User Stories
Brian Robinson
How long have you been using Manga Studio?
I've been using Manga Studio for about 3 or 4 years now. A friend introduced me to it while back and recommended I try it out and been using it every 
since then. Before that I used Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and sometimes Gimp. I still use Adobe Photoshop with Manga Studio.
What was your first experience with Manga Studio?
I was amazed. I still say the same thing I said back then "Wow this is an actual art program with comic book and Manga artists in mind, COOL!"
What was your first impression of it?
I like to use ziptone, or black and white shading tones, and my friend a while back used that as hook to introduce the program to me. I later realized it had other cool tools but I remember that being the thing got me seriously look at the program back then.
How did your first creation with Manga Studio turn out?
It went pretty smooth, but I was using MS3 Debut and it has had lots of major updates since then but even that version of the program was pretty easy to use.
What was your inspiration for making the Manga Studio tutorials?
There are two types people I think when comes to art instruction, people who can read someone's notes and pick up on something that way, or people who can watch someone as they explain and demonstrate and pick it up that way. I fall in the watch someone as they work type camp. I figured there were other people like me online that needed to actually see the program in use in order to get and understand certain methods that they could not understand in written form. So I made my own video tutorials.
What is one of your favorite features of Manga Studio?
This question is easy! The tone feature is what first got me interested in the program and it is my favorite feature. The line tool is a close second because it is extremely helpful for making lines when inking drawings. Not to over look my favorite pens the Muru and G which make digital inking so easy.
If you could change one thing about Manga Studio, what would it be? The one thing that I would change would be the way Manga Studio scans and opens art to work with aka during the getting art ready stage. In some ways MS is such powerful program but it offers many options to early. I feel that the actual opening artwork feature are kind of overwhelming to Photoshop users or new users that are not used to so many options in the early set up stage. For example, in Photoshop when you open or scan artwork it just opens it up and then you adjust your artwork they way you like.
In Manga Studio you have go through a lot more steps than Photoshop by either importing an image file or scanning art in then going through steps to adjust your art to get to where you need to ink. I guess if I could change anything I would add a basic scan mode option.
And of course I would add an Expert mode option, this mode being the way Manga studio operates now with all the cool options as is.
Can you give an example of how Manga Studio made a project go smoothly?
Manga studio is very helpful and easy to use. I can digital ink faster with Manga studio because the tools are so useful and well designed. I have spotlighted and digital inked with tons of art programs on my podcast and by far Manga Studio is the best and fastest. Why? Easy - it is an art program for digital comic book production and it is designed to make the process simple. When I was recording and showcasing with Manga Studio I just about finished a piece artwork while recording, something I never get to do because most programs take lot of time to adjust tools, however with Manga studio it's all there ready to go which helps cut your work time and yet produces incredible artwork easily.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Flying! I always wanted to fly for some reason and even dream of flying sometimes. Probably because I have read way to much Manga, comic books, and Anime!
Where can we find out more about you?
Most of my art is posted on my sites at BrianRobinson.org and BrianRobinsonStudios.com. I have mostly worked on comic books and comic book covers. The links below are some my most recent work:
SPIRALMIND #1
SPIRALMIND #2: DANTES INFERNO
iThe Incredible Amazing Five #1
The Incredible Amazing Five #2
Buy The Incredible Amazing Five