Whether you’re a professional or a beginner, it’s vital that you understand how to storyboard your comic book. This process will save you a lot of time and stress when it comes to creating the artwork and lettering for your book.
Plan your story
The first thing you need to do is make a plan for your story! This is important because it will help you ensure your book has a clear flow, so your readers can easily follow along.
Break up your story into acts!
Like movies, comic books have a structure that allows them to flow from one scene to the next. This is called an “arc.” Map out each act and write the details to ensure you’ve covered everything.
Identify the main character and their motivations
When you’re writing a comic book, the first thing you need to do is create your main protagonist. Their personality and traits are essential to helping your readers relate to them and root for them in their journey.
Set the action of each scene so that it makes sense for the reader.
Ideally, you want to give your readers a visual representation of what’s happening in each scene. This can be done by using color and setting up scenes in a way that helps the reader separate them in their mind, so they can tell where they are in time.
Sketch out the scenes
During the storyboarding process, you’ll want to sketch out each scene to get a feel for how it will look on the page. This will also help you identify any problems with your layouts so that you can fix them before you start drawing.
Use a template for your storyboard
Regardless of your skill level or experience, plenty of storyboard templates are out there for you to download and use. This will allow you to make sure your artwork is consistent and readable and give you the freedom to change your ideas without having to redo a whole section of work.
Use colors to convey mood and atmosphere!
In comics, it’s often the colors that help the reader picture the world around them. Choosing a color scheme that works well for your scene is crucial, as it will keep the reader’s attention and help them understand what’s happening.
Make use of speech and thought bubbles!
The speech and thought bubbles of a comic are an essential part of the style and give the reader a great way to enter the characters’ minds. There are many different options, from simple stick figures to symbols and images, so be sure to choose the best one for your story.
Consider the reader’s perspective when making your storyboard.
Unlike novels and other narrative literature, comic books don’t follow strict conventions. They might have full-page horizontal landscape panels, partially overlapping panels, or overlays that show fast-moving series of connected actions. These styles can all be used effectively if you’re not trying to force your story into a cliche or overly complex format.