WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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2 comments
Geekfaeries festival was very good! It's a festival happening every year in the start of June and located in the center of France, at the castle of a small town named [Selles-sur-Cher](https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Selles-sur-Cher%20#map=14/47.2778/1.5629&layers=T). Of course, because of the pandemic, the festival had to skip year 2020 and 2021. So, the Festival of 2022 was full of challenge for the team behind the event. Their catchphrase this year tells a lot "We did it!".
On my side, I first was in contact with the crew for an online event; where I gave a livestreaming with Krita. I think it was in 2018. This year, I was a guest. And being a guest in a festival of this size and history was a real honor, and I measure it even more now I'm back home. I really enjoyed this time.
I wish I could show you a video, tons of photos, and a fragment of the experience as if you were there; but unfortunately, I had not a lot of medias because my mind was elsewhere managing the IRL aspect of the event. (Note for later: I'll try to document next events using [my Mastodon account](https://framapiaf.org/@davidrevoy))
So, for the medias here, they aren't my own photos but I'm reposting the one I found on the Mastodon account of [Maiwann](https://framapiaf.org/@maiwann), [Lapineige](https://photo.lapineige.fr/Lapineige) and [Mozilla Fr](https://mamot.fr/@Mozilla).
For the rest, I'll try to describe with text how was my experience.
### Friday 3 June
On the first evening, right after around 7h of train; I had (with [Pouhiou](https://framapiaf.org/@Pouhiou)) **a tribute to Terry Pratchett**. On my side, I wanted to make a live painting. I asked the staff for a crazy idea; if I could do the video projection on the wall of the castle instead of having it inside of a large tent as planned.
The team Framasoft and the Geekfaeries staff did help me hand in hand and we quickly could test a powerful enough projector. We could also turn off the permanent light that usually light the castle by night and install a table and electricity outside.
Thanks again to them for trusting this project: the sky was threatening to rain and it could have been probably simpler to tell me *"hmm... David, no"* that evening. But instead of that, I had a full hour **to paint a giant A'Tuin turtle**; using **a 10 meters large Krita screen** projected on the [Château de Selles-sur-Cher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Selles-sur-Cher) from the 10th century.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-06-08_geekfaeries2022_by_lapineige-0.jpeg)
_Testing Krita on the 'castle canvas' before painting - Photo CC-By-Sa [Lapineige](https://photo.lapineige.fr/Lapineige)_
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-06-08_geekfaeries2022_by_maiwann-1.jpeg)
_Me on my desk, laptop, tablet and projector outside the tent - Photo CC-By-Sa [Maiwann](https://framapiaf.org/@maiwann)_
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-06-08_geekfaeries2022_by_lapineige-1.jpeg)
_A'Tuin turtle on a 10 meters large wall - Photo CC-By-Sa [Lapineige](https://photo.lapineige.fr/Lapineige)_
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-06-08_geekfaeries2022_by_lapineige-4.jpeg)
_At the end of the session, a shot on my laptop by night - Photo CC-By-Sa [Lapineige](https://photo.lapineige.fr/Lapineige)_
**Clearly, I fulfilled my inner kid's dream that evening**. Painting on a castle!
I later added the character of Death, Rincewinds, the baggage as well as the silhouette of a witch while we were talking about them.
As you can see on the display of my Purism 13 laptop, I was painting on the half top of Krita in a pretty low resolution for a painting (1920x1080 canvas). I had my Wacom Intuos 4 Medium with me for the tablet with not a large active surface; so it was tricky to paint 1 centimeter on the canvas, and get like one meter amplitude on the wall with a big offset for the color and contrast. But I could manage something so I was happy.
