I am looking for models like this if they exist or maybe some whizkid could whip it up? I don't have the skills myself...

I'm a little confused ... all of the figures in Poser are essentially what you are asking for. The wooden mannican is basically this. Pose it and it is already in perspective ... brining it into a drawing program or Photoshop, layer on top and you can trace your drawings to look just like this or take it to the next step. You see where I am confused as to the purpose? This is by no means a disrespect for your request, just questioning it's necessity and purpose. Help me understand.

Basically I wanted a model like the image I posted but one in which the you could modify all the parameters like you would a more detailed model. But I would want the "box model" we can call it - to be like a transparent wire frame.

It's similar to the artists mannequin but more precise IMO. Ideally I would want to be able to put put markings on the "box model" like this as well...

But keep in mind I am new to Poser so maybe there is some way to do this already or do something close enough but I just haven't found it yet. I just bought Poser last night.

Also, I found this old blog post where someone says you can make the models low res into blocks. Maybe I could do it this way but I haven't figured out how you get this low res look yet though..

Search for key word blocks -

http://macguild.org/reviews/review402.html

The issue to me is that the models in Poser don't match the images I want to create well. So doing something like this would be easier than trying to use a model that doesn't fit what I am doing. The artist mannequin is the right idea but if I could use something like the above images I think it would be a lot better. Especially if you could put markings on it. And this would prevent you from having to draw these shapes over and over again.

On the lower left-hand corner of the Preview window there are several icons which represent different tracking methods. If you select fast tracking, you will get the block figure representation. This is a feature introduced a long time ago to make posing easier on older, slower machines; it is now a lost feature in current, more robust computers.

Thanks hborre! Is there a way you can make it so just the figure is low res and the background is normal? Also, is there a way to make it wireframes or see through?

Ideally I wish you could make the box type figure but with more customization. I think it would be better than detailed models for artists who draw their stuff because of what I said about the detailed models not fitting.. plus the detailed models are difficult to configure.

I just found the wireframe feature - right clicked.

this was the original reason Poser was created: for use as a figure drawing aid.

ghostship2 posted at 6:18PM Wed, 20 July 2016 - #4276503

this was the original reason Poser was created: for use as a figure drawing aid.

I just wonder why no one has done it like this... it's a very common way that comic artists work. Maybe I am just weird though and other artists are fine with the way the models are designed in poser now.

Tron1138 posted at 9:25PM Wed, 20 July 2016 - #4276531

ghostship2 posted at 6:18PM Wed, 20 July 2016 - #4276503

this was the original reason Poser was created: for use as a figure drawing aid.

I just wonder why no one has done it like this... it's a very common way that comic artists work. Maybe I am just weird though and other artists are fine with the way the models are designed in poser now.

I think it's been done a few times over the years - add on items have been available in the stores on occasions but most of the stores now remove older items so they become unavailable.

You can find mannequins in the 'addition figures' folder in the poser library. You could make your own drawing guidelines for any Poser figure, just draw lines on the textures.

Smith Micro also has CLIP STUDIO PAINT EX (Manga Studio) - if you take a look at the 3D feature video for Clip Studio at about the 1.30 minute mark you will see some 3d figures with guide lines drawn onto the mesh - just an idea for making them in poser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xELHDkLDy8k

this is the artist box figure Andy from the Poser - addition figures - mannequins folder

Thanks adzan. I had played with that figure a bit. Maybe I can customize it to do what I need but to me it still feels like it's using the wrong model for the characters I will be doing. To me a figure made out of wireframe shapes that I could customize or pick to match my character better would be ideal.. because then it doesn't get in the way of the drawing I am trying to visualize. But maybe I am making a bigger deal out of this than necessary and it won't be an issue when I start drawing my comic?

Also, didn't see your previous post - I have Manga Studio and had the same issue with their models. I tried to match them up with the designs I wanted to do and felt they got in the way. Maybe I just need to get used to working in this way though. I am a beginner.

To me I just wondered why people hadn't don it how I imagined. Drawing on the textures is a good idea. I will try that out.

I feel like a skeleton might be the best alternative for me I still need to try those out too.

I'm really liking the skeletons! These might be the solution to all my issues!

One problem though.. I was messing around with the preconfigured poses and one of the skeletons feet came off. I don't know what caused this...

