Comic StripGraphic Narrative Steps for Creating a Comic

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Comic Strip/Graphic Narrative Steps for Creating a Comic Strip M. Mac. Donald BJH

Comic Strip/Graphic Narrative Steps for Creating a Comic Strip M. Mac. Donald BJH

Creating Panels Step 1: Choosing events • 1 -2 sentence conversations between characters per

Creating Panels Step 1: Choosing events • 1 -2 sentence conversations between characters per panel • 1 picture per frame • Focus on a main event or scene (climax, resolution, major conflict) • Events of a comic strip should occur as they would in a narrative or story (beginning, middle, end) • Pick events that are not too difficult to represent (illustrate, draw, etc. )

Characters Step 2: Draw your Characters • Draw rough drafts of visuals that will

Characters Step 2: Draw your Characters • Draw rough drafts of visuals that will go in each of the frames. • Keep in mind the story that you are trying to tell, and make sure to save room for the speech bubble. • Experiment with extreme close-ups to show emotion. Is the character angry? Happy? Excited? Scared? • Try and convey your story with pictures as well as words

Using Text Step 4: Dialogue • Decide on text before drawing your speech bubbles—keep

Using Text Step 4: Dialogue • Decide on text before drawing your speech bubbles—keep it short 3 sentences maximum. • Bold lettering is used to emphasize words, large letters in dialogue represent shouting, and small lettering in dialogue usually stand for whispering. Dialogue and capture lettering is usually all uppercase (CAPITALS) • Display lettering includes sound effects (POW!) and any other text that is not contained in a balloon or caption (store signage, license plates, words on a computer screen, etc. ).

Text Balloons • Word balloon: A bordered shape containing dialogue, usually with a tail

Text Balloons • Word balloon: A bordered shape containing dialogue, usually with a tail that points to the speaker. • Thought balloon: A bordered shape containing a character’s unspoken thoughts. Thought balloons almost always have bumpy, cloudlike borders and tails that look like trails of bubbles.

Things to Avoid Common Comic Errors • Too much text or visual information in

Things to Avoid Common Comic Errors • Too much text or visual information in a panel. • Too many panels on a page. (3 -6 is the norm) • Confusing or awkward panel and scene transitions. (Events should be placed in a logical and easy to read order)

More things to avoid • Giving too much, too little information • Unclear directions

More things to avoid • Giving too much, too little information • Unclear directions to the reader. (The reader should easily connect your visuals to scene) • Needlessly long speeches or internal monologues. (relevant information only) • Text that gives the same information as the images in a panel.

Final Touches • Colour your graphic narrative/comic strip to give it some style. •

Final Touches • Colour your graphic narrative/comic strip to give it some style. • Make sure the final copy is easy to read and understand. • Absolutely no spelling errors. • Have some fun with this but take it seriously!