# Art Style

For now Glider Ink doesn't have a set art style. The only hard requirement is supporting the project's [themes](project:themes):

## Requirements

- **Realism** - all the characters should be people, someone you could meet in a real world. No basement goblins or tech elves. 
- **Optimism** - which implies a full color palette, not only washed-out cyberpunk grays underlined with bright neon signs.

## Up for discussion

- simplicity/complexity - this can vary a lot depending on a particular illustrator and the project's budget

## Glider-Specific Needs

- **IRC Bubbles**. Many characters communicate via [IRC protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat) ([sample irssi screenshot](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wy2Mv.png)) both on their computers and phones. This can be solved as a rectangular box between panels, on a panel's top or bottom. Can be used as a narrating technique, for example with [Cynic](characters:main:c_n1c) or [sh0dan](characters:secondary:sh0dan) commenting other character's actions.
- Interesting and realistic representation of **technology** without going into [minority reporting](http://thatmomentin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Predpol-minority-report.jpg) or [ghost in the shelling](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/22/5f/7f/225f7f7318c1465b29686d91e4e1edda.jpg).
- **Nerdiness** - most of characters of Glider Ink willingly spend their evening in a workshop, playing with technology, building things, and doing all these pointless algorithmic exercises - for fun! They clutter their minds with trivia about how first computer works and sometimes speak Klingon. With all that, they're still human - and very varied. They should be drawn so.
- Presenting a physical **hackerspace** location in an interesting manner. Spaces range from lofts with mezzanines to cramped basements, almost always with interesting, colorful and dynamic lightning. The nerd/geek culture of inhabitants guarantees a lot of interesting backgrounds,
- The state of "**flow**", focus characteristic to deeply focused programmers, administrators and hackers in general. DO NOT DISTURB.

## References

- [Strong Female Protagonist](http://strongfemaleprotagonist.com/) webcomic used to be my personal benchmark for simplicity and realism. It may have a little too much text - something this comic will have a problem with as well.
- [Stay Still Stay Silent](http://www.sssscomic.com/) has a beautiful, varied art style, it's own style for speech bubbles. Some characters are realistically plump, which is quite seldom in comics.
- [The Sound of The World By Heart](http://www.magnetic-press.com/the-sound-of-the-world-by-heart/) performs magic with the golden rays of light in most of the scenes, making the city look optimistic and beautiful.