There are several guides in the menu Display>Guides that are similar to drawing guides of the past for perspective layout.

My point that I expressed very poorly is that much of this is no longer necessary with the complete characters already made that can be "traced" in Photoshop and customized as well as the cartoon render feature that the newer versions of Poser have that bypasses even more steps towards comic imagery.

"Althea: The Crone" a comic I am in the process of creating.

Boni, thanks for the information! The problem I am having is that I am very picky about things. I have been a comic book fan for a long time so I have a certain vision of how I want to do things and I have not been able to find models that fit my vision. I have seen a lot of DAZ3D models that look really cool but from what I have seen their models are expensive and even they don't quite fit what I am going for.

I have tried to mess with modifying the characters but that didn't really work for me either. If I had lots of time or help I could do it like your model above.. that's amazing. But my story is very long and I think for me drawing it will be quicker than trying to do it all in a modeling program.

But this is all guesswork. I'll see how things play out as I progress.

The wooden mannequin is cool but I feel like it isn't detailed enough.. then the normal figures are very detailed but don't fit the designs I want to do. This is why I wish there was a middle ground like the drawing guides I posted above. Something where you could customize the shapes more and easily put in markings for each model design.

But I am messing with the skeletons and I think they are very cool... that might be the trick for me. I like the outline feature with the skeletons does anyone know if you can change the color of the outlines= or the wire frames in general?

Oh, one other thing... do you know how I might be able to make or get some models like this -

I do like the style of these models a lot and I could fit them into what I am trying to do but I haven't been able to find anything like this in Poser or free somewhere else.

Aiko and Hiro from DAZ can be made to look somewhat like the pics you posted. Toon shading can be done in Poser, or in a graphics app such as Photoshop, with the appropriate plugins and filters. Some of the Japanese Poser sites have free figures and/or texture and character sets to make existing Poser figures look more like Manga stye characters.

Making a posable figure out of wire boxes is easy enough; I may give it a shot at some point. Just don't hold your breath.

SamTherapy, thanks for all the great info. I will check it out. That would be amazing if you could make the box guides model yourself. I don't know.. maybe I am nuts but I think comic artists would love it. I would think they would pay for something like that. So many people are getting into comics because of Manga Studio and other similar art programs. And the Manga Studio models don't match the superhero comics people are into.

The only photoshop work was the background. The figures were totally done in Poser using Aiko and Hiro from DAZ.

Boni, that's a lovely example. Bat's FG for Aiko, I'm guessing?

Tron, the figures are so simple to make it'd be criminal to charge for them.

Right on Sam ... you got it. I have a small batch of clothing for Aiko and Hiro just in case I need them. Manga is fascinating, but not my style of preference.

SamTherapy posted at 6:35PM Thu, 21 July 2016 - #4276742

Boni, that's a lovely example. Bat's FG for Aiko, I'm guessing?

Tron, the figures are so simple to make it'd be criminal to charge for them.

Can you design it so they can be modified like the Poser figures to fit people's characters perfectly? Then I think they would pay.

Boni, the only problem with the Daz characters is that I am tapped out cash wise for awhile. This is my issue now.

Since these are older characters, they go on sale periodically for very low prices. Keep an eye out ... sometimes they are even free. Particularly the earlier ones.

Thanks Boni! I will keep an eye out!

Now, that would be tricky. You could play about with the scale dials which you'd find in each body part but making them fit to other figures is then getting into the intricate business of conforming, and I'm a die hard non conformist if ever there was one. :)

What I'm proposing is a couple of canon figures, namely an 8 module size for an "ideal" figure and a 9 module version for "heroic" figures. They'll be scaled to the general Poser universe but since nobody as yet has managed to agree on a standard size for the Poser humans it would be the devil's own job getting them to correspond exactly to a variety of figures.

In truth, I have a few projects I'm juggling for eventual sale, all based on stuff that really interests me. This doesn't interest me enough to invest a lot of time in it. I reckon I understand the market well enough to know what and how to sell my products and I honestly don't think these would sell enough to make a full scale investment of time and effort. I'll make a decent job of it but they will be basic figures, for free. When I get them done. Whenever that is. :D I still haven't finished several Freestuff projects I started ages ago: A "Rig your own Dalek" tutorial, several more of Mechmaster's Second Empire Dalek models, some more Batman gadgets and one or two updates/additions to my own Dalek models.

