Feb 2021
1 / 10
Feb 2021
Feb 2021
cookieroach
Feb '21

On of my art goals this year is to get better at paneling and page layout for my comic. So far I've been trying to look at proffessional comic pages and learn from them, but was wondering if anyone here has any tips on how to get better.

Is looking into storyboarding any good? Do you want to share things you've learned, or maybe resources/artists to look up?

I'm focusing on a traditional page-format right now (not vertical/webtoons layout), and I think my biggest problem is that my pages could be more exciting/dynamic.

  • created

    Feb '21

  • last reply

    Feb '21
  • 9

    replies

  • 1.3k

    views

  • 7

    users

  • 24

    likes

  • 2

    links

elyss
Feb '21

I've learned alot about paneling from reading indie titles and YouTube channels dedicated to comic book analysis like 'strip panel naked'

I personally wanted a more lively and open vibe to my paneling so I sought out artists I really liked who did that and read and analyzed their stuff.

cookieroach
Feb '21

I watch a lot of youtube channels about comics, but hadn't seen that one! Thanks for the recommendation, looks exactly like something I'm looking for.

Also makes sense to look for artists whose style you like!

muskitten
Feb '21

Oh, I struggled with paneling a lot in the starting but I studied how other webtoon or comic artists do the paneling for their story.
First, you gotta decide where you are posting your comic and what type of content you are making. Like webtoon, tapas and most of the comic websites have a vertical scrolling format while if you are posting on Insta it will in swipe left and square format.

I read a lot of different webtoons and while reading I focused on how they make the panels for different scenes, like for an important scene you want your readers to extra focus on or some new character entry you should cover 1 whole page view (sry I'm bad at explaining but I hope you get it)

Also, you can look up tutorials on youtube that really helps.

Iris-Grimoire
Feb '21

A lot of good tips already, but aside from studying other artists, don't also forget that you don't always need to wow the reader with paneling. Sometimes easy does it with 5 panels neatly distributed on a normal page, just like a dramatic page really calls for something less organized. Just keep in mind the importance of each panel(is it a closeup? is it a long pause? Are the characters moving around? etc) and how much space they should take using that importance, what text you need to fit in, and it's already a good start on any page.

nathanKmcwilliamsIn the making of Bunneh The Rabbit
Feb '21

My only advice is:
Read tons of comics. Every chance you get, be reading comics. Any format, any style. You'll absorb more information about paneling than you might think.

rajillustration
Feb '21

Studying story boarding is really helpful for paneling, and so is taking a gander at graphic design. Like vertical storytelling does lend itself to one panel at a time (maybe two) but there is still a design to it that I wish more artists would do. The page itself, from a distance, should be just as lovely as it is up close. The juxtaposition of small panels next to large panels isn't just about showing a difference in time or importance, it also creates a lot of visual interest for the reader.

Overall I think there is a style to paneling and so every artist does it different, so it's OK if it takes a little bit, hell knows it took me a while to get the hang of it, because while it borrows from illustration, graphic design, and storyboarding--paneling is it's own different thing.

cookieroach
Feb '21

@muskitten Thank you, great tips. I agree it's good to think about where you're going to post your comic so you can create the best reading experience.

@Iris-Grimoire Great point, sometimes simple is better. The reader should enjoy the story and not get distracted by fancy paneling :laughing:

@nathanKmcwilliams Agree that it's good to get inspired by lots of different comics. I actually started to collect some of my favorite pages I've read in a private pinterest board, but then stopped doing it. Maybe I should try it again

@rajillustration Yesss it can be so complicated when you think about all the things you can do. I really want to improve my composition so looking at graphic design is a great tip!

darthmongoose
Feb '21

I've been in your exact position in the past; feeling like I was missing something with my panels, but not really being sure what. There are surprisingly few resources out there. Probably the only book I've read where I really felt like I was learning things that weren't obvious was "Making Comics" by Scott McCloud, which most comickers have already read.

Another common resource you've probably seen before, but I'll share in case you haven't is:

wallywood22panel1600.jpg1600x1215 474 KB

Finally, if you can get a DVD or Bluray of "The Incredibles" to watch the "Making of" stuff about how scenes in that movie were storyboarded and edited, definitely check that out. Anything you can find about storyboarding and how directors choose their shots is valuable.
One of my favourite videos on how NOT to do visual storytelling and why is this one from Folding ideas on why the Suicide Squad movie is a mess:

The Art of Editing and Suicide Squad

And for the opposite side and more comics focus, here's the playlist of Strip Panel Naked's excellent analyses of panelling techniques in fantastic comics:

My number one personal top tip is:
If you can't think of a good reason to make a panel not be a square or rectangle, just make it a square or rectangle. Just like with a movie, keep things like extreme close-ups, very high or low angles, dutch angles (when things are tilted on a diagonal), strongly patterned or novelty backgrounds, silhouettes and novelty effects like extreme foreshortening or fish-eye lens looks for only the absolutely most extreme panels where you need impact.

Other tips:
Putting somebody's face high up in a panel makes them look powerful, especially if the camera is looking up at them. Putting them low down in the panel makes them look vulnerable, especially if the camera looks down on them a bit.

If somebody is right in the middle of a panel surrounded by space, especially if they're kinda small for the panel they're in because it's zoomed out, they'll look lonely and vulnerable.

Putting somebody standing at the side of a panel looking towards the opposite side makes it look like they're about to move that way, while putting somebody standing at the side of a panel looking towards the nearest edge makes it look like they have just moved across the panel.

Diagonals always make things interesting. If your work feels flat and lacking depth, it's usually because there aren't enough diagonals. Running directly towards the reader can look flat, so try having them running on a diagonal as though they're about to run past the reader. Standing straight on often looks flat and dull, so try putting the characters standing on a diagonal.

If a character is pointing or looking intensely to the left or right, the reader will follow where they're pointing or looking. Use this to direct the reader to the next panel. On a related note, when characters are moving in the same direction as the reading order (left to right in English), the reader is moving with them, while if they're moving in the opposite direction, they're moving against or confronting or jumping out at the reader. Use this to your advantage.

cookieroach
Feb '21

Wow, thank you for sharing all this! I’m gonna check out the videos you posted! I’ve read Scott McCloud and I would recommend it as well. Now, how to remember everything... I guess you need to practise a lot in order to get a natural feel for it.

Btw this reminded me of a random tip I read somewhere: use a slightly upward angle (pointing at the sky) in order to save time when drawing a scene. Because drawing the ground often needs more details. Doesn’t work in every situation, but still