Carta Monir
Cartoonist, podcaster
Posted in cartoonist, podcaster
Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Carta Monir - I'm a cartoonist and podcast host living in Ann Arbor, MI. I'm also just starting to print other people's comics. I make my money primarily from freelance art and writing assignments.
My podcast is called We Should Be Friends - it's a book club podcast where we focus on a different indie cartoonist each episode.
What hardware do you use?
For making comics, I generally draw on paper using traditional methods, then scan it into my HP Spectre laptop. It has a pressure-sensitive stylus that works with the screen directly, so I'm able to edit the work and add tone without attaching an external tablet. From there I send it off to my editor, or print it on a cheap laser printer and scan it into my Risograph GR 3770 machine, which I use to print posters/zines if I'm doing them myself. I just got my hands on a Martin Yale 1501 paper folder, which I bought second-hand from a lawyer in my area. It's a game-changer because I can fold hundreds of pages a minute with very high consistency!
And what software?
Almost exclusively Photoshop CS5. I've had it since college, and it still works perfectly for my needs. I'll use Illustrator occasionally, but mostly I stick to Photoshop. I use Kyle Webster brushes for inking/tone if it applies to my current project.
What would be your dream setup?
I would really like to get a fancy electric booklet stapler, but my setup as it currently exists is already better than anything I could have hoped for. I'm very lucky! My bedroom looks like a state-of-the art print studio from 20 years ago!!