Defined Green Lantern Comic Rings
- Thread starter Gregatron
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I also made a 21mm version, and now here’s the latest—a 20mm version. Definitely leaning toward one of these smaller versions. The 22mm test print looks about right for the EMERALD DAWN, but the same-sized test print for the Gardner just looks too big, especially due to the huge domed gem. I was thinking that the EMERALD DAWN and Gardner should be essentially the same, since they were around during the same comic era, and the yellow rings began as knockoffs of the GL design, but that may not be how this ends up.
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Playing with the V1. The current iteration has the squared-off band with minimal filleting as seen previously (right), but I’m playing with a softer, curvier band, too (although not as curvy as some of the other models seen upthread). Gil Kane’s art goes with either look, from time to time.
More V1 tweaks. Here we have the 23mm version (right) and a 22mm version with a curvy band (left). I also added 1mm of material between the finger-hole and the bottom of the disc.
And here we have the addition of a 22mm variant with the more squared band (left):
As noted many times, the face of the ring looks BIG in the comics. However, I find myself not liking the shoulder section of the band on the iterations with a larger disc. It looks a bit “off”, as if the shoulders are actually bowing outward instead of gracefully curving upward and inward to form the platform for the signet disc. Almost like the ring has been squashed. In order to compensate for this, I’d have to make the ring shank thicker, which isn’t something I really want to do. I think 2.1mm is reasonably thick, and that’s the measurement I’ve used for all of the current designs.
The disc has also been reduced from 3mm to 2.5mm to match the REBIRTH, but I’m still not sure if that’s too slim. Or perhaps I should consider not keeping the two designs’ discs consistent. Hmmm.
And here we have the addition of a 22mm variant with the more squared band (left):
As noted many times, the face of the ring looks BIG in the comics. However, I find myself not liking the shoulder section of the band on the iterations with a larger disc. It looks a bit “off”, as if the shoulders are actually bowing outward instead of gracefully curving upward and inward to form the platform for the signet disc. Almost like the ring has been squashed. In order to compensate for this, I’d have to make the ring shank thicker, which isn’t something I really want to do. I think 2.1mm is reasonably thick, and that’s the measurement I’ve used for all of the current designs.
The disc has also been reduced from 3mm to 2.5mm to match the REBIRTH, but I’m still not sure if that’s too slim. Or perhaps I should consider not keeping the two designs’ discs consistent. Hmmm.
R.I.P Joe Giella, the inker of SHOWCASE # 22, who went on to ink Gil Kane’s pencils for much of the latter’s GREEN LANTERN run, as well as drawing many other characters and books.
Yes, I’ve been going over the process in autistic detail. But that serves two purposes: To educate and inspire any interested parties in regards to the process, and also to solicit feedback and suggestions.
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That’s been the goal from Day One. Because no one’s ever gotten them right. Always too much inaccuracy, artistic interpretation, or extraneous detailing.
After a lot of head-scratching, I finally hit on a modification to improve the V1. Up until now, there seemed to be too much of a gap between the finger-hole and the bottom edge of the disc. The trick was reducing material in-between those two areas for a more compact design.
Here are the results, in 22mm (right) and 23mm (left) flavors:
And, for the sake of thoroughness, a single-piece version with no lime-green insert (left) as seen in the comics most of the time. Still on the fence about which way to go, but logic dictates that it be the version with the insert. In spite of the usually solid green coloring on the page, the ring from this era was still described as having a “gem” or “power element” which was removable from the main body.
Here are the results, in 22mm (right) and 23mm (left) flavors:
And, for the sake of thoroughness, a single-piece version with no lime-green insert (left) as seen in the comics most of the time. Still on the fence about which way to go, but logic dictates that it be the version with the insert. In spite of the usually solid green coloring on the page, the ring from this era was still described as having a “gem” or “power element” which was removable from the main body.
After nearly three years, I’m convinced that the EMERALD DAWN—as seen on the page—is something which cannot be replicated in three-dimensional reality. But I’m liking my compromise version. Gave it the same tweak as the V1 to remove material above the finger-hole and make it more compact. Same with the Gardner.
Still wondering how thick to make the ED bezel, and whether or not the GL symbol should be a bit larger. The proper size of the Gardner ring’s symbol underneath the gem is a question mark, since it’s hard to know what kind of magnification effect the domed resin gem will have on it when cast and installed.
22mm bezel for the ED, 20mm for the Gardner.