### Saturday 4 June
#### The talk about my FLOSS tools
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-06-08_geekfaeries2022_by_mozilla-fr-2.jpeg)
_The Hacking Pole before opening; with booth of Ubuntu, Solix, April, Blogul, the car of RatZillaS with an open guiding system and the door to the room of Mozilla - Photo CC-By-Sa [Mozilla Fr](https://mamot.fr/@Mozilla)_
On Saturday, I had a talk on the Hacking Pole about my Floss tools; a room where Mozilla Fr was showcasing booth for recording voice sample to enrich the Mozilla voice project. The room was empty when I started to install my laptop. The staff forgot to announce the event on the main tent at the center of the events, and this room of the castle being far away wasn't easy to find.
Fortunately, it was quickly fixed by the staff and I had a big "down then up" feeling when the audience started to enter and installed themselves. A half filled room! not bad after a totally empty start... Oh yes: I was almost convinced I would have to cancel my presentation that day. Maybe my topic about FLOSS tools wasn't interesting, maybe it's because it wasn't announced on the speakers, maybe it's because it was midday (the hour of lunch in France), or maybe it was because the room was a bit hidden. My theory: all of this at once.
**The talk was in French and wasn't recorded** and was an overview of what I did over the last 20 years and the changes that conducted me to use only FLOSS tools and start the Pepper&Carrot project. The presentation was followed by a Krita demo, where I made a demo of Gmic filters, colorize mask, symmetry tools and multibrush. Unfortunately, I had a crash during the demo -of course- Probably the famous 'demo effect'.
Anyway, thank you if you were part of the persons who assisted to my talk that day, your questions were very interesting.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-06-08_geekfaeries2022_by_mozilla-fr-3.jpeg)
_The room of Mozilla during my Krita demo - Photo CC-By-Sa [Mozilla Fr](https://mamot.fr/@Mozilla)_
#### Signing session at the bookstore booth
Then I went to the tent were many items were sold on the festival; and among them the Pepper&Carrot comic books published by Glénat.
I could meet a lot of Pepper&Carrot readers from all ages sitting at my table. We had discussions about characters; Saffron, Coriander, Shichimi, Torreya, about what they expect to see for the next episode. Sometime speaking about their own derivations or projects. For me, all these moments were pure gold. I drew a lot "Dark Pepper" on the signing session; that's her appearance in the book 4 with the tattoos and the shreded dark robe. It was fun to draw.
The weather was super hot that afternoon. I remember I was suffering by empathy for the cosplayers wearing armors; Darth Vader, a Witcher, a Minecraft character, the numerous furies in full suit...
At the end of the afternoon, **all P&C books available on the store were sold**. I was proud of it! (in all honesty: the stock of available books wasn't that big, but I usually prefer to hide this part when I tell the story 😋).
A big storm happened that day at the evening; turning all crowd inside the tents. The air became breathable again and temperature did drop a few degrees and that was very welcome.
Unfortunately, the storm also canceled the big concert on Saturday evening and Geekfaeries staff had to run everywhere to check the tents, the electricity, and protect the installations.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-06-08_geekfaeries2022_by_lapineige-2.jpeg)
_The bookstore was in these tents in foreground, a photo before the opening of the festival - Photo CC-By-Sa [Lapineige](https://photo.lapineige.fr/Lapineige)_
### Sunday 5 June
On Sunday, with no more Pepper&Carrot books available, my presence at the bookstore booth was useless. So, I decided to enjoy the festival and just started to walk around and assit to talks and meet other. I then ended into a spot making a watercolor of the castle; a stationary position were I could continue to meet Pepper&Carrot readers and sign the comic they took on their backpack.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-06-08_geekfaeries2022_by_david-revoy-1.jpeg)
_A watercolor I made of the Château de Selles-sur-Cher for Naya, the founder of the Festival - Photo CC-By-Sa D.Revoy_
All in all, I had a very good time meeting readers, and all guests were super friendly: Le Tropeur, Bruce Benamran, Korben, RatZillaS, LinksTheSun, Hacking Social, Framasoft team, Mozilla, Ubuntu... and more! I could discuss with them on many topic, or simply have a drink and share a good laugh.
