Dan Shane credited for the blueprints in Sweden (was: RE: Left out)

[Dan Shane]

STEFAN WROTE:

> You are mentioned on the Swedish blueprints (at the bottom of the second
> page):
>
> "RITARE: D. SHANE" (artist: D. Shane)
>
> However, the printed credit for the actual story only mentions Don Rosa.

AND I REPLY:

Yes, that's because I put my first initial and last name in the drafter's
block at Don's request.  He said it was probably the only way may name would
ever be attached to the project, and he was right.

You will notice my name does not appear as the architect or designer.  For
those who are not familiar with how technical drawings work, the drafter is
considered to be strictly a person who takes the designer's ideas and puts
measurements and specifications in place for the benefit of the builder or
manufacturer.  He or she is hardly ever considered part of the design
process, just a helper.  And I guess that pretty much describes what I did
for Don.

The story and prints to support it were definitely his idea.  He provided
sketches of the general layout of each floor and about half of the gags or
better.  It was my job to turn that idea into a drawing that would at least
look technically feasible, placing walls, doors, windows, traps, and other
objects in positions and relative scale that they could actually work.  If I
could think of a gag on my own or augment one of Don's in a way that made it
funnier, he encouraged me to do so.  The one I liked the best was making the
employee lounge exactly the same size as the broom closet that was next to
it.

The joy was in the creation, not in any brief recognition I would get for my
work.  I knew the job was dangerous when I took it.  I think most folks on
this list know of my part in the project already -- Don certainly tried to
make as many people as possible aware of my miniscule efforts.  I only
mentioned it in response to Gary's acknowledgement of the minor irritation
caused by missing credits.

This wasn't the first time I made a contribution to one of Don's
masterpieces anyway -- just the first time I actually received any sort of
recompense.  These were always his stories, and any request he made for my
assistance in any way was viewed as a chance to work with a good friend and
neighbor.  If Don ever wants anyone to know where my little contributions
could be seen, that would always be up to him to point out.

D. SHANE (as the title block says)