[Tutorial] Making Swords : A Step By Step Guide

This is a step-by-step guide to how I made episode CMLXXI

I create the webcomic SWORDS on a Surface Pro 8 and I use the free software Medibang Paint Pro v29.1 (ver 2023.06), which I consider to be very tablet friendly. It's good for letting me effortlessly switch between pinch and pulling to zoom and drawing with the Surface Pen, without getting confused. Neither of these companies sponsor me btw.

Swords is drawn at a resolution of 3600 x 4500 pixels.

The first three seasons of Swords were drawn at a much lower resolution. I've never had making physical books as a main goal, so in the early days it was made for web browsing.
Swords Season 1 (1-200) = 700 x 871
Swords Season 2 (201-400) = 1050 x 1307
Swords Season 3 (401-500) = 1446 x 1809

Thank you again to everyone who helped me upgrade from a Surface Pro 4 (which died halfway through Season 2), to a Surface Pro 6 and now the 8.
I do think there would be some value in buying a really big tablet and a desktop PC so that I can stream my work to you guys and take better care of my eyes and hands and spine, but it's not something I've committed to doing. I've gently asked a few tablet companies if they'll hook me up, but they tend to want to send me screens that are smaller than the Surface, and that's just putting a hat on a hat.

PART TWO

PART THREE

PART FOUR

And that's about it.

Then I export it:
Full size for swordscomic.com, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Tumblr, Bluesky, Reddit, Imgur, Patreon
940 px wide for Tapas
800 px wide for Webtoon
Full size with no text or speech bubbles for Patreon's Sunday newsletter

Make two icons:
300 x 300 for swordscomic.com / Tapas
202 x 142 for Webtoon

(These are taken from the 940x version of the artwork, with any text painted over)

Then I write a transcript for swordscomic.com:

Switchhog and his pals have gotten stronger.

The Red Choplet has decided they are ready. His rival awaits here at the boundary between this floor and the dungeons below.

SSSSSSSSS

A craftsman of fire

The Blazesmith

Plus some alt text which will be used at swordscomic.com, Tapas and Webtoon:

So THAT'S where all these fire swords keep coming from.

Traditionally I upload it everywhere at midnight New Zealand time, but lately I've been going a bit easier on myself and uploading it earlier, even though I know that hurts reach. Chasing virality hasn't really been paying off for a while, so I don't think it's worth hurting myself over.

I'm sure you have questions! Fire away.

Thanks!