Hi all - I've been trying to find a way to add speech balloons and text effects to rendered images (I'm not trying to create a comic - but just add comic style text to full renders). Does anyone know of good software/tutorials to use for this?

I've tried out a couple of comic creation apps, but typically there are limited 'page sizes' which don't always accomodate the original render, also exporting the comic files back to image format messes up the render (the image becomes degraded, even when export resolution is the same as the original image that was imported into the app).

Any pointers would be really helpful! :)

I use some custom shapes in Photoshop elements. You can find free ones for most paint programs. There was a set of poser props that you could apply a texture and include in the original render.  I havent seen those recently though.  You could always texture the prop square , image and transparency map .

You should not get any image degradation by using a paint program unless you compress the image as a jpg file. Export from Poser as a png file, then load that to the paint program , and save without changing the image size.

Thanks very much - I use paint shop pro for (basic) postwork at the moment, - so I'll see if I can find some custom shapes for that. Thanks again! :)

Try in the freebies.  I am sure some are there.

Thanks - I'll go have a look :)

There are plenty tutorials on youtube, here's one:

www.youtube.com/watch

It's for Photoshop but perhaps you could achieve the same with PSP, or there could be tutorials for it too.

Attached Link: http://ockhamsbungalow.com/Python/

ISTR ock had a script for that. lemme check ....... yeah, "Talk Bubbles" (see att lnk).

Thanks so much for the pointers! :)

Maz has some free ones in the free stuff

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/index.php?user_id=124

Attached Link: http://www.plasq.com

 I use (and I have samples in my gallary) comiclife. when you are making hundreds of comic panels the last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around making your own balloons.  It is so quick and easy with the magiq version for me to alter the balloons and put in panels etc. Lovve esther

Quote -  I use (and I have samples in my gallary) comiclife.
when you are making hundreds of comic panels the last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around making your own balloons.  It is so quick and easy with the magiq version for me to alter the balloons and put in panels etc.
Lovve esther

Agreed completely!!

Many thanks for the suggestions and links!

Could I ask either of you who use comiclife if you have any tips for avoiding degredation of the original image when the pages are exported to image files? I've actually tried the demo version of comiclife, but the images are always very noticeably degraded when I export pages. If there's a way to preserve the original quality, I'd really appreciate hearing about it.

many thanks again :)

> Quote - Many thanks for the suggestions and links! > > Could I ask either of you who use comiclife if you have any tips for avoiding degredation of the original image when the pages are exported to image files? I've actually tried the demo version of comiclife, but the images are always very noticeably degraded when I export pages. If there's a way to preserve the original quality, I'd really appreciate hearing about it. > > many thanks again :)

Hi You have the option of exporting as Jpegs or tiff with resolution up to 600 may sure your ORIGINAL renders are rendered at a decent size& high resolution.
the Digital comic in my sig link was layed out with comiclife.

Cheers

 I stoped using ComicLife due to the same drawbacks, image degradation, even using higher dpi degrades the image considerably when exporting. Other than that its great.

Quote -  I stoped using ComicLife due to the same drawbacks, image degradation, even using higher dpi degrades the image considerably when exporting. Other than that its great.

Hmm
I had no such Issues here
its a great time saver for Comic layout.

I also have had good results with comiclife.

Regarding degradation, play with the output settings - you want output synchronized to the desired final image size.

My only gripe is that plasq should get there collective butts moving and incorporate variable transparency for the text bubbles.

Klebnor

I've seen 2 different comic speech bubbles out there, used one, but found it 'off-white', and had to do some serious scaling. I finally did my own in Corel Draw (I know...wierdo...;), but anything that can do layers can do bubbles....

I saw an ad once for 'professional' style balloons, etc., but it was at 'raunchy m*nds', so can't help you there. It wasn't free, either.