New Scanlation Group - Colored Manga

GearSecond

Hello all. I made a post a few months back asking for support and ideas for my Colored Manga project. My project: Basically take the Manga, and color it. It's not exactly Oda' Color Walk, but it's Weekly Manga being colored, it wasn't made to be super high quality(I try my best)

But I can not do it alone, and I am overloaded, It takes me a few hours a page, depending on if it's a normal chapter or a high-quality chapter, like Chapter 1, which I am just into. I planned on finishing half of Chapter One and then starting this thread, but I decided to get a jump start.

Basically, I need a Translator and one or two other color-ers. I'd like to keep each page consisten so if any good Photoshoppers out there, with Photoshop CS2 can study my work and reproduce it, at possibly even slightly higher quality, that would be nice. As a little test, simply pick a page of Manga, and if you can do it about the same as me, you are in.

Here is some of my latest work. Use Anime Ace as a font, preferably. Colors for main characters should be about the same, but I'll be checking to see if my work was copied and pasted for main characters. The most important part in the frame in the center though.

As for a translator, I am basically looking for someone who can translate very litterally, and can understand jokes. A major portion of it though is the Sound Effects, which need translation as well. If anyone can be translator, please feel free to either PM me or post here. I mainly need a translator because so far I've ripped off the translations of NULL and do not want to color over 400 chapters of Manga using another's translations. I also need SFX translated, which alot of it is missed.

For those who are interested in reading it colored, keep in mind it's going to be "family friendly" which means compared to KF or the current scan groups, the language might be toned down a bit. I will NOT be removing anything related to the appearance, the only possible difference will be text. This means you might be able to safely get younger people into One Piece without their parent's protests. But like I said I am going to be using literal translations, so the Japanese's worst ACTUAL insults are really talking to someone of a certain rank an improper way, compared to the US which has "foul words" basically, so this version will actually be closer to the Japanese version, aside from it being colored.

And a piece colored by Oda will occasionally pop up, he has done some pages, so I wil be using them where I can find them, but it's only a couple pages around Arlong Park.

I hope this project goes well, and I will gladly take whatever help I can.

If anyone is willing to host my(hopefully "Our" soon) Colored One Piece Manga on their One Piece site, I could definatly use it.

Support would be very nice, and I'd really like to see people being able to enjoy One Piece in color, and if we ever catch up to the current chapter, quality, fast.

Rokushiki

wow,i think if u really are going to colour the whole manga series,it would talk you pretty much years.
Assuming 1 page = 5hours,1 chapter = 95-100hours
436 chapters = 43600hours = 4.97years

it would be awesome though.the problem is,the file size is going to be big if its coloured right?

Wow, looks pretty cool, good job! But yeah, it's gonna take some time doing it, but good luck, you seem to be on top of your game :)

Zulen

The only problem is it being a bit too small.

Bizard

Wooow..color manga! That sound good.

GearSecond

Thanks. You know, I am grateful I got any supportive awnsers. My first try at a page on 435 was good….until I did a page of Chapter 1 using a recommended technique. I've improved. To be honest Chapter 1 is HUGE at double the size(in pages) and is very high quality. If you look at my example, Lucky Roux(THe fat guy on the far left) looks round, not just 2d round. YOu'll notice after a few chapters those high-quality realistic images turned into simple, less shaded 2D more and more. THat means less coloring time if you use the right techniques.

That's also why I need a few more artists to help. So if we each take 5 hours, we get triple the product. Coincedentally, this page I posted took the longest so far, and the next page after it was a cinch, and Shanks' hair turned out great.

As for file size, the file's size is mostly dependant on the actual width and height of the image, altough the more color the more space used.

Thanks for the great comments, I think I can do it with a small team, and who knows, if there's 5 coloring and one translating, we can have 5 chapters done in a few days, all translated and ready.

If anyone wants to try replicating my work above to get a spot, and think they can continue it for another 500 chapters at least, I think we could finish in about a year, and then we'll be only 50 chapters behind or so, which can be done in a few weeks.

Yoska

That very page was originally in colours though. Oda stopped doing those a long time ago (and I prefer it that way - last one was during Drum arc, I think) but it might save you from some work if you could find somebody to scan those few in-chapter pages which were already coloured.

