Switching to long-scroll?

[Alyssa]

Long-scroll, vertical-scroll - is that what it's called?

I currently do my webcomic in a traditional printed-style layout (since I used to print them), but after analyzing the panels I think they could be somewhat easily converted into long-scroll format. I'm working on another comic I am designing in long-scroll format, but am wondering if I should make the switch with my current one...

Has anyone switched after they started the other way? And better yet, has anyone gone back and converted their old pages to long-scroll? Do you like it better? It shouldn't take me long to convert my old pages, but is it worth it?

My comic is here if anyone wants to give me direct advice.

Thanks!

[fleohr]

I'd say why not? Most of the readers read on phone, so a vertical scroll comic is very convenient to read

[Nullyish]

I did switch from the printed-style layout to vertical-scroll layout. However I did not convert the ones I have made so I just continued on to the next episode and changed it to vertical-scroll layout. It will be satisfying tho to have my comic consistently use vertical-scroll format since the beginning but I am a lazy person so I don't convert those episodes with printed-style format XD

[dawgofdawgness]

Switching to long scroll format can be a good idea since it's becoming more popular now (with Webtoons and all that), but personally I don't think you have to go back to your old pages and convert them - if you switch from traditional to long scroll in the middle of the story, I'm sure your readers won't mind.

Long scroll can work better for webcomics since you can manipulate pacing easier with the spacing - without the limits of the page sizes and borders in traditional format, you can basically put panels wherever the heck you want

[Wumbl]

I'm considering doing this too for my next comic... (sequel to my existing one)

Mainly because I haven't tried this format yet and I intend to try everything once. I feel that it effects how you use your panels a lot, from reading other stuff in this format, since it reads differently. You can really play with panel proximity for pacing's sake, while with print you can not do this as much for obvious reasons.

[ilustrariane]

i personally don't like the vertical scroll thing...it makes the chapters longer, and it's not a good thing. and it loses a lot of the comic storytelling really...but maybe that's just my opinion, cause i read it on the pc, not on my phone...

[Alyssa]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll do a tester and see if it's working for my series or not... I redid a couple pages and I'm really liking the flow.

@wumblebumarts readability was totally my issue! I'm such a traditionalist, and so love the printed comic format, but it seems to make several of my pages a little clunky to read on Tapas, and giving away gags too early. Just adjusting the format for the platform seems to make it read much smoother.

@ilustrariane I totally get it, I'm desktop too and some chapters get a little frustrating when they're so long, sometimes it really does negatively affect the pacing. My pages are quite short, so making them vertical doesn't seem to make them much longer, I'll see how my readers respond. This is something I didn't even think of, so thanks!

[beta1042]

i started on vertical format cause I wanted to be able to read my comic on my phone. Personally I like the format since it's super easy to read on mobile, and I prefer being able to read on mobile over my computer, since I always have my phone on me (can read a chapter while waiting in line or something).