What Comic Format Do You Prefer?

[peachiestleaf]

so I was thinking about this while thumbnailing for my comic, and though I'm still only a couple updates in, I think I'd like to change my format? so far I've gone for the more typical kind of updates, where you pack all the panels together into one page. (think printed comics if that makes sense!) but instead, I think I might go for those longer but sparser panel updates like you see in those LINE webcomics! like... with each panel (with exceptions of course!) spaced out a bit more to offer betting pacing/a "longer" update, while not really requiring much more work! to clarify, it's like the difference between Cucumber Quest and I Love Yoo

but which kind do you guys think is better? I don't have any intention of printing this comic, so it's fine if the format wouldn't work well in print-- are their any other disadvantages (or advantages!) to either you can think of though?

[storytimebiondi]

I weirdly prefer the print format comic pages. Even online. I just find it such a chore to scroll over and over to see content.
Sure, you can fit more in the webcomic format, but I just think readability is better with the page format.

[peachiestleaf]

hmm, true! to be honest, when I'm reading on my computer I'm not a big fan of bunches of scrolling either, but I've been reading so much on mobile lately I totally forgot about that ^^'

[kazukitakamura126]

I prefer the format from Cucumber Quest it seems more dynamic and helps describe the overall mood of that page. Although I am not a fan of black speech bubbles because they almost blend in with the rock looking character. This type of format is better at expressing the tone you want your page to have but you have to make sure everything fits on the page. This is the format I use for my comics.

The second format seems a little more friendly tablets and phone with the vertical paneling. You can also make the images bigger in comparison to the other comic format. However, it lacks any of the emotional punch that Cucumber quest has.

Though the choice is ultimately up to use based on what best fits the need of your comic.

[keii4ii]

Despite being a desktop reader, I prefer vertical scroll and make my own comic in that format. One of the reasons is that vertical scroll comics tend to have bigger fonts, and my terrible eyes cannot take even smallish fonts these days.

TBH I die a little inside every time I see people suggesting vertical scroll is inferior/ more limited in the artistic/storytelling department. It's 100% up to how you use it. So if YOU want to make use of that format for your story, go for it! It's not a matter of one format being superior to the other.

[Kura]

I like 'em both, though I lean towards page / print format. And honestly, that may just be because more people know how to use that format, which makes it easier for me to read. Sometimes vertical can be really tedious when it's done wrong or has too much white space.

I'm sure this issue will change the more used to this format artists get.

[60Six]

Why not both?

But yeah, seconding @keii4ii in the sense I die a little every time someone puts down vertical scroll. Don't like big, white spaces in your comic? Then don't put them, or if you do, do it strategically. It can help a lot in pacing and mood when done correctly.
As someone who's done literally 9 chapters of my own comic in traditional format and is now going back and reformatting it to be mobile, I know there are tons of ways you can be just as creative in your paneling vertically. I don't know why everyone assumes you just have to have a bunch of floating squares.

Here are some comics with fantastic examples of creative paneling in a vertical scroll format and are proof that your comic can be just as dynamic and creative while ALSO being mobile friendly:

Girl Love Treats! :: Notice Me! - Part 1 | Tapas

The Sixth Dalai Lama :: 8. Talking to Birds | Tapas

(Formatted this one myself, so I might be a little bias ahaha)

18 Saints are 18 Sinners :: Episode 1: I tried, oh baby, I cried. | Tapas

So I guess to answer your question though... Yeah, I like vertical format these days. As my comic has grown, I've realized I've lost so many potential readers because it wasn't convenient to read on mobile. I even recently found out one of my biggest pledgers on Patreon is in fact a mobile only reader, and when I announced I was converting my comic to mobile, he was very excited to hear that he'll actually be able to easily read it now. It makes me wonder how many other potential patrons I've lost because they tried to read my comic on mobile and found it too hard.

That said, between the two examples you gave, yeah, I prefer Cucumber Quest, because there's a lot more dynamic and fun paneling in it. It's not that I like one format more than the other, I guess. I like creative paneling that is accessible to all audiences.

[SleepingPoppy]

I prefer print format unless the scrolling format is really well executed. I create single pages for my current comic, but after the first chapter I did make some adjustments to how I use it to make sure it's readable on the phone. As long as creators choose a decent font size, it's pretty easy to just turn your phone sideways so you can read the print comic clearly. =)

I'm considering something kinda inbetween-y for my next comic, since I'm not sure I'll ever actually bother printing. Not decided yet, though.