Sounds cool SamTherapy. I saw there was a thread here where you can request features for Poser. Do they actually take requests there? Maybe they would start developing something like this to a high level? They always need new features to sell.

Tron1138 posted at 9:14PM Thu, 21 July 2016 - #4276587

Boni, thanks for the information! The problem I am having is that I am very picky about things. I have been a comic book fan for a long time so I have a certain vision of how I want to do things and I have not been able to find models that fit my vision. I have seen a lot of DAZ3D models that look really cool but from what I have seen their models are expensive and even they don't quite fit what I am going for.

I have tried to mess with modifying the characters but that didn't really work for me either. If I had lots of time or help I could do it like your model above.. that's amazing. But my story is very long and I think for me drawing it will be quicker than trying to do it all in a modeling program.

But this is all guesswork. I'll see how things play out as I progress.

The wooden mannequin is cool but I feel like it isn't detailed enough.. then the normal figures are very detailed but don't fit the designs I want to do. This is why I wish there was a middle ground like the drawing guides I posted above. Something where you could customize the shapes more and easily put in markings for each model design.

But I am messing with the skeletons and I think they are very cool... that might be the trick for me. I like the outline feature with the skeletons does anyone know if you can change the color of the outlines= or the wire frames in general?

Oh, one other thing... do you know how I might be able to make or get some models like this -

I do like the style of these models a lot and I could fit them into what I am trying to do but I haven't been able to find anything like this in Poser or free somewhere else.

I may be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure those characters are from Rooster Teeth's RWBY, which is made in Poser. I think they use Aiko and Hiro 3 or 4, customized a bit of course.

Tron1138. Do you want to draw a comic book ? Render a comic book ? or render animation ?

If you would explain exactly what you want to do .We could tell you if it's possible n how it's possible :)

Rooster Teeth has https://www.youtube.com/user/RoosterTeeth at youtube you could ask them how they do it all.

I don't know but I'm guessing they have a 3D crew n Poser is in there pipeline but they use multiple CGI app's.

there's a lot of 2D styles of Art. there's a lot of 3D styles of Art ,that depends on shaders n render engines.

DAZ gives dazstudio away for free cause your going to spend $1000's for dazstudio to be of any use.cause who want to render air ...

Thanks Rorrkonn. Ideally I would like to do as much as I can digitally but I am tapped out for now cash wise so whatever I do now needs to be free models.

Maybe if I could get some free models like the Hiro and Aiko I could use those... but to do what I want they would probably need to be tweaked like the Roosterteeth stuff. And that is probably beyond my capability.

So what I will probably do is to use the skeletons and then draw my figures in a style similar to the Roosterteeth stuff. A bit more American animation vibe though.

Do you know if it is possible to use a skeleton that has a conventional anatomy model attached to it and then you can a switch between views of them rather than having to recreate the scene with different models every time?

what version of Poser do you have ? anyways look in Poser n there's characters in there that you can pose n switch between views .

your never get exactly want you want but if you have $$$ you would have more of a selection.

I'd start collecting free stuff your need props n all. Don't forget certain cloths go to certain characters. V4 probably has the most free cloths. Do keep in mind how you file it all.

I'd get on every ones mailing list Renderositys, DAZ, HiveWire3D ,etc etc

Well this is a start we'll give it some more thought n others will have advice also.

Thanks for the help RorrKonn. I just bought Poser 11 a couple days ago. I am wondering if there might be some good models out there I'm not aware of. I saw there was the Genesis female character you can use in Poser but I am still trying to figure out how you install that. Looks like a big job.

Regardless which model(s) you finally decide to use, you will still need to spend $$$ to purchase morph packs for body enhancements. The base starter kits are rather limited in body shaping and morphing. But I would keep an eye out at the DAZ3D freebies; they have been rotating regular bundles recently and one of their Superhero bundles did contain a V4 morph package, well-worth it if you can pick it up.

hborre posted at 8:40AM Fri, 22 July 2016 - #4276879

Regardless which model(s) you finally decide to use, you will still need to spend $$$ to purchase morph packs for body enhancements. The base starter kits are rather limited in body shaping and morphing. But I would keep an eye out at the DAZ3D freebies; they have been rotating regular bundles recently and one of their Superhero bundles did contain a V4 morph package, well-worth it if you can pick it up.

