DC Special Series No. 2 Swamp Thing Cover by Bernie Wrightson

The late Bernie Wrightson made his name on the first 10 issues of DC Comics‘ Swamp Thing before moving on to Warren Publishing and other venues. He returned to Swamp Thing in 1977 to do this fantastic wraparound illustration to cover DC Special Series No. 2, which reprinted Swamp Thing Nos. 1 and 2.

As published, it was hand coloured and it was well done.

Scan courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

The art was in good shape overall. Minor retouching and contrast adjustment.

Rebuilt trade dress – logos and type – added.

Colour.

I don’t work like this, but I find it useful to turn off the lineart in Photoshop to see how the colour is shaping up. Have I made a mistake in the lighting? Can I mass the colour to make it simpler and stronger? Have I missed anything?

“Backing the black” to improve presentation.

Using the selection tool to isolate the large areas of flat black, I fill those areas with C50 M25 Y25 to “back the black.”

Comparing an unbacked black and a backed black.

Assuming your screen can differentiate between K100 and C50 M25 Y25 K100, you should be able to see the results of an unbacked black on the left (inside the red outline), and a backed black on the right. Backing your black hides the borders between coloured and uncoloured areas under the black, and it gives your blacks a solid punch for more dynamic art whether you’re headed for the printing press or a portable device.

The trade dress is coloured as it was originally published. The new colour scheme is an homage to the original.

A version of the trade dress which integrates with the colour scheme.

A simpler presentation for trade paperback or omnibus.