A big thanks also to the big staff of the festival, I started to met them and they all were always very friendly and helpful. That was a rich experience and I learned many new things. Finally, it's good to be part of a big event like that after being at home since end 2019 for pandemic reasons. I missed IRL events. I hope I'll be able to comeback next year!
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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1 comment
Five signing session dates are coming soon, and I'll be happy to meet the Pepper&Carrot readers and draw something on your book! This year, I decided for the first time to accept many dates. Maybe a side effect after the year 2020 and 2021 with only online events. So, I'll be at:
**[Festival GeekFaeries 2022](https://www.geekfaeries.fr/), in Selles-sur-Cher, this week-end (4 and 5 June)**, and I'll prepare my bag to travel tomorrow just after finishing this blog post. I'll have a table with hours but you can also catch me during the event. I always have something with me to draw. I'll have a presentation on Saturday 12h in the Pole Hacking, and a Tribute to Terry Pratchett on Saturday 20h00 with Pouhiou on the Mind Palace. I can't wait to be there!
**[Library A LIVR'OUVERT](https://www.alivrouvert.fr/), in Paris, Friday 24 June, 16h to 19h.** I'm really excited by this one, because this is where I already made two signing sessions in the past for the book 2 and for the book 3 and I keep good memories of it.
**[Rendez-Vous de la BD](https://rdvbdamiens.com/le-mois-de-juin/25-26-juin-2022/) in Amiens, Saturday 25 June** , probably in afternoon on a booth but not on Sunday as it might be written on the website because my train go back to home on Sunday morning. Amiens is a city where I lived during 1 year when I was 19 y/o, I'm really happy be invited on this event.
**[Library LES PETITS RUISSEAUX](https://www.librairielespetitsruisseaux.fr/), in Toulouse, Sunday 3 July - 10h to 13h**. I lived 10 years in Toulouse, and this big city of the south of France is very familiar to me. I hope to see many friends from the Libre community in Toulouse! ;-)
**[Library LE TRACTEUR SAVANT](https://letracteursavant.com), SAINT-ANTONIN-NOBLE-VAL, ~~9 July - 16h to 18h30~~**. UPDATE: The date changed, it will be on Sunday 10, 10h00 to 12h30. This is the library of one of the best looking small city around my home. Just check the [photos on the Wikipedia page](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val). This will be the perfect rendez-vous for my friends around the region of Montauban.
I hope I'll meet a lot of Pepper&Carrot readers!
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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10 comments
🌴 Hey! It starts to be a little tradition on the blog that I post [the first rendering](https://www.davidrevoy.com/article876/episode-36-first-panel) of the next episode as soon as I get it done (or almost, still WIP). The text in French for Episode 37 are almost near to be frozen now; 'alpha2-fr' was published a few days ago on Framagit. An alpha3-fr version will be necessary and I'll work on it before going to the [Geekfaeries](https://www.davidrevoy.com/article909/geekfaeries-2022) on friday.
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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5 comments
Honored to be a guest at Geekfaeries, this year!
I'll do signing sessions all the week-end, a talk about my FLOSS tools in the 'Pôle Hacking' room, and a Krita live painting tribute to Terry Pratchett with Pouhiou in the 'Mind Palace' room. I can't wait!
More info: https://www.geekfaeries.fr/
Artwork [sources are here](https://www.peppercarrot.com/fr/viewer/misc__2022-05-26_Guest-at-Geekfaeries_by-David-Revoy.html), license: [CC-By-Sa 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) , a paint-over [a photo by X-Javier](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geek_Fa%C3%ABries_v9.0_IRL_2018_-_010.jpg) on Wikimedia Commons.
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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4 comments
Pepper&Carrot episode 37 production report: an important milestone today. The alpha version (still in French) was [posted](https://framagit.org/peppercarrot/webcomics/-/issues/213) to proofreaders.
