See the layers of a 3D comic book cover (pictures)
The bad guys are starring in DC Comics' superhero books for the month of September, and to commiserate (and get some attention for the comics) the company is wrapping its stories in 3D covers -- no glasses needed. Here's how they built the creepy covers.
Seth Rosenblatt
Senior writer Seth Rosenblatt covered Google and security for CNET News, with occasional forays into tech and pop culture. Formerly a CNET Reviews senior editor for software, he has written about nearly every category of software and app available.
DC Comics is wrapping its September issues in 3D covers -- no glasses needed. Here's how they built those creepy covers.
Jay Fabok sketches the cover he wants to draw, noting which elements should "move" in the final product.
2 of 6 DC Entertainment
Foreground layer
Then Fabok fills in the detail, from pencil to ink to color, on each element. Here's the character layer for the Joker.
3 of 6 DC Entertainment
Hero in the background
The next layer, which doesn't move much, is the trussed-up hero in the background.
4 of 6 DC Entertainment
Setting the stage
The setting layer also doesn't contain much motion, but it's important so the characters don't appear to be floating in the ether.
5 of 6 DC Entertainment
The deadly laugh
While some villains might shoot lasers from their eyes, and the lenticular covers depict that, the Joker's "power layer" is his laugh.
6 of 6 DC Entertainment
The villain in 3D
This flattened version of the final art shows it all on one layer. Read the story to see an animated GIF of the Joker cover, and a video showing how the comics look when held in your hand.
