Originals: what exists?

[Trough]

Regarding the current need for reprints in the Megazine, I was wondering how much original stuff still exists in the 2000AD vaults, and from how far back.

I don't really know much about this sort of thing, but I'm guessing some of the reprints are scanned-in from other source material.  If so, does this include copies of old Progs, or would the picture quality be unacceptable?

If this is the case, is it possible to tell us what definitely cannot be reprinted due to lost originals or a lack of other sources, and what can?

Sorry in advance if this question has already been answered elsewhere.

Trough, curious

[Thread Zero]

I must admit to being surprised that Rebellion hasn't got a full collection of 2k in comic form I mean.

If they have, surely all the old stories can be scanned that way.

The reproduction should't be too bad.

scojo

[Thread Zero]

Re old 2k picture/print quality:

It was good enough for us then so why not now?:O)

scojo

[Tu-plang]

re: scanning for old progs.

i don't think it works that way.  the quality would probably be seriously degraded in the process, and would already need some clean-up work done to it anyway.  (but i'm no expert)

But don't worry, i'm not sure that theres all that much missing from the archives, nothing spectacular.  Just you look at the mess that Doctor Who fans have, and we can think ourselves lucky...

[Jayzus B. Christ]

I dont know about that - I'd imagine all original artwork is scanned in these days, and it looks sound enough. I'd say it's easy enough to reproduce old B/W strips faithfully .

[Trough]

But I'm a Doctor Who fan as well!

Trough, in an anorak

[Trough]

Depends if we're talking about using original artwork or negatives, or scanning from old Progs.

In the case of the former, I'm led to believe that most of it disappeared from the Fleetway vaults over the years.  We've all seen original artwork for sale in comic shops and at conventions (I've got an original page from The Cursed Earth myself).  As for other media, like negatives or copies or suchlike, I dunno.

In the case of the latter, I really don't know how easy it would be to scan in the pages and clean them up.  Can anybody from Rebellion HQ comment on this?

Trough

[Thread Zero]

Which would you rather have:

Classic old stories with slightly poorer reproduction values or no classic stories at all?

I know want I want.

And that's world domination but the UN hasn't agreed to my terms yet.

scojo

[Tu-plang]

i'm not Professor Art or anyfink, but...

New 2000ad art is scanned from the original art, which is then returned to the artists.  NEW stories are stored in a digital format.  OLD stories are stored as photo negatives in the archives.  When scanned, these photo negatives will give the quality we see in comics today.  If scanned from THE PAGE OF AN OLD PROG, the quality will be noticibly bad.  Original art is drawn at a very large size, and when reduced, it looks nice.  I reckon art scanned from a browning A4 newspaper page from the late seventies to be printed on a brand new magazine quality A4 page would look, well.... bad.

Sorry to rant.  Must dash, my shelf is being weighed down by the sheer volume of 60s Doctor Who stories still in existence...

[Judge Jack]

Wasnt all original 2000ad art scanned for future reprinting purposes (and didnt the artist in question have to foot the bill?) before it was returned to the artist back in late 80's/early 90's? Seem to remember reading this some were.

[Emperor]

Necropostastic.

[Judge Jack]

ooops, sorry little kitten 

[Large48]

I've now seen a scojo post in the flesh! (so to speak)