## Tips for producing great comic stories

The following are some useful suggestions for taking your comics to the next level. At the end are some references to books and websites that provide even more information.

### Think "Movies"

Panels in comics are like stills from a movie. When taking pictures think about the best way to capture the action. Provide establishing shots when introducing a new scene so that the reader can place the action in a particular place.

Choose interesting angles - extreme close ups, over head shots as well as the more regular photos. Remember to get reaction shots if something dramatic is happening.

Learn how to use depth of field features of camera to lift your characters out of the background. (If you don't have those features you can simulate it with tools like Photoshop and Photoshop Elements).

### Work from a script

If you're attempting a larger project then working to a script will save you lots of time when laying out the comic. The script will guide you as to what kind of pictures to take and what the characters should be doing in each shot. The script doesn't have to have extensive directions for each scene - but should have the dialog and suggestions about how the scene should look. Feel free to improvise and revise the script while taking the pictures.

### Layout panels logically

Comic Life gives you very free-form layout opportunities for telling your story - but keep in mind that the reader doesn't want to work hard to figure out the way from one panel to the next. The expected layout for many languages is left-to-right, top-to-bottom. Using a simple tabular layout and placing the images in that order will be very easy to read. When you deviate from this kind of layout make sure that the order is still obvious.

Laying out the text inside a panel is just as important and again the natural order for many languages is left-to-right, top-to-bottom.

### Balloons float up

Comic speech balloons are supposed to float above the characters (like they are filled with helium). This also helps you keep the balloons from obscuring the characters.

### Keep away from the characters

A comic is telling a story through words and pictures but it mostly through the pictures therefore any balloons or sound effects should not obscure the characters in the pictures. Put the balloons in any empty space above or beside the characters.

### Stay inside the lines

Comic Life has an automatic clipping feature for elements placed on panels or images so that each panel has a tidy edge and comic page looks aesthetically pleasing. However sometimes for dramatic effect or for story clarity you need to break through the edge. If you find you're doing this a lot you might want to rework some panels to avoid it as over use can dilute the impact.