A comic book’s audience is different from a fiction or nonfiction book’s readers. So, along with writing the script, you’ll also have to design illustrations to help children understand the plot of the story. Obviously, an author can design the comics themselves, but hiring specialists is a better approach.
However, if you are sticking to designing it all by yourself, we have made it somewhat easy for you. Read the following design tips and tricks you can use to illustrate the children’s comic book.
1. Find Your Comic Category
Before you set out to design a comic book, the best practice is to find your comic book’s category. Does it fall in the esoteric category, or is it about fantasy thrillers? Some comic books are also based on comedy, horror, or science.
So, the first thing is to specify your book’s category and then find the right design pattern that matches the tone of your story. You’ll also have to design the characters and set following your book’s category.
For example, if your book is about comedy, you can’t design story plots that depict the feeling of horror or action.
2. Consult a Comic Book Artist
Designing a comic book can be somewhat tricky to start with, but luckily there are professionals who can help you through the process. Comic book artists are deeply familiar with the art form and can help you create a visually stunning and enjoyable comic.
You can find a comic book artist for hire from online platforms as well as from a publishing house. However, make sure the artist you hire has the right experience to capture the essence of the story you’re trying to tell.
They should also be able to offer valuable advice on things like set design, panel layout, and page composition. If an artist ensures all these things, you can hire them for your comic book project.
3. Choose the Right Panels
The panels in a comic are like the frames in a movie. They help control the story’s flow and the pacing of the action. So, it’s advised to choose the right panels. When you’re choosing them, it’s important to think about what you want to accomplish.
Are you trying to create a sense of action or tension? Or are you trying to convey a more peaceful or calming scene?
After you have finalized this aspect, the only thing that remains is to make the panels visually exciting and engaging. Choose the right size and shape that compliments the page’s overall layout. Moreover, don’t be afraid to experiment.
If it’s your first time designing a comic book, you may make mistakes initially, but it’s worth the experience. Experiment with different panel layouts and see what works best for you.
4. Use Action and Sound Effects
If you want to design a comic book that packs a punch, you’ll want to use action and sound effects to bring your story to life. Comics are all about action, so make sure your illustrations reflect that. A mixture of action and sound effects will help bring the action to life and enable you to put down what you exactly thought in your mind.
There’s no right way to incorporate these aspects in your story, but you’ll have to look out for too much usage. Too much of either can be overwhelming and distract readers from the overall story. It’s advised to use them sparingly only to heighten the key moments in your story.
It will highlight that particular moment in your story and help readers remember that scene till the end of the story.
5. Use the Art of Lettering Wisely
The art of lettering is a great tool for comic book designers. It can help you create beautiful, eye-catching letters that really make your comics stand out. When used wisely, this approach can really take your comics to the next level and make readers read them again and again.
So, what is the best way to use the art of lettering? Well, it will all depend on what you want to achieve with your comics. If you want to create a beautiful, artistic comic, you’ll want to create stunning, intricate letters.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to create a more action-packed comic, then you’ll want to create bold, eye-catching letters that will really grab readers’ attention. This approach will add depth and meaning to your story and make it emotionally powerful.
6. Incorporate Humor in Your Design
All action and no humor can make your story dry, and that’s not what your target audience really wants. Children and young adults are looking for a mix of action, horror, and humor in comics, and making your characters, and scenes humorous can engage them and keep them coming back for more.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind when incorporating humor into your comic book design. You’ll need to make sure that your characters are likable and relatable and make your readers laugh. At the same time, they should have enough depth that readers can connect with them on a personal level.
Moreover, your scenes should be well-timed and relevant to the story you’re trying to tell. Make sure the humor enhances your story rather than distracting from it.
7. Use a Book Illustration Software
Book illustration software is a great way to design a comic book without putting that much effort. There are plenty of different book illustration software programs out there that can be used to add special effects and make your illustrations pop.
If you have designed your comics by hand, you can just scan the pages of your book and convert them into PDF format. This will make your book print-ready, and you can earn by selling e-copies of your comic book.
These software programs can also come in handy if you have your comics ready in the form of image files. You can just open a book illustration software and drag and drop the image files into premade templates. It will make the job easier for you, and you won’t have to design every page separately.
