Elements of a Comic

Objectives Identify the components and terminology of comic book lingo Create lettering in a comic strip that is neat, clean, and legible using the Ames Lettering System Develop different shapes and styles of speech bubbles in a comic strip Tell a coherent story using only dialogue, onomatopoeia, (SFX) and action lines (no images)

What is a Comic? A sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, with text in balloons and captions.

What does a comic consist of besides images? PANELS LETTERING Word Bubbles Emanata (Action Lines & Words)

PANELS Still images in a sequence of juxtaposed images Panels can be any shape or size that will fit on a page:  square, round, triangular, narrow vertical, shallow horizontal, diagonal, etc. They help divide a page in an interesting way Template Layouts

PANELS Panels are usually bounded by heavy lines called borders. However, borderless images can also qualify as panels

Types of Panels Splash Panel Massive panels that take up most, or all, of the page. If it takes up the whole page, it is usually called a full-page splash. The specific purpose of a splash panel is to add dramatic weight to a scene, be it a shocking reveal, a character's entrance, an establishing shot of scenery or a building, a fight scene, etc.

Types of Panels Double-page Spread A giant splash panel covering two facing pages

Types of Panels Inset Panel A panel contained within a larger panel.

Types of Panels Bleed Panel The art extends or “bleeds” out of the live area of the page on one or more sides

Types of Panels Gutter The space between and around panels (usually white)

LETTERING Any text on a comic’s page Dialogue and caption lettering is usually all UPPERCASE. You can use the same font for all characters or choose a font that fits your characters’ personalities

Types of Lettering LARGE Lettering Bold Lettering Used to emphasize words LARGE Lettering Represent shouting small lettering Indicates whispering

Types of Lettering Captions Often used for narration, transitional text (“Meanwhile...”), or off-panel dialogue.  Captions usually have rectangular borders, but can also be borderless or floating letters.

Types of Lettering Display Lettering Text that isn’t part of someone’s dialogue. Includes sound effects and any other text that is not contained in a balloon or caption (store signage, license plates, words on a computer screen, etc.)

Types of Lettering Sound Effects (SFX) Stylized lettering that represents noises within a scene.  Most SFX are floating letters, and sometimes they’re an integral part of the imagery.  As with many other elements of comics, overuse of sound effects can be distracting.  They should be reserved for significant sounds, whether large (explosions) or small (a door softly closing on a lonely room).

Types of Lettering Sound Effects (SFX) SFX are usually examples of “onomatopoeia.” These types of words sound like their spellings. For example:

WORD BUBBLES A bordered shape containing text They come in different shapes and sizes Sometimes major characters have their own distinctive balloon border/shape and lettering styles

Types of Word Bubbles Word Balloons contain dialogue with a tail pointed towards the speaker. Thought Balloons contain a character’s unspoken thoughts.  Thought balloons almost always have bumpy, cloudlike borders and tails that look like trails of bubbles.

EMANATA Symbols or icons defining what is happening in a character’s head, or defining an action

Types of Emanata Emanata can also come from objects.

Types of Emanata Action Lines A term that refers to the abstract lines that appear behind a moving object or person to make them look like they are in motion (also called “Motion Lines”)

PROJECT- A Comic With No Pictures

Unit 6- Elements of a Comic Resources Techniques for creating comics: http://www.bigredhair.com/work/comics.html Video (Stop at 2:25)- Using the AMES Lettering Guide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm- figRWirU&feature=results_video&playnext=1&li st=PL0408B0C5FEA5DBE4