Here is a photo of my setup over last month for drawing and inking all pages. On the table, the XP-Pen 24 Pro Artist display tablet I reviewed [last year](https://www.davidrevoy.com/article842/review-of-the-xp-pen-artist-24-pro-on-linux).
I have a new keyboard, a Dell flat classic one (but Azerty, the French variant) mounted on the display tablet. It's done with the help of a [CinTweak](https://cintweak.com/). The product doesn't exist yet for XP-Pen tablet, but thanks to the crew at CinTweak in charge of emails, they were able to answer to my emails with mesurement of my device and guided me to find the most compatible CinTweak they had. With a bit of DIY on the top, it fits well. I'll probably update that on my review and include a mini video about it. I also solved one thing I disliked for this tablet: the overlay sheet, I replaced it with a Photodon Mx, and it's a big big improvement. I really like inking and drawing with it now. I'll see what happens for coloring a full episode with this position. I'm curious.
[Last time](https://www.davidrevoy.com/article857/desk-setup) I tested a setup like that, it hasn't lasted too long. It takes time getting outside of the comfort zone :-)
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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3 comments
[video]data/images/blog/2022/2022-05-03_peppercarrot-animation-breakdown_ccbysa_francois-techene.mp4[/video]
_Result condensed under 1min24s of the full process._
Here is a new Pepper&Carrot derivation: a short scene animated coming with a fully detailed Krita and Blender 3D making-of. A project done by Purism's Creative Director François Téchené.
You can read the full making-of here: https://puri.sm/posts/animating-pepper-carrot-with-librem-laptop/
I really liked the result and all the production tips on the article (the compositing!). A very good resource if you are interested into animation with Free/Libre and Open Source tools.
Note: video direct link [here](https://www.davidrevoy.com/data/images/blog/2022/2022-05-03_peppercarrot-animation-breakdown_ccbysa_francois-techene.mp4), 24MiB.
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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63 comments
Hey, back in 2016 I decided [to get rid of trackers](article590/my-fight-against-cdn-libraries "My fight against CDN library" ) on my website, and Gravatar was one of them for the comment section. That's how I decided to make my own homemade cat avatar system based on sprite I painted. Then I made birds, received sponsoring by Framasoft for the Fenestar one of Mobilizon and also made an abstract one. You'll find them all here:
## CATS
**[⏩ LINK TO CAT AVATAR GENERATOR](https://www.peppercarrot.com/extras/html/2016_cat-generator/index.php)**
[](https://www.peppercarrot.com/extras/html/2016_cat-generator/index.php)
## BIRDS
**[⏩ LINK TO BIRD AVATAR GENERATOR](http://www.peppercarrot.com/extras/html/2019_bird-generator/index.php)**
[](http://www.peppercarrot.com/extras/html/2019_bird-generator/index.php)
## MOBILIZON's FENESTARS
**[⏩ LINK TO FENESTAR AVATAR GENERATOR](http://www.peppercarrot.com/extras/html/2020_mobilizon-generator/index.php)**
(note: a project sponsored by Framasoft for [Mobilizon](https://mobilizon.org/en/), thanks!)
[](http://www.peppercarrot.com/extras/html/2020_mobilizon-generator/index.php)
## ABSTRACT
**[⏩ LINK TO ABSTRACT AVATAR GENERATOR](http://www.peppercarrot.com/extras/html/2017_abstract-generator/index.php)**
[](http://www.peppercarrot.com/extras/html/2017_abstract-generator/index.php)
### LICENSE, CHANGELOG AND SOURCES:
**License [Creative Commons Attribution 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).**
Attribution for the artworks: 'David Revoy' **with the following exception**:
- **No need attribution if you use it for your personal avatar** (eg. avatar on your social-medias, forum, blog post, etc...). However, if you propose it to all the users of your blog/website/forum/app/software, please provide the attribution in the footer of the page or in the credits.