Thanks again.

There are conforming skeletons in Poser for some of the included figures. You can conform the skeleton to the figure, then make the figure transparent or invisible to see the skeleton underneath. Making the figure semi transparent will give you both at once. DAZ also sells (sold? I'm not up to speed with their current figure roster) some conforming skeletons for their Mike and Victoria figures.

SamTherapy posted at 10:19AM Fri, 22 July 2016 - #4276897

There are conforming skeletons in Poser for some of the included figures. You can conform the skeleton to the figure, then make the figure transparent or invisible to see the skeleton underneath. Making the figure semi transparent will give you both at once. DAZ also sells (sold? I'm not up to speed with their current figure roster) some conforming skeletons for their Mike and Victoria figures.

Awesome. Thanks!

I found the conforming skeleton and got the skeleton to show through the body but for some reason I follow the directions in a book excerpt I found explaining how to do it but the head won't work the same way.

{{https://books.google.com/books?id=XWYLAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA251&lpg=PA251&dq=conforming+skeletons+ryan+poser&source=bl&ots=CQqCoivi3i&sig=ythMaM7U4nBlPEp8Z-gZ4mm4O8k&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyiu_OsofOAhVR6WMKHXsiCgYQ6AEIOTAD#v=onepage&q=conforming%20skeletons%20ryan%20poser&f=false}}

Tron1138:

I am adding this based on your original, first post. I read through the thread, and as hborre mentioned, the old view-port visual box mode (which was for when you couldn't move/rotate the camera view, because your system couldn't handle the current load - older PC's - this allowed quick camera view movement), there is another Poser relic from the earliest versions that people tend to forget about which would give you that exact model done by yourself.

It is the "Replace Body Part" action under the drop-down menus (I think under Figure, or Edit - it is around where to conform clothing, and make morph target actions are). I used to do this all the time back in Poser 3, and 4, before I got heavily into custom model creations.

For your box model figure you would use the default Poser wooden manikin, and you would replace the body parts wanted (e.g., box for chest, and head, etc.). Technically, you would probably want to add some morph targets to the boxes via Poser magnets to make them more trapezoidal. You can create MT's within Poser, or outside 3D modeling software, but it depends on how much you are willing to do for your artistic endeavors.

From a fellow Comic/Graphic Novelist from hand-drawn beginnings, I have been working on this for nearly two decades, and first purchased Poser 3 just for the digital wooden dummy to draw from. However, trying to create everything needed for my novels, I got sidetracked along the way, and became a freelance 3D content creator. I am just now getting back on track with the novels, but I changed gears from trying to draw from digital material to completely creating digital material that matches exactly my hand-drawn work (which I am almost there where one wouldn't be able to tell if I created digitally, or hand drawn - close, but not yet perfected).

Good luck with your comic endeavor, and welcome to the wonderful world of Poserverse.

Some additional things to note that might help you along the way:

• Blender 3D software suite (free) - modeling, texturing, morph target creation (plus much more): Blender

• Wings3D (free) - 3D modeling software (modeling, morph target creation): Wings3D

• Metasequoia 3D modeler (free version) - modeling, texturing, morph target creation: Metasequoia

• XNALara (free) - 3D game meshes posing studio (Video game models - can be used with Poser/DAZ Studio - might find models you are looking for reminiscent of RWBY images in one of your posts with accessories [weapons, hair, environments, etc.]): XNALara

DaremoK3 posted at 8:32PM Sat, 23 July 2016 - #4277054

DaremoK3, thanks so much for the great info! Can't thank you enough. Your comments fit perfectly with things I was wondering about. I'd love to see your work and how you progressed.

Do you have any idea how long it takes to create digital comic pages? At this stage for me do you think it would be better to try to do my story using CG characters or to draw it. It may be difficult to determine that if you don't know how fast I draw though. I don't know myself though because I haven't tried to do a full comic before. I was thinking of trying to combine Bruce Timm's simplified style with a anime influence. I was hoping this would speed up my process. There will be a lot of characters in my comic and it seems to me modeling each of them to look different might be more time consuming than to draw them. But I don't know.

Tron1138 There's a lot of ways of making characters SubDed or Game ,Textures or Shaders ,maps or not .