GearSecond

Yeah but rather than try to find an expert scanner with those images, I'd rather just have a translator and color-ers.

Positions still open.

Pesola

not a bad idea at all… but its gonna take sooooooooooooooooo long if you want to catch up with the manga at its current number... and there are gonna be soooo many more chapters in 5 years... its gonna be hard work if you are gonna :P

Buuhan1

I actually planned on doing this myself. But weekly scans usually don't look as good as volume scans…

Rai

It's a nice idea, I'd like to read a colored manga if it won't burn my eyes from lack of colors.

My ideas for improving:
Assuming you're putting your original work here, let me tell you it's way too small. Make it bigger, pretty much like the original ones [in subbed/raw versions of "professional" computer groups].
Also, I can see you're coloring every spot in the main color of it. That's wrong. There's a huge lack of colors. If you take a HQ scan, and put some effort, you can go over all black lines [delete effects for that stage], and make your own friendly-coloring version. If you want someone on the group to do that for you, then I can say to you that pretty much everyone can do as much as coloring with that kind of version.
Just color it using the filling tool, since it's clean. After that shadings with the brush tool, lighting it, and it's done.

And let anyone else fill the baloons.

Oh, btw, that's a colored version Oda already colored himself that you're coloring now. Skip to the normal pages.

LightReaper

If you would, could someone provide me a link to HQ scans? I want to take a stab at chapter 2.

Ironic31

Ok, I'm sorry if this sounds a little bit harsh, but you have some things to learn still before you should start a group. I would suggest checking out Naruto's main manga coloring group - Zarosaki (http://www.zarosaki.com/) and Bleach's main manga coloring group - Isane (http://www.isane.net/index.html)). Zarosaki also has tutorials, I believe, which are probably a good thing to try and learn from.
Also, it seems you're underestimating the amount of time it'll take you to create these colored chapters. Even with 3-5 people coloring, it usually takes a while to release a chapter (assuming every member colors a different chapter in order to keep things constant). Try keeping up with those groups, and see about how much time it takes them to release a chapter. It's not because they're lazy, it's mostly because they have lives (which I assume you do too ;)), and because it takes a while to color pages well.
I would also suggest that you try getting a bigger page to color (I know HQ scanlations are available for the first few volumes).

So, I think you should try learning a little more. I'm not that much of an expert (I suck at coloring :P), but I do keep up with those manga coloring groups, and as far as I can gather there are even different styles to coloring pages.

Nevertheless, good luck with your project, however way you decide to go about it. :)

GearSecond

Like I said Chapter 1 is basically like my OVA in that the techniques arn't finalized and I am basically doing this all on my own.

Anyone out there who has some spare time, I doubt we'll catch up any time soon, but if you want to help add color to this series, I have even more positions to fill.

Open Positions:

Main Translator - Basically you will do all the translations. I am looking for literal translations, and being able to pick out many of the jokes that don't make sense to US readers.

Backup Translator - not necessary but basically work with the main translator to double check everything and point out possible mess-ups, and basically be an understudy, just in case the Senior Translator takes a break/leaves.

Scanner - We need high-quality scans. You'll need the Manga Volumes, a good scanner, and possibly photoshop to resize it to a good size.

Cleaner - if you can scan AND clean, that'd be nice. Pretty much, as little to no quality loss at all, black lines are black not dark grey, white areas are white, not a light paper-grey.

Coloring Staff - Pretty much, it's just you and 16 pages of chaptery goodness. Looking over Ironic's suggestion, and checking out Naruto's Manga Coloring site, I have checked their tutorials and decided we would be using, for the most part, the Cell Shading technique. I have a link below, if you want to practice this technique, go ahead and take a stab at it.

http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~pazuzu/Zarosaki/tutorial/basictutorial.htm

I REALLY want to do this, and definatly would be able to handle this. I need staff though, I can't do it alone. I do not have manga volumes, and can't import them from Japan, I am not a very good scanner, can not clean the volumes once scanned, and pretty much can only color(and even then I am practicing my technique). So far I've gotten a couple people admitting to be too lazy to do it, even if they could.

