1. Elements of a Comic

2. 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)

3. 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.

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

5. 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

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

7. 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.

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

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

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

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

12. 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

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

14. 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.

15. 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.)

16. 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).

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

18. 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

19. 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.

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

21. Types of Emanata
Emanata can also come from objects.

22. 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”)

23. PROJECT- A Comic With No Pictures

24. Unit 6- Elements of a Comic
Resources
Techniques for creating comics:
Video (Stop at 2:25)- Using the AMES Lettering Guide
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