To make my illustrations more fitting to the vintage comic style I am adding paper and ink textures to the designs.

Here are the 3 textures I am using...

I added the paper texture on top of my illustration and changed the layer to DIVIDE.

Here I changed the layer to COLOUR BURN - colour is more saturated in this style. 

I tried MULTIPLY but the it didn't add enough texture for what I'm going for - I decided on on the first layer style (DIVIDE).

added the first ink texture on top and set the layer to EXCLUSION - too grainy and is making the image too light.

Changed the layer to DIFFERENCE - I prefer this, keeps the image dark and appropriate for the horror theme.

I wanted more of a distressed look to the solid black sections so I added another texture to just those darker parts. To do this I selected all the black with the colour range option and created a layer mask with the selection.

i changed the layer to LIGHTEN COLOUR - made the black too light/dull

I switched the layer back to normal and just turned the opacity to 10% - this worked nicely on the darker sections but obviously did nothing to the solid black.

I will be applying these qualities/properties to all of my illustrations & posters.

A selection of images from comics/graphic novels including blood, looking at how they stylise it to fit with the aesthetic of the novel. Couldn't find many examples of older comics portraying blood, gore seems to be more of a modern addition to comics.

A selection of images of blood splatters and drips for reference.