Digital Chameleon
{{Short description|Canadian comics studio}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Digital Chameleon
| logo =
| logo_caption =
| type = Comics studio (digital production)
| foundation = {{start date and age|1991}}
| founders = {{plainlist|
- Lovern Kindzierski
- Chris Chuckry
- George Freeman
}}
| defunct = {{end date and age|2003}}
| location_city = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| location_country = Canada
| key_people =
{{Plainlist|Ed Beddome, Tim Riddoch, Dick Thomas }}
| homepage =
}}
Digital Chameleon was a comic book coloring, inking, and lettering studio based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Working for clients such as DC/Vertigo, Marvel, Defiant, Topps, Dark Horse, Eclipse, First, Image, and Malibu,{{cite web|url=https://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=DIGITAL+CHAMELEON|title=Digital Chameleon|website=Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999|access-date=May 16, 2025}} Digital Chameleon is attributed with being the first studio to make the use of the computer software program Adobe Photoshop widespread in the comics industry.{{cite web|last=Hollingsworth |first=Matt |url=http://matthollingsworth.net/content/view/22/1/ |title=Color Guides |website=MattHollingsworth.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008024428/http://matthollingsworth.net/content/view/22/1/|archive-date=2008-10-08|access-date=Apr 6, 2009}}{{cite web|last=Sierra |first=Jerry A. |url=http://www.historyofcuba.com/jas/Articles/color1.htm |title=Digital Chameleon Colors The Vertigo Universe - Part One |work=Publish |date=July 1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114195558/http://www.historyofcuba.com/jas/Articles/color.htm|archive-date=Nov 14, 2008|via=HistoryOfCuba.com}} In addition to their work in the comics field, Digital Chameleon also colored animation, CD covers, posters, magazines, and advertisements.
History
Canadians comics artists Lovern Kindzierski and George Freeman had partnered together since {{circa}} 1987, doing coloring and other creative work for such publishers as Dark Horse, DC, Eclipse, and First Comics. Kindzierski's cousin Christopher Chuckry{{cite news|title=Riding the news cycle: Handling of pandemic inspired local comic-book colourist's daily political cartoons|first= Ben |last=Waldman
|date=Sep 21, 2021|work=Free Press |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/2021/09/21/riding-the-news-cycle}}{{cite news|title=RRC Turns Out for Manitoba Comic Con | date=Apr 25, 2018|first= McKenzie |last=Sauder |work=The Projector|url=https://theprojector.ca/rrc-turns-out-for-manitoba-comic-con/|quote=Chuckry’s cousin, colourist Lovern Kindzierski....}} joined the team in 1991 and — along with partners Ed Beddome, Tim Riddoch and Dick Thomas{{cn|date=May 2025}} — they formed Digital Chameleon, with Chuckry assuming the title of President and Kindzierski becoming Vice President and Creative Director.
Colorists at Digital Chameleon included Kindzierski, Laurie E. Smith, George Freeman, Bernie Mireault, and Carla Feeney.{{cite web|last=Sierra |first=Jerry A. |url=http://www.historyofcuba.com/jas/Articles/side-1.htm |title=Digital Chameleon Colors The Vertigo Universe - Sidebar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114200608/http://www.historyofcuba.com/jas/Articles/side-1.htm|archive-date=2008-11-14 |work=Publish |date=July 1994| access-date= April 6, 2009|via=HistoryOfCuba.com}} Partner Beddome left the company in 1993, and co-founder Chuckry left the company in 1996. After Chuckry's departure, Kindzierski acted as president.{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/lovern-kindzierski-b320b1177/ |title=Lovern Kindzierski
|work= LinkedIn | access-date= Apr 6, 2009}}{{dead|date=May 2025}} Freeman became art director in {{circa}} 1994; after he left, in the period 1997–1998, Igor Kordej took over as the studio's art director.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}
Jolaine Thomas was named Operations Manager in August 1994; an employee since 1993, in the year she had been at the company, it had expanded from seven employees to 25.{{cite news|title=Digital Chameleon Names Operations Manager |page= 40 |work=The Comics Journal |number= 170 |date=Aug 1994 |department=Newswatch }}
Colorists and inkers employed by Digital Chameleon in 1997 included Hilary Barta, Jordi Ensign, Kindzierski, Gary Martin, Steve Montano, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Tom Simmons.
The company was doing digital lettering in the early 2000s, notably for English translations of manga.
Digital Chameleon closed its doors in 2003.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}
Production process
In 1997, the company used Macintosh Quadra 800, Macintosh Quadra 950, and Macintosh Quadra 840AV computers, augmented by SuperMac Thunderstorm Pro cards and DayStar Digital cache cards. Coloring and color separations were primarily done in Photoshop, but "painters often turn to other software on special situations. For example, if a more painterly effect is required, such as more specialized brushes, or textures, they go to Fractal Painter. Other software used includes Studio 32, Zeus, Color-it, Illustrator, Freehand and QuarkXPress."{{cite web|last=Sierra |first=Jerry A. |url=http://www.historyofcuba.com/jas/Articles/color2.htm |title=Digital Chameleon Colors The Vertigo Universe - Conclusion |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114200553/http://www.historyofcuba.com/jas/Articles/color2.htm|archive-date=2008-11-14 |work=Publish |date=July 1994| access-date= April 6, 2009|via=HistoryOfCuba.com}}
Awards
Digital Chameleon was recognized for its work with Kindzierski/Digital Chameleon being nominated for a 1993 Eisner Award for Best Coloring.{{cite news|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner93.php|title=1993 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac}} (In addition, Kindzierski was nominated for the same award in 1992,{{cite news|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner92.php|title=1992 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac}} 1998,{{cite news|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner98.php|title=1998 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac}} 2001,{{cite news|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner01.php|title=2001 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac}} and 2015.{{cite news|url=https://comicsalliance.com/2015-eisner-award-nominations/|title=2015 Eisner Award Nominations Announced |work=ComicsAlliance |first=Janelle |last=Asselin |date=April 22, 2015}})
Kindzierski won the 1997 Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards for Favorite Colorist.[http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/cbg.php Comic Buyers Guide Fan Awards], Hahn Library. Accessed Jan. 22, 2020. Digital Chameleon received nominations for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards Favorite Colorist Award in 1997 and 1998 (both with Kindzierski), and again in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}
Digital Chameleon received a Harvey Award nomination in 1999 for Best Inker for its "body of work in 1998, including the Hulk/Sub-Mariner Annual (Marve)".{{cite news|title=Fantagraphics Sweeps Harveys: 45 Nominations for 17 Titles Sets New Record |work=The Comics Journal| department= News Watch |date=Feb 1999| number=210 |pages=15–16}} The company also received a Harvey Award nomination in 2002 for Best Lettering on (the English translation of) Akira.{{cite news|title=Blood and Thunder| first=Toren |last=Smith|work=The Comics Journal |number=244 |location=Seattle, WA |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |date=June 2002 |page=4}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|rii749VcT5w|Digital Chameleon's coloring process}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1991 establishments in Manitoba
Category:2003 disestablishments in Manitoba
Category:Design companies disestablished in 2003
Category:Design companies established in 1991
Category:Defunct companies based in Winnipeg
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