Comic strips can be hard to create.It's difficult to find a good storyline and make something entertaining in a few boxes.This article is for anyone who wants to make a comic strip like the famous Garfield comic strips.
Step 1: Do you want to publish a story?
What do you want your story to be about?You don't have to know every detail of the story, but you should have a basic idea of where it's going.This can help you make sure you have more than just the first few strips.If you want to do more of a gag-a-day strip, you need to know the types of jokes you're going to make.This will help you figure out how many characters you need to pull off those jokes.
Step 2: Decide on the format.
How many panels you want to average will be the first thing you need to decide.3-4 panels is the norm for Garfield.Cul de Sac is a two-row comic strip.You can find 3 row and 1 panel comics.If you plan on publishing your comics in print, you should stick to a particular size.Don't worry about this if you plan on having them online.It's best to keep the same width and height for a single row if you're printing.You can have one strip with one row, and another with two rows, but all three rows should be the same width and height.
Step 3: Plan each panel.
Write down and plan the panels when you make an individual strip.You need to know what is happening in the game.It should be simple.A bare-boned script is what a written script should be.If scenery is necessary to the action of the strip, it should be included.
Step 4: Text and images should be balanced.
Don't put too much text in your panels.The comic can be hard to read.If there is a one or two-word balloon, try to limit it to 2 and keep the number of words in a panel below 30.
Step 5: Hopes and dreams should be given to them.
Give your characters what they want.When you're running low on ideas, having established goals is a great way to drive the story and create storylines.
Step 6: Give them something that is flawed.
You don't want people that are perfect.Readers think this is boring and unrealistic.If you want people to sympathize with your characters, give them flaws.They can be greedy, rude, selfish, or not smart like your average bear.
Step 7: Don't live their lives.
Your characters' hobbies, interests, and background should show that they have actual lives.This makes them seem real.
Step 8: Fight cliches.
Fight the cliches!Don't make your characters normal.Think of new and different ideas for your comic and give them individual and unique characteristics.Your characters don't have to fall in love.If a love story seems appropriate between two characters, let it develop in a realistic manner.Cliches are how people think they are supposed to be.Making your characters behave like people in the real world can help change this.
Step 9: The frames should be drawn.
The frames should be sketched first.Based on the amount of dialogue in the script, what panel will need to be largest, smallest, etc.Make sure you keep within your size constraints.
Step 10: The characters should be sketch.
There is a sketch of where the characters will go.There needs to be enough room for speech balloons.Place them in a way that the panel won't look full or empty.
Step 11: Speak bubbles.
Make a diagram of where the speech bubbles will go.Don't cover characters or take up too much of the frame.Changing the speech bubble's shape can be used to indicate a voice.A bubble with a shape like a cartoon sun can make a character sound like they're yelling.Take advantage of it.Dumbing of Age is an online comic and Pearls Before Swine is a comic.
Step 12: Backgrounds and scenes can be drawn.
If you want, you can sketch in a background or other objects after you know where the characters will go.The basic objects that the characters interact with are included in some comic strips.You can go anywhere.
Step 13: Do your work.
To make your sketch lines look professional, go over them with something dark and permanent.Line width variation and other artistic tricks are important.The sketch lines can be erased when you're done.
Step 14: The text should be added.
You can add text to the speech bubbles with the comic mostly drawn.It's important to use a consistent text size.The text should always be the same size even if the bubble is smaller.The larger the text, the louder it is.It's important to use a legible fonts.
Step 15: Add a color.
You can color your strip.It is important to keep in mind that coloring is time consuming, and will change the number of strips you are able to get done in a certain period of time.
Step 16: Decide on a schedule.
If you're going to get your comics printed in a paper, the paper will probably have a specific schedule for when they need to update them.You will need to meet those requirements.You can have more flexibility if you're publishing online.Remember to be realistic.
Step 17: A buffer is built.
Regardless of what medium you use to get your comics out to readers, build a buffer is the first thing you're going to want to do.There are a lot of available strips.A buffer of 30 strips is needed if you have a single update a week.If you're behind, you still have strips available to go out on time.
Step 18: Publish it in a paper.
If you want to, you can publish your comics in a newspaper.This can be either your school newspaper or a local paper.If they're interested in new comics, call the submissions department.It can be difficult to get a comic in a paper.Be prepared.
Step 19: Publish your comic online.
If you want to reach a larger audience, have more control over your work, and a better chance of controlling how much money you make, you can publish your comics online instead.It can be difficult to develop a readership with how much money you make.You can use a website.There are many websites that host comics.A comic can be found on an easy-to-update page.This is great for beginners.SmackJeeves and ComicFury are popular options.You can make a website.You can make your own website.This will give you more control, but it can also be more work.Only do this if you think you can make a nice looking site on your own or with some help.Use your website.It is becoming more and more popular to publish comics on the internet.This is an incredibly easy publishing mechanism which allows you to put up ads to make money but also not cost you money to host the site.