Dumb problems while outlining comic pages

[Seaby]

After years of reading manga, my brain automatically sees a right-to-left format as the right way to read a comic. Which means that I keep on messing up my page outlines and not realizing it, and once I do I realize that the page flow doesn't work anymore because of how I drew up the previous panel's composition... it's rather frustrating.
I'm wondering if anyone else shares the same/similar problems.
(Side question to non-manga readers, do you find a right-to-left format a confusing/not worth the read?)

[CAOMouse]

This didn't happen to me, I just press flip horizontally in case it does happen

[Seaby]

I wish it were that easy

[VibrantFox]

this isn't a problem i've had but i suppose i can see where you're coming from. Usually if i'm having an issue with panel layout i try to make sure i'm catching it during the thumbnailing phase as opposed to much later in the process like lineart or something

As for your second question the right to left format isn't too much or an issue so long as it's made clear from the start that's the reading direction and the flow/organization of panels or speech bubbles is clear. I've read comics that use that format but the bubbles have been placed in such a way that it makes reading or understanding what's going on next to impossible or really confusing.

[MzBun]

I've been reading both western and eastern comics growing up so it's not as big a problem for me.
One thing you can try is to stick some post-it notes on the sides of your screen or workstation, somewhere you can see, just to remind yourself which direction your comic is going. I do this a lot for my workflow in my day job

[Seaby]

@VibrantFox Speech bubbles are actually a bigger problem left-to-right because I subconsciously draw up my panels in a right-to-left format (it's seriously ingrained, it's kind of surprising). Past threads stated that as an issue as well, but thankfully that's not a mistake I tend to make.

@MzBun That's a good idea! I manage to forget the direction between panels, so it should be helpful to keep a physical reminder.

[Grhe]

It's a huge problem for me, I seem to always read comics from right to left, even if I try to remind myself that I should read the other way around... The western reading way is just unnatural for me for some weird reason...

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Oh man. I feel this.
Ever since I made my one shot for the Tezuka Contest, I have to fight the urge to draw my normal pages in the manga format.
I discovered that my mind naturally wants to format my comic from right to left, it's so much easier for me.
But I can't just do it that way and flip it. The art looks weird to me when I do.

[scribesunlimited]

As for your second question the right to left format isn't too much or an issue so long as it's made clear from the start that's the reading direction and the flow/organization of panels or speech bubbles is clear. I've read comics that use that format but the bubbles have been placed in such a way that it makes reading or understanding what's going on next to impossible or really confusing.

This. I'm about ready to dump speech bubbles entirely and go with a good old fashioned dialogue and line format. The bubbles take too much of the scenery. Or maybe I'll be bold and make transparent speech bubbles with no white filler.

Hmmm. Pondering.

[VibrantFox]

a useful trick i've learned for speech bubbles is to include them in the thumbnails. If you plan for text as your framing the art it's easier to avoid having things get blocked out or covered up

[DokiDokiTsuna]

I have too many years of muscle memory from drawing comic panels; I always draft from left to right...even though, when I read comics, I accidentally read from right to left roughly 50% of the time. XP

It's weird because I read more western comics in general, but it may be because I tend to read more eastern comics in one sitting (one page of a comic strip vs. a full chapter of a manga) so my brain learns to habituate to the latter.

[Cavechan]

I read a lot of manga but it doesn't happen with me. Maybe because I've drawn interchangeably either direction numerous times for projects. Like I also did the Tezuka manga award and had no trouble going right to left even though both of my current comics are left to right which I've been doing for many years now.