Is every panel a page?

Thomas_Anderson · Jul 26, 2010

When you make a panel, do you use an entire sheet of paper for one panel, and then scan it into the computer and resize it?

I'm about to reboot my webcomic, and I want to do it right this time.

Locusta · Jul 27, 2010

I think everyone does it differently, although most people I know of do draw large and then resize down. I like to have most of my panels on the same piece of paper, but if you want more space to draw, one panel per sheet of paper might be a good way to address that.

dpaterso · Jul 27, 2010

Whatever works best for you is the right way, as far as webcomics go. You get to pick your own process.

I work with individual .jpg panels, which is easier with computer art, and when they're done, I patch them together into sample pages for upload (since most sites can only handle one image per page).

e.g. this (individual panels) begats this (panels stitched together, a quick'n'easy process).

Depending on panel size, pages can be formed from more than 6 panels - number of panels is your choice too.

Use the Force to guide you!

-Derek

elae · Jul 27, 2010

I typically draw all my panels on one page, but on some projects I do split them in two to be able to draw larger.

Doing each panel separately means you may not be able to really consider the layout/flow of a page, or how the readers' eyes are led around. You might also end up with unintentional tangents-- the lines in one panel might look like they continue into the next panel if they're at the same angle.

myrmidon · Aug 1, 2010

I agree that there's a lot of different ways to do this and that you have to just figure out the one that works best for you, however I'm with elae that doing them individually can make it harder to consider layout/flow/and pacing.

I tend to do my work all on one page because it helps me with my pacing and composition. I will sometimes draw larger (usually 11x17) and size down but I usually try to keep everything on the same sheet.

sunandshadow · Aug 1, 2010

You can even draw the background of a panel on one page and the foreground on another page if you want. That's mainly if you are going to draw the background really nicely once and then reuse it for several panels.

Bicyclefish · Aug 4, 2010

Most comic folk I know do all the panels on one page, like elae and myrmidon, in order to factor in flow, layout, and pacing. Some people play with overlapping panels or having art or word balloons spill over into the gutters. A friend put it this way: "A comic is not just a bunch of individual pictures."

As for the suggestion of drawing a BG once, scanning it and reusing it, keep in mind that if you resize the image the line quality and thickness will change.

Wolvel · Aug 6, 2010

Question are you talking about a regular comic page or a strip comic of a few panels all in a row?

jmascia · Aug 8, 2010

I think most professional comic artists put all the panels from one page on a single sheet. But they use these big oversized sheets so they can still put details in even the smaller panels.

Wolvel · Aug 8, 2010

jmascia said:
I think most professional comic artists put all the panels from one page on a single sheet. But they use these big oversized sheets so they can still put details in even the smaller panels.

They do its usually on large bristol board since it is good for the india ink and all the panels are on one page to control layouts as well as flow for the story.

Is every panel a page?

Thomas_Anderson

Locusta

Expat writer in NL

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

elae

time to draw

myrmidon

i AM batman (not really)

sunandshadow

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Bicyclefish

Pedaling Pescado

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!

jmascia

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!