fitz
Level 2 Seer
Posts: 48
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Post by fitz on Aug 9, 2009 5:03:53 GMT -6
I like to see illustrations in my game books for two reasons: first, because I like illustration (I'm a graphic artist by trade), and second, because they provide useful visual landmarks when I'm flicking through the book looking for a specific section.
The ease and cheapness of colour compositing, thanks to the explosion in the use of computers in pre-press in the last 25 years or so, has (in my opinion) led to an overall mediocratizing (is that even a word?) of inline illustration. Colour has always been sexier than black&white, and its attractiveness to hormone-raddled adolescents makes it a obvious choice for maximizing sales. However, as in photography, the use of colour is often to disguise sub-standard draughtsmanship. If you're working in pure black & white, you don't have that crutch. There are some incredibly talented illustrators out there who are capable of using colour to enhance an already good design, but they're thin on the ground.
In my opinion, the illustration in the recent editions of D&D are, for the most part, not nearly as interesting as those of artists like Trampier in MM1 or Nicholls in the FF, or McMahon's "Slaine" in 2000AD. It's a shame, but it seems that the skills of black & white illustration are dying a slow death.
Also, you kids get off my lawn!
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