I am making a Pallette right now which so far has basic Luffy and Shanks colors. this way everything can be uniform and consistant.

Greg

Good luck with that. Seriously. If you manage to color a comic like OP, more power to you.

Masta D.

I think you are being a little too optimistic about doing the entire manga. This is your dream, so I'm just going to ask: "Are you discarding the idea of doing a single story-arc and seeing how it turns out?"

Anyway, believe it or not, I am interested. Please do not look at my sig and laugh; I can be pretty good at art. My skills are just a little rusty, and I don't know if I have photoshop/know how to get it. If you can tell me how to get photoshop, I am perfectly willing to help as a colorist. I also get A's in English, So I may be able to help with grammatical errors.

But other than that, I think you are doing an excellent job. But I do have a complaint about the green-haired pirate in the middle panel. His belt looks…odd. Maybe you should outline it more or use black to detail it. And Shanks, I know this is just nitpicking (sorry), but I can't see his beard anywhere. Again, you are doing a good job. I believe you'll do great with a good team (hint hint).

GearSecond

Shanks looks weird in that pic. It's jsut his position.

If you want to try I can get you photoshop no problem. Just PM me and I'll set everything up for you.

As for the green haired pirate that looks like Zoro, I used Texturizer because it looks messed up without a texture. It came out a bit too realistic for style used in Chapter 1.

I will probably go up to the end of the Buggy arc with a team and see how we're doing. But still need a team.

Once again if anyone wants to try I can hook you up with photoshop, I have a couple connections.

oceanizer

because so far I've ripped off the translations of NULL
Please ask the group and/or translator before you actually use it.

Malintex_Terek

@oceanizer:

Please ask the group and/or translator before you actually use it.

Those coloured pages look to be from the NULL VIZ scans, though.

…

~DON! Thanks for the inspiration there, ocean. :D

o_O

GearSecond

So far I haven't been able to find them.

Wikipedia links to a dud site.

Malintex_Terek

Their website doesn't exist.

Rai

Did you read my post that says those are colored pages you're doing? You should skip them and go along the chapter. They're not ones to use the tutorial you gave.

Oh, and there are raw HQ volumes in http://www.gotlurk.net/index.php?action= [sorry if it's not permitted, please delete it if so], in the botlist page. You need Irc though.

GearSecond

Like I said it's sorta practice for me, like an OVA of sorts.

And still, wouldn't it be better to get my own scans?

Which reminds me, I still have no offers. Come on, I can't make it happen all alone.

EDIT: OK, well I've given them credit. If anyone has a contact email for them I will happily ask them temporary use of scans for chapters 1 and 2 as well as their translations, until I can get my own.

Also, thanks very much to the link to that Naruto colored manga site. I checked out the cel shading tutorial and followed along with it.

I am very happy with my results. Expect something like this(what I did) to be what future chapters will look like.

And like I said, think OVA for chapter 1. I feel bad making "escuses" of sorts, not much else to do.

I will likely be releasing what I have so far(about 5 pages of chapter one) and moving on to chapter two once I get a team. Until then I'll be practicing on Chapter 1 and when I get a scanner cleaner and extra coloring team members I will start chapter two and release what is done of chapter 1.

I still have, well, all positions filled. I have room for a couple cel-shading artists and for those special 3d-style moments Oda likes to draw, one soft shader. I know there are a few people out there that can understand Japanese. I will accept anyone willing to do their best and have all their work 100% high quality(less daunting but harder than it sounds) and be willing to use any of their free time for this.

I do not expect anyone doing this to give up their lives, and I won't let you sell your soul to me(Just in case you want to play World of Warcraft) all I ask is you get something done when you get a spare moment.

Actually it's pretty stress-releiving.

Also if anyone wants to take a stab at it, ask me and I can get you photoshop. If you think you can do it, give it a shot, nothing to lose.

Other than what I've said I've got no idea to recruit a crew.[sarcasm] Any "starting a scanlation group" tutorials out there? [/sarcasm]

That's about it.

Rai

Hmm.. Chapter 1 an OVA?
I'd suggest you to make something else your OVA, since OP is your actual project. But who am I to decide?