Still wondering how thick to make the ED bezel, and whether or not the GL symbol should be a bit larger. The proper size of the Gardner ring’s symbol underneath the gem is a question mark, since it’s hard to know what kind of magnification effect the domed resin gem will have on it when cast and installed.
22mm bezel for the ED, 20mm for the Gardner.
A few tweaks to the ED and Gardner bands. Also, I finally got around to setting the Gardner gem to semi-translucent when in “Visualize” mode.
And I also created a 24mm version of the V3, to match the V2 variants in that size.
Getting close to ready for the next round of test prints. I think we’re finally nearing the end of the line with some of these designs. Certain nitty-gritty details still need to be obsessively worked out, but the overall measurements and aesthetics are close to what I want them to be in most cases. Here’s the checklist of what still needs to be, well, checked:
Overall: Width of shanks, height of signet discs/symbols, degree of filleting on edges, thickness/tolerances of insert pieces.
V1: Disc size/thickness, band shape, overall shape, tolerances/fit of parts.
V2: Symbol-piece size/thickness.
V3: Overall size/shape, finger-hole-to-face height, degree of tapering on band ribs.
EMERALD DAWN: Overall shape, bezel/symbol size, tolerances/fit of parts.
REBIRTH/Sinestro Corps: Overall shape, tolerances/fit of parts, overall height.
Gardner: Overall shape, size/shape of gem bezel, size of “G” symbol when viewed/magnified beneath gem.
Misc. rings (tri-bands, Gleason, etc.) might also get a print and a look, just for funzies.
And I also created a 24mm version of the V3, to match the V2 variants in that size.
Getting close to ready for the next round of test prints. I think we’re finally nearing the end of the line with some of these designs. Certain nitty-gritty details still need to be obsessively worked out, but the overall measurements and aesthetics are close to what I want them to be in most cases. Here’s the checklist of what still needs to be, well, checked:
Overall: Width of shanks, height of signet discs/symbols, degree of filleting on edges, thickness/tolerances of insert pieces.
V1: Disc size/thickness, band shape, overall shape, tolerances/fit of parts.
V2: Symbol-piece size/thickness.
V3: Overall size/shape, finger-hole-to-face height, degree of tapering on band ribs.
EMERALD DAWN: Overall shape, bezel/symbol size, tolerances/fit of parts.
REBIRTH/Sinestro Corps: Overall shape, tolerances/fit of parts, overall height.
Gardner: Overall shape, size/shape of gem bezel, size of “G” symbol when viewed/magnified beneath gem.
Misc. rings (tri-bands, Gleason, etc.) might also get a print and a look, just for funzies.
Nitty-gritty tweaks. Here we have the V2 as last printed (left, 22mm symbol, 3.5mm thick, 1.0mm between the finger-hole and the bottom of the symbol), a version with a 24mm/3.5mm thick symbol, but less space (0.5mm) between the finger-hole and the symbol, and a hybrid version (24mm/3.5mm, 1.0mm space).
I tend to think the middle version looks a little squashed. Leaning toward a taller symbol at 3.5mm, but the extra space between the hole and the symbol could make the ring a bit too high-profile. The one on the right ain’t bad, though.
I tend to think the middle version looks a little squashed. Leaning toward a taller symbol at 3.5mm, but the extra space between the hole and the symbol could make the ring a bit too high-profile. The one on the right ain’t bad, though.
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Made a minor tweak to the REBIRTH/Sinestro Corps design. Up until now, I was using splines for cutting the curvature of the band in profile view. I replaced these with arcs, instead. They look virtually identical, but now the curves are a mathematically consistent and precise 25 degrees each.
Also, upon comparison with some of the older test prints, I’m probably gonna go with the 24mm symbols for the V2 and V3 in the next test batch.
Here’s a quick and dirty V3 size comparison, in 22/24/25.4mm flavors. It’s a bit hard to tell in the photos, but the most recent (22mm) looks very nice, yet seems a little too small to be comic-accurate, whereas the 25.4mm is just a little too chunky and cartoonish. The 24mm is a nice middleground.
Also, upon comparison with some of the older test prints, I’m probably gonna go with the 24mm symbols for the V2 and V3 in the next test batch.
Here’s a quick and dirty V3 size comparison, in 22/24/25.4mm flavors. It’s a bit hard to tell in the photos, but the most recent (22mm) looks very nice, yet seems a little too small to be comic-accurate, whereas the 25.4mm is just a little too chunky and cartoonish. The 24mm is a nice middleground.
