If you are producing a graphic novel, there is much more flexibility with sizing, though the most common sizes are 5. 5” by 8. 5” (14 by 21. 6 cm) or 6” by 9” (15. 2 by 22. 7 cm). If you are making a Japanese manga, the most popular sizes are: 5. 04" by 7. 17" (12. 8 by 18. 2 cm) and 5. 83" by 8. 2" (14. 8 by 21. 0 cm).
Gloss finish, which is the brightest and shiniest finish; ideal for highlighting the images on your cover. Matte finish, less bright and reflective than gloss, but still somewhat reflective. Matte can save you money on printing costs while providing a quality cover. Uncoated paper, which is the flattest finish in terms of sheen. It has a natural appearance and is most frequently used for the inner pages of the comic.
The inner pages of comics are often printed on 60 or 70 lb (27. 2 or 31. 8 kg) weight paper. Though there is not a set standard for the ideal thickness of your cover, cover pages are generally thicker than the pages on the inside of the book. [4] X Research source
Printing costs vary considerably between companies. You should shop around and get several quotes for your printing before deciding on a printer.
For example, a picture of your hero in a difficult situation might make potential readers think, “How does he get out of that?” To answer the questions, they’ll have to buy your book![5] X Research source
A comeback story might be titled “Rebirth” or “The Phoenix Rises. " An epic battle might be captured by titles like “Bloodshed Battlefield” or “Skirmish in the Snow. " Emotional plot lines could be expressed by titles like “The Conflict Within” or “The Chaos of the Mind. "
As an example, a comic titled “Fighter” should probably have some kind of fighting sequence depicted on its cover.
The tone of your comic can be expressed through genre features. For example, noir artwork will be gritty with shadows, while fantasy will be more lustrous and wondrous.
You might also consider using the border of the page to frame the cover art, giving the impression of peeking in on a scene to the reader. [7] X Research source
You might also gather associated characters together, putting “good” characters on the right and bad guys on the left, for instance. Another popular layout is to have the heroes in the front, and the villain’s oversized face looming ominously in the background.
This way, you can give a sense of largeness to the scene and incorporate more of the setting, creating greater balance between the figures and their surroundings. [8] X Research source
You may be able to create this technique by hand, but it may be easier to do it digitally with 2 separate layers.
Some comic book artists like to make the cover art more intricate than what is on the inside of the comic. For example, the comic may be in black-and-white, but the cover may be in color.
Colored pencils (optional; for coloring) Computer (optional; for coloring) Markers (optional; for coloring) Paper Pencils Pens (for inking) Scanner (optional; for digital coloring)
Sometimes, a single rough draft may not be enough. Create several rough drafts, then choose the one that looks the best.
At this stage, you might also want to include your name and the names of others involved in your project. [12] X Research source
Draw your rough background images Clean up your lines to create a clean image. Add details and fill out the illustration. [13] X Research source
Correct any errors or inconsistencies in the penciling. Utilize shading techniques to create an interplay of shadow and light in the composition. [14] X Research source
If you are coloring your artwork traditionally rather than digitally, you may need to go over some of your line art again to make it sharper.
Some printing agencies may require you to provide a digital copy for printing. In this case, you may need to take a high resolution scan of your cover art.