- **Please don't use my art for NFTs**, this infringe my moral right (read [this blog-post](https://www.davidrevoy.com/article864/dream-cats-nfts-don-t-buy-them) I wrote if you wonder why). If you find my work as NFTs: please report it. I'm not the uploader of the NFT. You can support my art via [patronage or donation here](https://www.davidrevoy.com/static3/become-my-patron).
For specific link to the sources and changelog, check the [more info] link in the footer of every avatar generator. Special thanks and attribution to Andreas Gohr's [MonsterID code](https://www.splitbrain.org/blog/2007-01/20_monsterid_as_gravatar_fallback) for making me discover a simple engine to make my own generators.
---
_Update 2022: this page originally contained only the cat avatar generator and was published in 30 november 2016. I decided to update it with its timestamp and plug into the page all other generators I made so far to ease finding and recommending them._
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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27 comments
Here is a stylisation research for "Pepper the traveler in incognito mode" for episode 37.
But why a stylisation research now?
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_01.jpg)
Recently, I was really into bringing more realism and advanced shading to my painting technique. You probably saw it already, but here is a reminder. (click to enlarge)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_02a.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_02b.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_02c.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_02d.jpg)
Problem: I started episode 37 production this way and...well... I disliked the early WIP result: bad and static facial expression and tons of slow paint-over process in prevision to fix all of that.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_03b.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_03a.jpg)
So, after a (long) review on what made Pepper&Carrot joyful, expressive and fun, I decided to discontinue realism and I came back to stylisation: simplier shapes, line-art, less advanced shading. I painted this concept-art as a first proof of concept:
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_04.jpg)
After comparison with the 36 episodes and 250 pages, the result was close to the style I achieve on the covers for the books of the series. I then decided to make that my art-direction goal for the future comic style and rendering as well (click to enlarge).
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_06a.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_06b.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_06c.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_06d.jpg)
New problem: I never found an efficient process to reproduce this style with its painterly soft line-art. As you can see under; I always start 'meh' then later put a ton of make-up paint-over until it looks good. A too long and uncontrollable process for a comic.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_06process.jpg)
I then decided to 'reverse engineer' that style and find how to produce upfront the soft line-art of these covers. It sounds simple, but finding the right preset for line-art took me a lot of training, failures and researches.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_07.jpg)
But it paid off: after weeks, I found a close-enough combination that could emulate the rendering of the covers (and my concept-art) while using a simplier 'colored line-art workflow', easier to manage and time saving for a webcomic.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_08.jpg)
So, I'll refactor episode 37 in this direction now. It will cost me time to redo what was already done, but I'm all motivated about it because the comparison feels already rewarding to me and I want the best I can do for Pepper&Carrot. Let me know if you like it.💛
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-10_pepper-back-to-stylisation-thread_09.jpg)
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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11 comments
In the interest of keeping Pepper&Carrot free, I've decided to take on subtle product placement.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-01_e18p01_sponsor_net.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-01_e21p03_sponsor_net.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-01_e27p01_sponsor_net.jpg)
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-04-01_e02p05_sponsor_net.jpg)
Special thanks to Craig Maloney, Nartance and Sabrina.
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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42 comments
_TL:DR; Proprietary social media are imposing more and more rules and I, as a webcomic artist, am planning changes to adapt._
## Intro
Here is a longer than usual blog-post to share with you **what I have in mind since the start 2022** and what I have been working on. All started after I have realized that many part of Pepper&Carrot were still designed for Internet as it was when I started the project in 2014 and forgot to evolve and embrace the new rules of the Internet as set by the giant proprietary social-medias of 2022. I'll try to explain at first **my diagnosis**, and then explain how I plan to **adapt** and **changes** I'll put into action.
