Suggestions for Creating Your Comic

1. Develop the plot for the story. The story structure might include a
   1. Beginning
      1. Describes the setting
      2. Introduces the characters
      3. Establishes their situations
      4. Presents opening events/conflicts
   2. Middle
      1. Introduce additional characters
      2. Emphasizes a number of interconnected events
      3. Creates conflict important to the story
   3. Closing
      1. Build further tension and action
      2. Reaches a climax
      3. Leads to a resolution or ending
2. Determine the number of scenes (panels) required to tell the story.
3. Determine the size and shape of each panel.
   1. The panel’s shape:
      1. accentuates feeling
      2. provides dramatic impact
      3. defines movement
   2. Varying the size can slow down or speed up the action within a scene.
   3. Number of panels:
      1. More panels speeds up action
      2. Fewer panels slows pacing
   4. Shape of panels:
      1. Rectangular keeps the story flowing smoothly
      2. Changing shapes makes the story more dramatic
4. Design the cover page and/or splash panel, if desired.
   1. Cover page:
      1. Page that tells the story in one picture
      2. Should include the comic’s title and author’s name
   2. Splash panel:
      1. A panel that introduces the story
      2. Gives frame of reference and the setting
      3. Usually contains:
         1. Opening scene
         2. Caption box
         3. Title of the story
         4. Author credits
5. Determine the content of each panel. This includes:
   1. Setting
   2. Action
   3. Characters
   4. Text
      1. Dialogue the characters’ words or thoughts
      2. Captions the narration
      3. Sound Effects graphic written representation of a particular sound
6. Take pictures to tell your story visually
   1. Use different visual perspectives to make your story more dynamic. This can be done by considering the camera angle in your photo. Those shots used in comic books include:
      1. Establishing: used to establish the setting of a scene.
      2. High-angle: portray the scene from any angle higher than eye level.
      3. Low-angle: show the scene from angles lower than eye level.
      4. Long (wide-screen): capture all characters, action, or setting within a single panel.
      5. Medium: show action in the foreground and background at the same time.
      6. Close-up: visual exclamation marks. show a character’s emotions through facial or other expressive gestures.
      7. Extreme close-up:
         1. For people: only part of the face is shown. Reflects intense emotion.
         2. For objects: draws attention to specific details
      8. Down-shots (Bird’s-eye-view): show an aerial perspective, looking straight or nearly straight down.
      9. Up-shots (worm’s-eye-view): portrays a low perspective. Can make a character appear more impressive or menacing.
      10. Over-the-shoulder: literally look over a character’s shoulder, with the character’s head and shoulders visible near the edge of the panel.
      11. Point-of-view: meant to show what one of the characters sees.
      12. Reverse angle: provide the opposite perspective to that of the preceding panel.
7. Open Comic Life and make your comic.
   1. Select your layout.
   2. Drag and drop your photos to the appropriate panel.
   3. Add your text
      1. Caption boxes are usually at the top or bottom of a panel.
      2. Balloons are usually in the top third of the panel. The tail may:
         1. Point towards the character (mouth if applicable) whose word/thoughts are portrayed
         2. Point to the side of a panel to indicate an off-panel speaker.
      3. Sound effects: size, colour, and arrangement of the letters helps capture the essence of the sound.