[MGComics]

I do read traditional format comics, I also love them (since childhood) but the font has to be readable.

I like reading comics on my phone, resting on my back. Or sometimes on my PC.

Honestly, the comics that have to read and I can't distinguish the font on my phone.... They may be on my reading list, but I take a long time for me to get there.

[appleandtangerine]

I personally like reading both but nowadays, I read my comics on my phone - and sometimes the page format is hard to read because either the text is too small or I would have to zoom in on my phone screen. Scrolling format, you can just scroll and move on to the next panel without having to adjust the image.

In terms of drawing - definitely the scrolling format! It just gives more flexibility on panel choices and that you're not settled on a limited amount of space.

[kip]

i actually like phone-fitted comics?
they might be annoying on compters (lol) but reading them on phone which is how i read comics is a Lot more fun, pacing is much better controlled, and there’s a lot more place for the art since there’s less speechbubble troubles
it also seems a lot more natural as far as update-by-update goes since you don’t have to fit in stuff into page-long updates, you can pick up and finish up when you actually need
so yup, phone fitted is definitly my preference !

[ilustrariane]

i personally like the old fashioned way really, that "long" kind of page it's cool, but i think it loses some of the storytelling of comics you know? they are not only separated panels, they all make sense together. anyway that's what i learned really.

[KuroTorii]

For my own comic, I prefer creating it in the old fashioned way. That said, I do enjoy the long scroll comics too. I enjoy reading both versions, I really think it depends on the artist and the style they want, either way is good - and I read both on my phone and computer and have no problem either way.
The only issue I have with long scroll is when its TOO long. Like, I feel like I'm scrolling for ages to get to the end, and then I start to loose interest and begin to just try to rush through the rest of the episode.

[ISNEKO]

I like traditional print.

I don't even try to read a comic if it's vertical scroll.

[feardeer]

In general I prefer traditional page layouts. More content, less space. I also don't read on my phone. The screen isn't big enough to appreciate all that arty goodness imo. I think someone else in this thread mentioned that more people know what they're doing when it comes to traditional layouts, and I agree. I don't mind vertical scroll layouts when they're done well, this just happens to be a little too rare. Please be creative with your vertical layouts! Use blank space wisely, you don't need the long pause it creates between every gosh dang panel. And don't skip out on drawing panels and just show me a huge ass string of speech bubbles uGHh. You would never get away with that in traditional layouts.

Vertical layouts open up lots of fun opportunities for cool transitions too, and I love seeing those. A benefit that vertical has over traditional is spreads... two page spreads in horizontal/traditional form doesn't translate well to Tapas or other hosting platforms. Vertical layouts could create their entire chapter as a spread and it would be fine.

Not sure I've said anything that hasn't already been said but oh well. Haha. Anyway, that's my take, bye.

[Rhonder]

As a reader, I'm mostly indifferent. I do prefer traditional format, but I'm not against vertical scrolling in any way.

As I've been planning my first project I've found myself preferring the Traditional way of page layouts quite a bit. Although I do end up using a lot of full width panels anyways, I like the pacing/sequences you can convey with in-line panels. I'm definitely a baby comic artist though, so it's definitely possible my opinion will change in time.

[Rai]

I don't mind either way as long as the story/art catches my attention, but I do have a slight preference towards long form unless it's ridiculously long then I'll probably nope out from scrolling for miles.

[Solitaire]

I think, overall, I prefer reading the traditional print layout, but I also prefer reading comics in print. This might be because I didn't get a computer until my late teens, and didn't get a smartphone until last year. I also think it might be due to my ADD habit of skipping around while reading, and the long-format comic forces me to stay linear, which can be frustrating (Though probably a good thing).
However, it varies comic to comic. Some make really good use of the scrolling to almost give an animated quality to the comic ("The Woken" is an example of this). Sometimes it's just an art style or a story that fits well to one format. In general, long-format seems suited to fast-paced, cinematic-like stories, while the print format is possibly more "literary", slower, but allows for more detail and variety of compositions.

[Akhdas]

vertical comics makes me want to kill myself