## Diagnosis: a world of boost for adv and deboost
I had an issue in December 2021: the latest Pepper&Carrot [episode 36 : The Surprise Attack](https://www.peppercarrot.com/xx/webcomic/ep36_The-Surprise-Attack.html) **hasn't received a lot of audience**. I can see this metric with multiple tools and indicators. I was very surprised about that and maybe the first time I saw a curve going down in my always growing statistics on Pepper&Carrot. Weird.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-03-30_ep36-on-facebook.jpg)
_Screenshot of Episode 36 post on Facebook_
This post on social media −but also in general all my recent episode of 2021− **felt like deboosted**. Was it the thumbnail detected to have a large amount of darkness in it? Was it the expression of the fierce dragon and surprised Pepper? Or the title with the words "The Surprise Attack"? It might be also because the episode was bad too, or 'too long, didn't read'. Anyway, I started to search about the "deboost" thing, and it sounds like it has been normal for proprietary social media to start deboosting posts. Here are the rules as user @hangul observed and shared:
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-03-30_screenshot_-hangul-ontwitter_post.jpg)
_Description: [@hangul on Twitter](https://twitter.com/hanghul/status/1433412874085576704) explaining the observed rules of "deboost"._
But social media will not hesitate to also do the reverse and **boost what they have been designed for: ads**. For that, **they'll use the post already made** by poeple like you and me most of the time: fan-arts of the latest big AAA video games and Disney series or movies to invade your timeline. Someone you know 'liked' it? You'll see it. You like art and an artist made a fan-art about it? You'll see it. This way they'll make you believe that everyone is now interested into these cultural goods (protected by paywall) and will put a social pressure on your shoulder to pay to see them. Because "You haven't seen it yet? you are not on the same page than other!" is a powerful motivator.
Why I'm able to see that? Because **I can compare with my [timeline on Mastodon](https://framapiaf.org/@davidrevoy)**, a free/libre social network without this type of algorithm that deboost/boost adv. No one over there on Mastodon tried to sell me Loki on Disney+, Elden Ring or Turning Red, and the interactions with my blog post about the release of the book 4 or the latest episode were consistent with the one before...
All in all, **I find that very unfair**.
## But how?
How to comply with **rules always changing** and without any possibility to know them in advance?
And what if a proprietary painting software suddently ask to pay for deboosting #krita hashtag? This is just pure 'what if' and no accusation, but it eventuality become possible when the rules are hidden... right?... I dislike that a lot.
The algorithm is totally opaque code and some some social media already limits your posts to a part of your subscribers and even not hide that: you have to pay for reaching ... your subscribers .
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-10-25_boost-boost-montage.jpg)
_Facebook: pay to reach your subscribers (very Meta, if you accept the pun) montage of screenshot done in 2020 in French._
## Adaptation: the comic strip experimentation
After that diagnosis, I decided to do an experiment in January, a **small comic strips about the childhood of Pepper**, the [Todo-list](https://www.davidrevoy.com/article889/the-todo-list) and [Imagination](https://www.davidrevoy.com/article890/imagination). It was a format more compatible and friendly with the diagnosis I had. I was able with that format to seduce the proprietary social-medias platforms:
- Media posted directly on the social media with readability adapted for small device (smartphone).
- Quick time to read it, something that doesn't interrupt scrolling too much (and so, opportunity to be exposed to adv).
- Almost no text, no link and world that works for mulitple region of the globe (Todo list, Imagination).
These two short experiments were done in a production time of less than 48h each and **they received twice or more attention than the main episodes**. I'm speaking here about Episode who took me 4 months full time at 14h/day without week-end...
I learned a valuable lesson here, but how to continue Pepper&Carrot episode in this new context?
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-03-30_comparing-format-audience.jpg)
_Description: Comparing two post on Twitter._
## The legal problem of Creative Commons on social media
To that, came **another layer of issue: the legal one**. I didn't wanted so far to post the full episodes of Pepper&Carrot on any social media because I always thought the license wasn't compatible with them legally. If you look closely: I only post a thumbnail plus link, I made that for blog post too.
