This month's AKIRA issue #15 released in the US by EPIC and collected in OORU KARAA KOKUSAI BAN AKIRA 5 (オールカラー国際版 AKIRA 5), includes a two page article on the making of the colored version of AKIRA.
THE
MAKING OF AKIRA THE EPIC COMIC PART III - COLORING
When
Akira is printed in Japan, it is printed in black and white. The American
version, however, is meticulously colored by Steve Oliff and his Olyoptics
staff. This month we will examine the coloring of Akira step by step.
As
detailed in Part I of The Making of Akira, Kodansha first makes
"mirror" proofs of Katsuhiro Otomo's original artwork. A large set of
proofs (10" x 15") is sent to Epic Comics for scripting and paste-up.
An identical but smaller set of proofs (7" x10 ¾)
is
sent to Steve Oliff for coloring.
Using
felt pens, airbrushing and gouache, Oliff colors in these proofs. These
"color guides" are then sent to Otomo and Kodansha for approval and
any necessary corrections.
In
the meantime, Epic Comics sends the larger proofs, complete with pasted-up
lettering, to Olyoptics. The proofs are entered into the Olyoptics computar
system, utilizing proprietary software developed by Pixelcraft, by way of a
scanner.
Following
the "color guides," Oliff and his staff of five then enter colors for
each proof into the computar program. "This," says Oliff, "is
where we fill in the subtle shadings."
After
coloring on the computar system. Oliff saves all the information onto floppy
disks. He sends the disks, along with the line art and color file to Network
Color, the company that is responsible for outputting the film. The info is
loaded into Network Color's linotype machine, and the resulting output is
chromalins.
A
chromalin, or chrom, is a mechanical generation of each color plate registered
to itself. lt represents how each color is printed separately and then combinad
together to form a visual representation of the final product. In short, an
early version of the final Akira is produced and sent to Epic Comics.
The
Epic staff examines each chrom carefully, checking for errors in coloring and
printing. After indicating the errors on the chroms, Epic returns the chroms to
Network Color and corrections are made on the film.
Following
the corrections, the final film goes to the printer. "Blues" are made
from the film. "Blues" are an actual representation of how the final
comic will appear-minus the color. The pages are instead printed in shades of
blue. At this point, Epic checks for final corrections, and makes sure that all
the pages are present and in order, and the blues are returned to the printer
for printing.
Steve
Oliff colors using the same computer system as the one used for most Marvel
Comics. The difference is that Oliff colors the final film himself, while other
Marvel Comics send color guides to the separator, who then assigns the colors
using the computer. Oliff, in other words, acts as both the colorist and the
separator. Akira is the first regular comic book in the world to be colored
using such a system.