To make a Genesis character you need mad mad skills in box modeling & texturing .mapping ,rigging these skills take a long time to master n free app's are not as fast as the high end app's.

To make a simple box modeled game character ,with out normal maps in a main app I know how to use would take me about a week to model ,map ,texture ,rig.n that's just one character theres multiple characters props n etc etc.would look ok but would look like sony2 game characters.

you half to know how to sculpt in apps like zBrush to make normal maps n that would add a another week to the character creation but would look like sony3 characters. n ya would need substance painter n a game render engine ,unreal or unity.

You can view my gallery ,every thing in it I made. I know 2D and 3D ,I've been a Artist for over half a Century & a CGI Artist for Decades.

If I was to make a 3D low polycount game comic with all my stuff. would take me 2 or 3 years to make all the meshes.

If I was to make a 3D SubDed comic with all my stuff.would take me 4 to 6 years to make all the meshes.

n if you want something new time to make it.

If I was to make a 3D comic with store boult stuff would take X amount of $$$ n you still half to file n sort ,pose ,render etc etc

So I thought if I ever make a 3D comic I'd just buy Renderosity out ;) and I run each render threw a 2D app .filtters n all can give you a original look.

Not suggesting this is how comics are made or should be made but

If I was to make a 2D comic I'd just draw it in pencail ,scan in to a 2D app for color n filters .It's how "So Shall it be ,Never Surrender ,Beloved ,Made of Scars" was made.

While I was drawing I'd have a Poser character on my screen as a reference.

RorrKonn posted at 1:46AM Sun, 24 July 2016 - #4277110

Thanks RorrKonn. Are you familiar with Manga Studio? It's similar to photoshop but designed more for drawing comics. You can "pencil" and ink in it.

My plan was to use the skeletons or the skeletons viewed through skin to model my scenes. Import those 2D renders then draw my comic over them.

I saw it the same way you did.. it seemed like it would take too long to do the comic using just 3D models.

But, after seeing the Xnalara thing I am wondering if it might allow me to do it in 3D models...maybe I could do a cel shader effect and draw the background?

What do you think? Do you know if Xnalara would reduce the workload enough to allow this? Or is it as time consuming as the other models?

Tron1138:

You are welcome.

Everyone works at different speeds, levels, and techniques to achieve end results. You must do what is right for you.

I like your pick of influence for your work. I think combining those two elements will work well. I love Bruce Timm's work (I did some Batman animated series style illustrations years ago), and paired with an anime flair would look good.

One of my novels is in an anime style more akin to Basilisk (the anime, not the manga), and I have had some success working with DAZ Studio, custom modeling, custom character creations (morph target work on default base meshes - no need to reinvent the wheel and model one from scratch, even though I have the skill to do so if I wanted to), custom dynamic cloth meshes, and hair. I cheat where I need to. I am not going to create everything needed if someone already created the exact item needed, although of a generic nature (e.g., waraji straw sandals - though I will modify/retopo badly created meshes for my use).

They say write what you know, and as a four decade long Martial Artist, that comprises the bulk of my work.

I don't currently have a gallery of collected works. I once had one with a diversified portfolio of gallery work, commercial graphics, tattoo illustrations, comic illustrations, 3D modeling, rendering, and 3D NPR work over at Digital Art Zone 3D (DAZ3D) a very long time ago. But, DAZ decided to kill their entire Artzone gallery site, and delete everyones work, so I just never got around to creating another gallery again. I have everything backed up in an archive somewhere in storage.

I have bits and pieces floating around in community forums, and you can view some of my NPR work here, and here at Rendo. The first one is close to some of my hand drawn work.

Some of my other examples can be viewed here - halfway down the page, and here - halfway down the page over at the DAZ3D forums, but you will need to log-in to see the work at full size (more important on last page). Mind you, for my NPR work, I try to be unique with different techniques, but some are basis for what I am working towards. The Shinobi image with the Iga Yari is close to what I am going for with the anime style novel.

Lastly, there are a few more programs that I believe might help you out as well with your work. Some programs for digital illustrations/comic work. Some paid for software, and some for free. I am like you, financially, so I usually go for the freebies, but I have some paid for versions that took me months to years to save up for, and acquire.

Manga Studio - for comic creation and illustrations/painting: Manga Studio/Clip Studio - I have version 4 EX.