Proprietary social media requires in their TOS a full co-ownership of the media you post. It makes sens to run the service; to keep your medias on their machine and not be arrested because having an illegal copy of it. But that's also where **it conflict with Creative Commons license**.
If a proprietary social media has a contract with a newspaper, or a TV informative show; they can authorize to display the post thanks to their co-ownership; and also give it to the said TV show or newspaper. This one can crop it, do color correction about it, print on news paper and bypass the attribution? The TOS never says: "if a license exist on the media, please respect the license"... That's why **I always considered Creative Commons and proprietary social media were not compatible** (except CC0) but...
BUT.. all of that was **until I read this solution** in January on a article on Creative Commons website:
> "CC Legal Counsel Sarah Pearson explained that CC licenses don’t allow sub-licensing so uploaders are not granting the platform any rights directly to content that isn’t theirs under copyright. Most social media terms of service require that a user either a) owns the copyright to their posted content or b) has the right to use that content. When that’s the case, openly licensed content is appropriate to share on the social media platform as long as the license requirements are followed by the uploader."
>
> A sample of [Sharing Openly Licensed Content on Social Media: A Conversation with GLAM](https://creativecommons.org/2020/06/15/sharing-openly-licensed-content-on-social-media/) , by Victoria Heath , June 15, 2020 , CC-By.
So, it's **not crystal clear** but it sounds like a workaround. To be fair, this rule sounds debatable in court. But I'm just an artist, and if CC Legal Counsel tells it,** it mean I have been wrong the whole time in my understanding of CC-By** on this topic.
So, good news in a way, I'll be able to post comic directly on proprietary social media, but also Tapas, Webtoons and other platforms that also became central to webcomic despite their TOS that I thought non compatible with CC...
## Conclusion and changes
I first went to a radical change in reaction: continue the mini comic strip and stop the longer episodes. I was planning to switch the "patronage support per episode" method to a "monthly support" because I was planning to post a comic strip per week, directly on social media, in English, without translation/transcript system, but still under CC-By.
**But...** making super short comic strip of three or four panel were at the end not my cup of tea. So, I abandoned the idea. Same about switching to "monthly donation/patronage" as my main model: I abandoned this idea too. I tested to draw storyboards for more single picture and small comic strip, I tried to enjoy it, but **I missed the Pepper&Carrot longuer episode format** where I could make AND a comic strip joke AND an adventure. Working on the printed book four also made me re-appreciate the work done on the previous episodes format.
Fortunately, doing comic-strip wasn't the only option, as I could find many successful comic author **posting directly full multipages stories on social media**:
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-03-30_screenshot_-weremagnus-post.jpg)
_[Post of artist @weremagnus](https://twitter.com/weremagnus/status/1477655362639564801) successfully sharing comic pages directly on social media and using (1/3) thread_
So, my main decision is just **stop the super long episode of 9, 10, 14 pages**. Also, being absent during 4 month to prepare them is harmful to the project. I'll try to reduce to less than 2 month, **every month being my ultimate and utopic goal**.
I'm planning to write now only **short format: between 5 to 7 pages; similar to what I did when I started the series.** It will have hopefully more release and less production time.
The layout of the panels will focus on readibility for smartphone but the series was already optimised for that: the panels are not much complex to read at smaller size, and text of the font was in most case big enough. I'll just make sure it is now a priority.
As you already understood, **I'll also post all the pages directly on the social media**, including the credits. The social media with not a lot of picture (limited to 4) have a workaround with 'threads':
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-03-30_diagram-post-plan.jpg)
_A diagram showing what I plan to do for 5 to 7 pages episodes and wrap it to two posts_
Translations and post on the website will be linked on a different post to avoid "deboost for external link"; but except that nothing will change on this aspect: RSS, website, translations, transcript. Hosting sources, print resolutions, all the services continues.