About the pic you colored with the tutorial, other than the fact that the shadings aren't sharp and that some of them are not placed well, it's excellent. I'd love to read OP with it.

Oh, and I might as well try to color things and join too. I have enough time I guess. Can't promise anything though.

Rat

Just a suggestion: translating literally isn't always the best way. Some(or a lot of) Japanese jokes can't be done that way, what with the puns and the rampant onomatopoeia. Adaptation is a part of translation, and not a sin like I've seen so many others take it as("they're not using honorifics/the word 'baka'/yourmom!!! omgwtfbbqLAME!!!").

Also, striving to make your translation as literal as possible makes it flat and boring to read. Don't be afraid to spice it up some, and adapt it within reason so people not only understand it, but enjoy it, too. A manga isn't just pictures with words, but a story, and in manga, everyone usually talks with distinctive differences in their emphasis and expressions. Don't be afraid to adapt to show that in the English version, too.

PS: Also recruit a spellchecker for use after the translation is done. At the very, very least, a mechanical one. Visual quality is great and all, but the rampant misspellings that plague many scanslations will just kill it no matter how great the colors are.

oceanizer

Those coloured pages look to be from the NULL VIZ scans, though.

Huh?

(People around me agreed with me that my English has become much worse after not speaking it for a week and a half… :x)

Rai

It's alot easier than I thought, it might not even take too long.

I wanted a weird version of shadowing to try, to burn time =X

Buuhan1

This just in, I have started my own coloring project of the chapters. This is gonna take SERIOUS time.

I knew it was gonna be hard and time consuming but DAMN. This is gonna be alot of work for just myself, but maybe I'll finally get some respect if I pull it off. XD

GearSecond

Buuhan, you want to work together? It'll help both of us, this way we won't be directly competing and reduces the work load.

So much to try and explain. Great ideas though.

It's OVA like, sorta like a test run to show people the work so far, but not finalized.

The Naruto tihng I tried from the site's tutorials I threw together as a quick example. For a real project I'd make sure the shadows were properly done. I was considering recruiting someone who's job is to shadow everything, and handle all shading and highlight. That'd help.

I'm trying to set up a process. Scans, raws sent to translator, cleaner cleans them, send the chapter to one of the coloring people, they beging coloring, send it to shader, shader sends to text editor, which might end up being me, who has the translations. Add translations, done.

Once again, besides possibly Buuhan, I really have absolutely no crew members. Lots of work to be done, and I need a scanner and cleaner pretty much NOW, and a trnaslator ASAP, the coloring crew and spell checker can wait until last.

One of the main reasons I want my own translations, is because I noticed many names are badly translated, stuff like garreyra instead of Galley-La, many spelling and grammar issues. I want to be as literal as possible, but without totally ruining the meaning either. So Sugioi will be "Awesome!" and soemtimes "Cool!" but anything that could be adapted to be better understood will be adapted.

CosmicDebris

Rai's is looking good. Still could use more contrast.

If you're going to work together on coloring…in fact, even if you're not, I suggest that you come up with a permenant pallette for coloring the characters for consistency, otherwise you're going to have a bunch of pages of different colored characters.

cp9shanks

I think you should do it but maybe for the first issue poll people to see which one they want colored, and they can judge if they want all of them colored based off of their impressions on that.

GearSecond

I am starting with chapter 2, I am foing Page 1 right now.

I found larger raws, and downloaded those for chapter 2. I'll do this one and set it up online.

I'd still like to make my own raws, but until I get a person to scan and clean I'm stuck.

I am working on a main Pallette, but so far it only has Shanks and Young Luffy.

Masta D.

Well, since you said you need a spell-checker and colorist last (my field of expertise), I guess I'll go and brush up on my skill. And Cosmic made an excellent point: We need to keep track of which pallets we use if we're going to put our heads together.

Did you get my memo in the p.m GearSecond…???

GearSecond

Just responded.

I have a pallette in photoshop so far tha thas Chopper(fur antlers pants antler highlights) and all the crew member's skin colors, as well as the Straw Hat(straw and ribbon) and Shanks(who has only 2 colors we need to color) hair and skin.

I'm getting to the other ones, most of the crew came out of the Color Walk 2 cover. I've already starting preparing for the future so that we ARE organized when we are a full team.