ComicLife - for comic creation: ComicLife

Krita - (free) for comic creation and illustrations/painting: Krita

MS Expression Design 4 - (free) for comic creation and illustrations: Expression

Inkscape - (free) for comic creation and illustrations: Inkscape

MyPaint - (free) for comic creation and illustrations/painting: MyPaint

There are tons of other digital drawing/painting software out there (GIMP, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.), but I thought I would bring some of these ones that I use to your attention if you haven't already heard of them (or tried/have them).

• EDIT: I see you already have Manga Studio, and I have used that work-flow. It works well.

DaremoK3 posted at 3:40AM Sun, 24 July 2016 - #4277114

DaremoK3 , I was really impressed by the Xnalara program and models but I have been having trouble finding info about importing those models into Poser. If they have a lot of free models of the quality I have seen I might go that route. Which would you choose do you think if you are trying to finish a long comic as fast as possible - drawing over crude models to help you pose figures or just using the Xnalare models?

I was checking out your artwork.. that's amazing stuff. A whole comic like that would be awesome!

You might also want to check out Terawell's DesignDoll link. I haven't had time to play with it much, but it focuses on the use of posable 3D models as drawing guides, not for final renders - and the posing UI is pretty cool.

_ If I was that interested in realism, I'd probably get out more_

@Tron1138: If you have some time, you might be interested in watching this Poser webinar from a few months back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql9OOKgeCII

It's all about creating comics using Poser figures and content and is hosted by Brian Haberlin and Smith Micro. Brian Haberlin is the creator of the graphic novel Anomaly (check Amazon for it) and several others. Most of his work is done in Poser and Photoshop and he was directly involved with the implementation of the new comic line sketch features in Poser 10 and 11.

Tron1138

"Shatter" in my gallery was made with Magna Studio.

Where having difficulties getting the .mesh converter to .objs to download so have not loaded a character.obj but got the textures .Xnalara stuff looks like game meshes with normals ,I spoke about game meshes with normal before.

normals are very tricky just cause they work in one app don't mean there work in another. Rigs only work in app's there made for.you can use BVH motion files for multiple app's. I didn't download XPS 11 - Osiris Lara Edition .The characters in the gallery some looked killer others not so hot. and I saw a lot of fan Art. Always be very mindful of copyrights n licensing's . There's a lot of free stuff for Poser that's not licensed for commercial use.

I can't tell you what you should do. I can only help educate you about CGI n it is complicated.

You seem to be concerned on fastest ways.a stick figure comic would be the fastest way . forget fastest way. fast Art = bad Art.

Take time to find your style your work flow. To hell with everyone else's style n work flow Find your own. Don't be a fast Artist be A Killer Artist.

ianr, the Design Doll looks ultra cool thanks so much!

AmbientShade, Thank you! You guys are awesome! This is the most help I have gotten when talking to people on message boards. You guys have a really cool attitude.

Rorrkonn, honestly I considered going a kind of stick figure route if I could make it look cool at all. I have seen some short animations done like this. My story is so long to finish it in a realistic time frame might be impossible. This is what scares me.

But there's another issue.. I feel this story is incredibly important. That probably sounds crazy but it's the truth. Just explaining what this project is is incredibly difficult. I have been working on it a long long time - full time.

I actually considered making a video game to get my information out.. this is why I like the idea of using the Xnalara figures. I like the designs of the figures too even though they are basic. Also, I woulf try to make the other aspects of the art vert sophisticated - lighting etc.

From what I gathered about the Xnalara figures is that they pose them in XnaLara then export them as objects and put them into another program to render. Is there a quick way to translate them and still keep the rigging I think it's called? Or do you have to use the method I described first - pose and export?

Batman is a long story been going on since 1940 that's a 76 years long story. Tell your story 20 or 30 pages at a time in comic style.or just write a novel that's a lot faster.

RorrKonn posted at 11:00PM Sun, 24 July 2016 - #4277211

Batman is a long story been going on since 1940 that's a 76 years long story. Tell your story 20 or 30 pages at a time in comic style.or just write a novel that's a lot faster.

The faster I can get my story out the better it will be for society I feel... but if it's not entertaining no one will want to read it.

If I felt I could pull off a book I would have gone that route.. but I am a more visual person so I felt a visual story would be better for me. I want the visuals to be cool but I have to be as efficient as possible.