Comic FAQ
How long have you been drawing?
How do you draw the comic?
What drawing materials do you use?
About how long does it take you to finish a comic?
When do you update?
Are your characters based on real people?
What is your favorite web comic?
How much money does your comic generate?
Can I post one of your comics on my site?
Can I link to your comic?
Will you link to my comic?
How do you draw the comic?
What drawing materials do you use?
About how long does it take you to finish a comic?
When do you update?
Are your characters based on real people?
What is your favorite web comic?
How much money does your comic generate?
Can I post one of your comics on my site?
Can I link to your comic?
Will you link to my comic?
Q - What the hell does BetaPwned mean?
A - I'm playing on the notion that life is just a test, the beta version of some glorious final reality, and that sometimes it kicks your ass with sincere authority. Is this a personal philosophy? No, not really. I don't really believe in any glorious final reality. I do, however, believe that sometimes life kicks your ass.^ Q - What programs do you use for the website?
A - For image mapping, flash, and CSS creation and editing I use Coffee Cup Software. I highly recommend everything they offer, and their customer service is extremely helpful. For PhP editing, I use Notepad++, and the automation script I use for the comic is SomeryC. SomeryC's supprt forum is the only reason I was able to switch over to an automation script in the first place - I'm a complete newb and had no idea what I was doing. A few posts later and I was up and running.^ Q - What about for the site graphics?
A - I use plain old Photoshop for my site graphics, and my fonts were ironically purchased from 1001 Free Fonts.^ Q - Who hosts the site?
A - I use Go Daddy for all my hosting. I've used them before and they please me. They have great rates, I get plenty of bandwidth and storage space, and the customer service rocks. In fact, I'd need a pretty compelling reason to switch.^ Q - Can I use content from your site?
A - I consider any graphic used for avitars and/or signatures to be public domain. Drop me an email and get permission first before using anything else you find here. I'm pretty free flowing with the permission, and I do answer emails.^ Q - How do I advertise on your site?
A - You sign up for an account with Project Wonderful and submit a bit for ad space. This is currently the only advertising I offer. It's a great service and takes all the hassel out of both ends.^ Q - How long have you been drawing?
A - I started drawing about three months before I posted the first comic. Yep, three whole months.^ Q - How do you draw the comic?
A - I start out with a script which I break down into frames. THen, I sketch out the characters in non-photo blue, pencil them, and scan them. I do all my inking and coloring in Inkscape, which is also where I create the panels and do the lettering.^ Q - What drawing materials do you use?
A - I mostly use scrap paper and sketch pads to draw the webcomic, but I use Smooth Strathmore Bristol Board when I'm drawing print comics because I like to lay out the whole page. I use Prismacolor non-photo blue pencils for my initial sketch, and Pentel .o5HB mechanicals for penciling.^ Q - About how long does it take you to finish a comic?
A - The single panel Dear Diary strips take me about 10 minutes. The single panel BP strips take me about 3 hours. The full page BetaPwned strips take me from 6 to 10 hours. This, my dear readers, is why I don't update daily.^ Q - When do you update?
A - BP updates Mondays, Dear Diary updates Wednesdays, and BetaPwned updates Fridays. The Wednesday Webcomic Weview updates, you guessed it, Wednesdays. I would suggest that you sign up for the RSS feed, but I'm really horrible about remembering to update it. I suck.^ Q - Are your characters based on real people?
A - For the most part the main characters are glorified versions of my real friends and family, yes. There are some purely fictional characters though, and some characters are blends of several people. As for the content and it's relation to reality, it varies. Some strips are word for word renditions of actual events, some are sparked by snipets of conversations, other are pure fiction. Chances are good that the weirder and more unlikely it seems, the closer to reality it actually is.^ Q - What is your favorite web comic?
A - I don't really have a favorite comic. You can find links to a rather dizzying array of comics I enjoy over on the Community page.^ Q - How much money does your comic generate?
A - Let's just say I've still got a day job. I'm working awfully hard to rectify that, of course, but I expect it will be quite a while before comics are paying my bills. If you're interested in helping me out on that front, and get some nifty swag while you're at it, take a look at the donation incentives.^ Q - Can I post one of your comics on my site?
A - Um... probably not. See, I sort of bank on people coming to my site, not yours. If you think you've got a decent reason for posting a comic rather than a link, like for educational purposes, drop me an email and ask.^ Q - Can I link to your comic?
A - Assuming you're not going to melt my server with the force of a thousand suns, certainly. You can even pick up some banners and buttons at the bottom of the Community page. If there is a chance that you'll melt my server with the force of a thousand suns - I absolutely appreciate the link, but please warn me first.^ Q - Will you link to my comic?
A - Maybe. Email me with your site URL. If I like what I see, I'll link to it. Adding an 88 x 31 pixel link to your email would be highly appreciated as well. Ad space is also available through Project Wonderful if you're looking for a link on the main comic page.^ Q - In the name of all that is good, why did you title your store Monkey Sex?
A - Let's be honest. I did it because it gets people who aren't necessarily shopping to click the link. People who are looking for things to buy still seem to find it.^ Q - Why did you choose Zazzle over other options?
A - Above all else, I've ordered items from Zazzle as well as some of the other print-on-demand options and I was more impressed with the quality, speed, and customer service I got with Zazzle. I'm also a big fan of the variety and shopping experience you get with Zazzle, and it doesn't hurt that they don't charge me monthly regardless of how many designs I have available.^ Q - Why would you want to let shoppers change your designs?
A - Because you might look really great in a white T, which means that the blue lettered design I came up with will work great. The next customer to come along may look awful in white and choose a blue T instead. So much for my blue lettered design - unless of course I give each customer the power to change the color of the lettering on the design.^ Q - Can I make my own items with your character or sayings on them to sell?
A - That would be copyright infringement. No one likes an infringer.^ Q - Okay then, what if I want an item you don't carry?
A - Tell me your idea. If it's appropriate, I'll make one up. If I like it, you'll probably wind up with a free one along with some other goodies for coming up with a good idea.^ Q - Why can I see some items on your page, but not on your Zazzle store front?
A - Because some of my items aren't "family friendly" and, as such, have been rated in such a way that only registered Zazzle users will see it in my Zazzle store. You'll always be able to see all of the items I offer on the BetaPwned Monkey Sex page.^ Q - How long will it take before I get my order?
A - I can't control when you get your Zazzle orders, refer to their Shipping FAQ if you need help there. As for things you order from me - I have every intention of shipping orders within 48 hours of receiving the order. If I fall behind, I'll make an announcement of some sort or send off an email.^ Q - Do you do commission work?
A - My art skills are still pretty limited. If you'd like a commissioned work email me with a description of what you want and we can chat about it. Because I'm a newb to this, rates are extremely flexible.^