Once you get Photoshop I'll send you the pallette. I'm going to see if maybe we can get forums set up so we can discuss(in private) whatever we need to.

Also I lack a server and will not be getitng one for awhile now(saving up for a nice, big personal one) and after that may get a web server(I know a guy who is setting up a page explaining how to do it all) and can host tihngs there, including forums.

So just an update: Desperatly need translator. I need someone to at the very least traqnslate the sound effects.

Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention. THis'll probably get some people yelling in my face, but to help translate and improve the overall quality(it does help) I'm photoshopping out Kanji and replacing it with an English translation. I find it looks better than a little tiny hard to read squiggle between panels that say *SFX:HAHAHHHAHHA! on it. I'll leave anything already in English in, as well as exclamation marks. Before everyone freaks out and says that makes the whole thing pointless and it's "not a manga colored it's a colored manga dub" or soemthing else that is way out of proportion, it does make it look really good, and removes those nasty notes on the sides. It also means you get rid of ugly looking things between panels.

And finally: Please, if anyone has a scanner, and can order the Japanese Volumes, please please please please scan and clean them for us. You don't even have to join the group.

And this might sound crazy, but if anyone has a 2nd copy they don't mind sacraficing, perhaps the binding can be removed, so 100% of the page is flat against the scanner and perfectly alligned? at the least REALLY stretch the book(which will half-ruin it) so the pages still come out 99.9% flat and pretty much straight. So far the hardest part will be finding someone who has/can get the japanese volumes and a really really good scanner, and can clean.

That's about it, I'm coloring Chapter 2 Page 1 right now, So I'l lshow everyone what it looks like cel shaded, and after that I'l lset up a forum(no, I do not want you to set it up for me, I need to be the main admin)

That about covers it. I am getting tired of still asking for people. I don't want to spend more time posting than coloring.

And finally, finally finally, welcome to the team Masta D. and will you be Cel SHading or Soft Shading? Because I need a Cell Shader first.

And that FINALLY covers…..everything.

GearSecond

Ahem, we now have a forum.

I beg anyone who can, please please please make a forum theme, this one sucks and I threw it togethe rusing the site's hexadecimal code system, and to be honest it isn't giving that "colorful, artistic" feel I want, and my One Piece background(Merry Men in One Piece, Color Walk 3) isn't showing up.

http://kaigun.proboards84.com

there it is in all it's lack of glory. I highly encourage anyone who wants to join the team(I have a large amount of interest over at KF) or anyone who wants to discuss the work to head over there.

Rai

Err, I really hate that font for the forum. Why not use Arial?
Colors are weird too. White would be alot better.

Oh, and if you want a website design, I can do that for you. I'm good with those stuff.

GearSecond

I'd be grateful..

I got my background working, but photobucket, of course, resized it, so it's slightly too small and ends up repeating itself all across the forum.

I need desperate help, and I can't figure this part out.

Geesh I can start the group, recruit enough people to color, and I can't set up a forum.

Rai

Did you change the resize options? If it still resizes, just use imageshack.com

And if you'll tell me the details I can start working on the website design as soon as my exam season ends [a week at most].

Buuhan1

I would like to work together but we can't. For two reasons.

Our coloring styles and methods are far too different.
I'm coloring the latest chapters while you're coloring past ones.

But yeah, I don't even have a single page done (my coloring method is detailed) so this will take me ages indeed…

GearSecond

Using Soft Shading? or Soft Cell Shading?

Yeah we got that position fileld anyways(jsut assuming thats it, I dunno) but anyways, fine with me. Teams coming together, good luck with yours,

Silk from KF has been nice enough to take my background and make a nice forum layout for me, I'll hand over my admin account temporarily so he can set everything up. Imageshack didn't work for some reason.

That's about it but…..HOLY....BUUHAN YOUR SIGNATURE'S EYES ARE FOLLOWING ME WHEREVER I MOVE!!!! AHHHH!

ramza85

Mmmmmh…
If you are going to do it... I will support you.
If you can't do it... I will console you.
If you did it... I will worship you.

Well its hard, like swimming across the Pacific that kind of hard.
Well unless you ate the COLOR COLOR FRUIT!!!!
Ok, I'm kidding.

