Manga Format

[DavidKeller]

I've been trying to make a manga called Eternal Wars. The first chapter "Of Hope and Despair" is in the making. can anyone help me?
http://fanart-central.net/user-DavidKeller.php

[SilentSoul92]

well, first off, it's kind of messy and hard to read. Try makeing the picture bigger, or make sure there aren't many extra lines. If you can, outline your drawing and words in pen so people can read the more easily.

[lucifer]

1. Make the picture bigger
2. Use larger speech bubbles
3. Use legible handwriting or type the words into your speech bubbles.
4. Change the brightness/contrast of the picture so it's not so gray.
5. Don't draw on the backs of thin paper. I can see what looks like page one's lines seeping through page two, either that or you drew too hard to erase...

[Fayore]

Well, if we're talking manga...

1. You have to work on the boxes themselves. They [b]always[/b] must be straight lines. No exceptions; use a ruler.
2. About the boxes... It's a lot different than from American comics - the boxes are not always touching another box. There needs to be more space between yours because they look too squished and they make the page look messier than it really is. Also, dividing the page in half with a single line does not make two "boxes", you actually have to draw [at least half of] the boxes in.
3. More about the boxes: sometimes, not using a box at all and letting the other boxes make the "lines" is more useful.
4. Still on boxes: Most manga divides the page up into three "rows" of boxes. If not, then usually it's a single picture that takes up the entire page (usually for a dramatic appearance). Try to keep that in mind for your next page.

Example for the above 4 points (too lazy to find another picture; this one'll do):
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v459/tsumetairyuu/dnangel_satoshikrad.jpg[/img]

When you're drawing backgrounds, make sure the lines for them are thinner than the ones for the foreground: it makes the background look further away. Also make sure that you don't include every single detail. I bet that the wall in page one took forever, right? Well, next time, don't draw all the bricks. Just a few scattered around should suffice.

Also, make sure that all the background/scenery is uniform the whole way through: don't change how you drew the wall or the grass, etc. differently in a panel just because the first panel took too long/too much work. Also, you don't have to have a background in every panel: it just makes the page look "busy" and it's not very nice to look at.

Make sure you follow what Rita and Karmen have said, too; those are also important.
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[SilentSoul92]

wow...long description Fayore, very good though. I think I'll use this when I'm making my manga ^^

[Fayore]

Glad to be of service. ^_^ I'll be sure to read your manga once you draw it.
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[Sanoshi]

Kudos to Fayore for using DNAngel for a manga layout example! Yukiru Sugisaki has a wonderful format for Manga.

I 100% agree with her detailed post on manga.


The flow of plot is not always made up bunches and bunches of words. Pictures tell a thousand words, so not ever box you make has to be filled with a bubble. If a character is sighing, you don't put sigh in a bubble, you make it look like he is, to express the character more.

It you notice Sugisaki-san also doesn't cram in about 7 boxes or panels in one page. It varies depending on the mood or action you want to express. Some really dramatic and/or important scences can take at least 3 panels, sometimes even the whole page itself.

I also agree with leaving a lot of space around you format, it makes is not so... rushed or squished. Give your characters some breathing space X3


Learn how to draw dynamic angles. It adds to an more appealing format.

XD ahh most the stuff i said can be re-read at Fayore's post, but i'll just say im re-enforcing her tips Awesome awesome!

[DavidKeller]

yeah but we have an entire cast here at KN incorprated.

David speaking. I designed all of the guys, while hiromi-chan does the girls. Unfortunately we don't decide wheere everything goes. Norman boy here does. [pokes]