## News about Episode 37 production:
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-03-30_screenshot_114630_net.jpg)
_Screenshot: Work in progress, Beeref, my favorite reference tool on left and Krita, on Kubuntu._
I'm reaching now my "pre-color step" (as you can see on the screenshot illustrating this blog post). "Pre-color" is −in my own words and process− a rough colored painting pass on the webcomic that I paint under the drawing turned at low opacity. The main purpose of this pass is to follow the cinematography I have in mind and keep a consistent continuation of ambiance and colors from panels to panels. It's really **my favorite part of the process**.
But at this step, it is **still less than half of the full work done** on the webcomic episode: polishing, corrections, painting accent are coming later in the process and are the real time consumers. The episode is short (6 pages): so, this polishing shouldn't take more than 2 weeks full time, but don't count too much on a mid-April release.
In fact, the text (in French right now) still require to be submitted to the proofreaders for dialog and lines enhancement, then to enter into string freeze and then get to the English translation before opening to all other languages. It's often a 3 weeks process at its best, and the episode is still not fully 'pre-colored' to enter this process. Because of that, I have in mind a realistic **estimated time delivery for end April**.
Anyway, I'm really happy to post 'soon' a new episode and experiment all I wrote here.
[](data/images/blog/2022/2022-02-28_09h45_sketchpage_000.jpg)
_Constructions studies for Pepper, preparatory work for episode 37._
## Conclusion
Whenever I like it or not, hidden deboost/boost rules of algorithm are really shaping the future of Pepper&Carrot. **It cost me to admit that**, because I thought I made the most independent structure ever with the self-hosted website of Pepper&Carrot and the blog, but it is not enough. Proprietary social medias are manipulating timeline and use your posts and mine to better place their adv in between (or better, to use them as adv). That's why I have to be an in-situ entertainer and not someone trying to attract you on a external link.
That's all, I want to **thank** your generous support on the latest episode, I could use it to manage the production of the printed book four and do my experimentations and some refactoring here and there (the transcript dictionary system of names migrated from a table using LibreOffice calc to PO/Gettext files and the documentation of translation system was rewritten and simplified). I also could catch up with all the personal todo-list I had to postpone when I had the four month production for episode 36.
Thank you for reading!
_**To the commenters: ** This article is not a call here for you to debate in the comment why RSS, self-hosting or Mastodon and free/libre social medias are superior and the "good" while why proprietary social medias are evil and I should quit them. I understand that, we are on the same page. But if I want to expand my audience as an artist and continue to survive for making a living of my art, I don't think I can skip having a presence on them in 2022. Also many example are specific about Twitter here, because this is the social media with the most limitation (4 picture max, text limitation, agressive algorythm for boost/deboost). Once a format adapt for Twitter, it will adapt on every other social medias._
_**Typo and proofreading special thank to:** Dreeg Ocedam and Theremin._
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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18 comments
Still not super detailed, but I hope it will help some of the Pepper&Carrot's derivatives projects in progress. 😉
Source and high resolution: https://www.peppercarrot.com/xx/files/references.html
WRITTEN_BY David REVOY -
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8 comments
🎉🎉🎉 Pepper&Carrot book 4 is now available in shop!
⏩ [English version, DriveThruComics](https://www.drivethrucomics.com/browse/pub/15557/David-Revoy)
⏩ [French version, Glénat publishing](https://www.librairiesindependantes.com/product/9782344048825/)
I also recorded a presentation VLOG (short, 4min) to show you the book.
- Peertube: https://peertube.touhoppai.moe/w/mNGjM6RcSPDjL77kVqju4i
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/TCWWKW_PAxw
The video describes the English version (print-on-demand) and what I made on it with Free/Libre and Open-Source Software. It's always a difficult excercice to make a self-promotional video, so I hope I kept it short and informative.
Thank you if you take a book!
[youtube]TCWWKW_PAxw[/youtube]