GearSecond

Color COlor fruit, I can touch anything color it what I was, and make paint, if it's done instantly to how I want it, texturing and everything, and jsut exactly how I imagine it, I'd eat that fruit.

But there are a ton of more itneresting ones I'd pick from.

Well here's the update: I've got a small crew, but I stil lneed a translator as well as a scanner and a cleaner, however right now the scanner/cleaner is optional but it would be nice to have our own high quality scans.

Also, there is a position open for Shader, if you are good at using photoshop to shade stuff, we could, I said could, use a shader, it'd save time to have someone else add the texture to everything, as far as cell shading goes.

So far Chapter Two is well underway, or rather, page 1 is complete, but the text is not. We kinda, need a translator.

taboo

Hey, I found this: http://mangahelpers.com/mkportal/modules/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=23

I thought it was pretty cool. Maybe you could get a few ideas from them?

GearSecond

Actually that's pretty much what it looks like.

But If I can just get the dang shading to be a bit more precise it'd be a bit higher quality coloring than that.

You'll see how good it is when Chapter 2 is released.

Dr. Casey

That color page in the first post is great. If it was all of that quality, I'd have no complaints.

GearSecond

Good because our shading is better :)

THats how it's looking so far as far as Cell Shading goes.

Silk was nice and, wanting to try something new, decided to become our Soft Shader on the conditions that it's a page every month or so, slowly. He learns a new way to color stuff, we get our Soft Shading done where we use it, everyone is happy.

THe only 2 things that can make someone made now are:

1: I'm editing out MOST Kanji, not in the graphics or anything, but like those sound effects? I'll edit as much as possible out, and replace it with an english translation. I'm sure some people who must have it absolutely the same, but in color, will ultimatly get made for this, but I can't please everyone, and it saves using the outside-of-panels notes like *SFX:Clap Clap Clap HOOORAY!

2: Cell Shading and Soft Shading will mix on pages where softshading is used. Think of those 3d, super highly detailed moments, like most of Chapter 1 for example. Soft Shaded. Now think of Weekly Jump. Not much time to do high-quality 3D style drawing on 16 pages in the course of a week. Oda and his staff can't wuite handle that. So we get these really 2D images. But they can look really nice if you simply shade, remove the shade lines used to imply shadow or darkness, and there you go, a really nice colored image.

Page 1: Done. Boat took forever.
Page 2: Underway. I got Luffy colored, I am shading him now, his skins done, vest and has need shading, hat needs ribbon colored. then BG.
Page 3: not begun yet, or any later on

Just wait, it'll come out really nice, and pretty good shaded, but keep expectations a little lower than super mega ultra High Quality for the first few releases, as they will be a test run for how people feel, as well as developing skills.

Once again we need translators, and let me tell you we need one now. I know there's lots of AP members that can translate, if one with spare time would like to translate, we need you, I know little Japanese, and can't so any myself, especially written,

@Rokushiki:

wow,i think if u really are going to colour the whole manga series,it would talk you pretty much years.
Assuming 1 page = 5hours,1 chapter = 95-100hours
436 chapters = 43600hours = 4.97years

it would be awesome though.the problem is,the file size is going to be big if its coloured right?

Also take into account that it will be 200+ chapters under those 5 years too!

Masta D.

Lol…who was I kidding?!? I'm real sorry GearSecond, but I simply do no have the time for this project. I am in my junior year at a college prep school, and my parents won't let my nuts breath because of my Spanish and Calculas grades. They aren't too fond of staring at a glowing screen for hours and not being productive either.

I am interested, but now isn't the time. I also have other things to do (Like Karate and extra-curricular courses), so I wouldn't put up the hope of expecting me a few months later either. Again, sorry. BUT…you are on a role. I'll be here on the weekends sometimes, and during the summer, I may be able to help.

Otherwise, have a good time Coloring! It's sad I couldn't be here from the start.

GearSecond

ahh Spanish is simple. Taco burrito le learn-o, see-ey easy-o

ok so I know nothing.

Well it's fine. We could always use an extra cell shader, so over the summer is fine. We have work to do so the group may not pick up and get on a schedule until then.