Comic Panels Book Research 1

I decided to do some research on panels and layouts while doing my thumbnails, to make sure that I know what message my images will give and how best to tell my story.

How to Layout Your Comic Pages - Palle Schmidt
First panel should be establishing the shot
- Variation - shape/size of the panels ---> including inside panels
- No more than 9 panels, 3 or less speech bubbles in each
- Image with one panel is best for showing single objects/characters
- Think about printing etc when it comes to pages where the art bleeds over the margins

How to Plan and Layout Your Comic
- 180 degree rule - imaginary line the camera will not cross, keeps characters etc on the same side

Composition 101 – Laying Out Your Comic Page- Silver/Golden Age Comics - grid format. White gutters define each panel
- Artists began to push boundaries - European and Japanese influences ---> can be bad if not planned properly
- 9 panel rid - good for placing lots of information. 6 panel, traditional well used western style, lets dialogue and action both happen.
- Skewed grid - dynamic motion and reader's eye moves faster, works for action.
- Long, horizontal panels - cinematic effect, illusion of extended time.
- FOCAL POINT - area that will avoid visual confusion from one panel to the next. Square panels are hardest for this because they have more option for where to put the focal point. Should lead eye to the next panel - otherwise disrupt flow and loses immersion
- Think about line of sight, background cues, speech placement and focal points.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/warrenellis/4043479776/in/photostream/

Golden Ratio: A numeral value studied by ancient Greek mathematicians that reappears in geometry and the natural world. It has since been used by artists and architects as a basis for the compositions and structures that are naturally pleasing to people. Many scientists have studied the reasons for the appeal of the Golden Ratio, but have yet to find a logical explanation.

"I rarely use four panels horizontally across a page because they are so thin, but I will often use two panels per row. I started studying Hergé’s work and noticed that he staggered the gutters of his comics. I came to the realization that this was to prevent what designers called “rivers.” A river occurs when there is a gap in information that coincides with a gap below. The danger is that a reader might drop down to the next line of info before completing the first one. -http://www.makingcomics.com/2014/05/07/panel-layout-golden-ratio/#sthash.Vc1XN6AJ.dpuf"