct from Hi-Fi which provides our supporters, and me, with peace of mind.

SD: The book has been used by some college professors, including you, to teach their students color illustration.  Was this a factor in the decision to reprint the book?

BM: In the Fall of 2012 I started receiving phone calls and e-mails from colleges and art-instructors telling me their school bookstores were having trouble ordering Hi-Fi Color for Comics. Within a few days Amazon.com had sold out and then Barnes and Noble and Borders. I put in a call to my publisher to find out what was going on and the response was, "congratulations your books sold out." Meanwhile I had angry schools, instructors, and students e-mailing me so I didn't feel much like celebrating.

Fortunately, now that we are creating the new Hi-Fi Color for Comics many art students and schools are helping us get the word out about the Kickstarter campaign. Once Hi-Fi Color for Comics is fully funded we will be able to put the new books in college classrooms where aspiring artist can learn how to use Photoshop to color comic and cartoon art again.

SD: You've lead two crowdfunding campaigns, an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign and a successful Indiegogo campaign. The Hi-Fi Color for Comics campaign is currently only a few hundred dollars from being funded. What did you take from those campaigns that helped your current campaign?

BM: The number one lesson has been to make the campaign for the backers. One example is listening to feedback. The original book came with a CD containing the all the project files readers would need to complete the coloring tutorials. I received feedback from fans who had lost or damaged their disc. With Hi-Fi Color for Comics I wanted to go beyond disc and create a resource that you didn't have to carry with you but you could access from anywhere.

That resource is an online companion to Hi-Fi Color for Comics called Hi-Fi Academy. Backers will be able to download all the Photoshop add-ons needed to use Hi-Fi Color for Comics and when updates are available they will have access to the latest versions. Members will also find all the files needed for each tutorial at Hi-Fi Academy including Hi-Fi Helpers, video tutorials, as well as the artwork for each lesson. Readers will be the first to learn about new tutorials and bonus content too.

Members can access Hi-Fi Academy at home or when traveling using the print edition or the ComiXology digital edition of Hi-Fi Color for Comics. The goal of Hi-Fi Academy is to teach people everything I know about comic book coloring. I've listened to our readers and I'm working with them to reach this goal. Creating the best experience for backers has also created a more successful Kickstarter campaign.

SD: Is this a simple reprint or has additional content been added or updated?

BM: When the previous edition of Hi-Fi Color for Comics sold-out I decided to reboot the book, I didn't want to reprint material that was already 5 years old. Readers deserve updated coloring tutorials and  projects. I enlisted the help of original Hi-Fi Color for Comics editor Amy Jeynes and we completely reimagined the book from first page to last. The new Hi-Fi Color for Comics teaches aspiring comic creators how to transform black and white comic book drawings into fully rendered color illustrations utilizing the same up to date tools and techniques used by Hi-Fi colorists working on titles for DC, Disney, Image, & Marvel.

Hi-Fi Color for Comics gives readers the opportunity to color project art from top comic professionals including Terry Moore, Phil Hester, Mike Norton, Billy Tucci, and J. Scott Campbell. I am amazed by the number of talented creators who are offering their artwork for Hi-Fi Color for Comics, we have some incredible stretch goals including bonus tutorials featuring artwork from creators we haven't announced yet.

SD: You've always been so generous with your time and knowledge. You taught classes on color illustration for comic books at a local college. The rewards for the Kickstarter are the most generous use of your time that I've ever seen. Explain what rewards you have for aspiring comic book illustrators.

BM:  When it came time to create the rewards for this Kickstarter campaign I wanted to stay focused on creating the most valuable art-education experience for backers. Basic Rewards include print editions of Hi-Fi Color for Comics as well as the ComiXology digital edition as well as a combo pack with both editions. Additional rewards include portfolio reviews, one-on-one art instruction via Skype, and even a 3 day workshop we're calling comic coloring bootcamp. I'm excited about the workshops as students will have the opportunity to learn and create on-site as well as interact with other students and local Arizona comic book creators. We are pulling out all the stops to create a one of a kind event for bootcamp participants. It is going to be incredible and is the ultimate reward for backers of Hi-Fi Color for Comics.

For the fans who collect comic art there are also reward levels that include a sketch on the inside front cover of the book, autographed comic books, and even art prints. I tried to create rewards that comic book fans and creators would want for themselves. Once the campaign meets the minimum funding goals there will be additional bonuses available via stretch goals as well including upgrades to the book as well as bonus tutorials and additional artwork.

SD: There was some concern a few days ago when Marvel sent a DMCA takedown notice to Kickstarter who suspended the campaign. You were able to provide them the documentation for use of Marvel characters in your book that was negotiated for the first printing.  Luckily, within a few hours, the campaign was active again.  They say that all publicity is good publicity.  Were you able to bounce back quickly from this setback?

BM: As far as I can tell Marvel have copyright attorneys who monitor sites like YouTube, Kickstarter, and others for Copyright violations. They saw our campaign and sent a DMCA Takedown Notice to Kickstarer. They were just doing their job. Fortunately I was able to locate the original Hi-Fi Color for Comics release form and send a copy to Marvel's legal representation. Once they verified the info with the records they had on file they contacted Kickstarter and the campaign resumed. I have to give both parties credit for reacting so quickly.

Obviously the DMCA Takedown Notice hurt the campaign. Even though it was only down only a few hours the impact was big. We received some negative press on that day because when it comes to big companies like Marvel vs little guys like Hi-Fi the people reporting tend to assume the worst and report it as such. What they failed to report is all of the art printed in Hi-Fi Color for Comics is done so only with the express written permission of the Copyright holder or their legal representative. I am very proud of all the Hi-Fi fans who were quick to defend Hi-Fi Color for Comics and share the good news with others when Hi-Fi was vindicated and the campaign became active again.

SD: You still have around two and half weeks in your campaign and it looks like you will be funded at any moment. What would you say to those people who are on the fence about pledging to take the plunge?

BM: Right now Hi-Fi Color for Comics contains 170 pages packed with the best comic coloring tutorials available with a retail price of $25. With funding from stretch goals we can add additional content and increase the size of the book to 200 or even 300 or more pages of tutorials and art instruction at no additional cost to backers. We also have book upgrades and additional content coming to Hi-Fi Academy. As stretch goals are unlocked everyone who pledged $20 or more will benefit. Some of the rewards packages have already sold-out so anyone on the fence should choose their favorite reward and back Hi-Fi Color for Comics today.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us Brian.

Bleeding Cool's Kickstarter Correspondent, Shawn Demumbrum has lead three Kickstarter campaigns to launch comic books, two successfully funded and one that wasn't.  He points out some of the unique Kickstarter projects that wouldn't normally be published by the big comic book companies, but deserve your attention.  Shawn is the Manager of Comic Book Programming for the Phoenix Comicon.  He is currently working on the Nothing Can Stop Me Now: Stories Inspired by the Songs of Nine Inch Nails.

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