[1] Creating a storyboard

With the preliminary arrangements now made, I will create a storyboard.

 

Note: What is a storyboard? A storyboard is a rough image drawn to solidify a page’s composition and story content.

 

 

(1) I select the default layer in the [Layer] palette, change the layer expression color to [Gray] in the [Layer Property] palette, and then sketch out a storyboard.

Note: The gray layer displays more smoothly than the monochrome layer, so you can use it on layers that will not directly impact the finished page, such as on the rough draft layer. Furthermore, even if you were to use a gray layer in your finished comic, there would be no effect as long as the pen setting is set to monochrome (without anti-aliasing).

 

To create a separate layer, select [Layer] menu > [New raster layer], or click the [New Raster Layer] button at the bottom of the layer palette.

Note:

If a palette, such as the [Layer] palette used in this tutorial, is not on your screen, you can display it by selecting it from the upper [Window] menu.

 

(2) Next, I select the tool I’ll be using to draw the storyboard from the tool palette. This time I will work with the [Pen] tool, but I think any tool is generally okay when drawing a storyboard.

 

(3) Now I’ll draw the storyboard.

I decide the rough position of the dialogue, the frame layout, and the character poses. Since it is an action scene, I divide the frame in the diagonal direction to give the feeling of movement.

 

(4) After drawing the storyboard, I will change the [Layer color] setting in the [Layer properties] palette.

 

I made it light blue which makes it easier to draw on top of.

Now the storyboard is finished.

 

Inputting text

(1) I add a dialogue. Select the [Text] tool from the [Tool] palette.

 

(2) I open the [Tool Property] palette and set the font.

 

This time I set the font size to 14. It will be easier to decide your comic’s default font size at this point.

If you try to change it in the middle of drawing a 30-page manga, you will have to go back and fix all the text on the previous pages.

 

(3) I click on the place I want the text to be and input it.

 

Note: For more details on how to use the text tool, refer to the following TIPS.

 

 

 

■ Entering text using the story editor 【EX only】

 

If there is a storyboard with only text or dialogue, you can input it all at once by using the [Story editor] function.

 

(1) I select the [Story] menu > [Edit text] > [Open story editor].

 

(2) On the [Story editor], I enter the text in the [Enter text here] section.

Although this tutorial covers a single-page manga, when you have a manga with multiple pages, you can manage text allocation of all pages by collectively inputting all page text here.

Note: The figure below is an example of a three-page file.

When you want to divide a dialogue, press the [Enter] key twice in succession, and the text box will split.

Note: It will split into two in the initial settings, but you can change the number from [File] menu > [Environment setting].

 

(3) Upon returning to my comic page, I see the newly created text. I use the object tool to adjust its position.

Note: For details on how to use story editor, refer to the following TIPS.

 

Next, I’ll show you how to make comic frames.