Categories of Comic Books and How to Print them Successfully

Comic creators need to consider the desires of their readers before even beginning to write their story. Considerations such as page count and size can make or break the legibility of their words and pictures. Also, the size of the Bristol board or digital file you draw on must be taken into account before starting to draw.

All comics need to be formatted correctly to print as the artist intended. However, there are also other best practices for printing that can vary based on genre. Picking the right size, color format, and binding can make a huge difference in whether you’re successful as an indie artist.

Creating High-Quality Art

No matter what your genre is, you’ll want to invest in the art to make sure it looks good when made into a printed comic. Start by deciding how much of your art process you want to do digitally versus traditionally. Many artists sketch by hand and then do lineart and coloring digitally, but some artists do everything digitally, and some black-and-white comic artists do everything by hand.

In order to print as cleanly as possible, most comic book industry artists recommend drawing the original art slightly larger than you intend for it to be printed. Many artists use 11” x 17” Bristol board with guidelines printed or sketched onto it to help you keep everything in proportion to the final comic page.

Whether you start your work digitally or just use the computer for finishing touches, make sure to scan or sketch your work at the correct resolution. Comic books are typically printed at 300 dots per inch (dpi), which provides crisp, clear lines. Make sure your file size is set to the appropriate bleed size based on your printing company’s  page templates.

Superhero Comics

As one of the most popular genres of comics, superhero and action comics have a long history of being printed in various ways. The most common way is full color comics in single issues, but some creators have had success using longer formats or black-and-white.

Most superhero comics are standard size (6.625” x 10.25” trim), but some are printed at a larger size, especially for limited-edition versions. Like with other comics, artists must be careful to keep all important action, text and details at least .25” away from the edge, and should extend the art on full-bleed pages at least .25” past the trim line.

Full color comics must be especially careful with color calibration. Artists should calibrate their monitor to ensure that all colors show up accurately on screen, or else they may be in for a surprise when the printed version shows up. A printed proof can help identify potential problems, but a digital proof generally will not if it is viewed with the same monitor that was used to create the art.

When drawing superhero stories digitally, consider placing word balloons and sound effects on a separate layer in case you need to adjust their size or position later. This prevents possible redrawing hours if you have issues with page size or positioning when your proof arrives.

Detective Comics

Detective and crime comics are often printed in stark black and white but are sometimes in color. Either option will likely attract readers and be a success, as long as your art skills are up to the task.

Black and white comics often look better in  bitmap (.TIFF) format thanks to how crisply the lines are saved in this filetype. When your proof arrives, take a good look at the print quality of the black and white lines, and double-check your file settings if the lines look fuzzy or gray.

Detective comics are sometimes published as standalone graphic novels in  square binding, which allows you to be less careful with page count planning. Square binding enables you to publish in page counts in multiples of two instead of four and can be 260 pages or even more instead of being limited to just 64 pages.

Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Sci-fi and fantasy comics often have rich worldbuilding and elaborate designs, which are typically best captured in full color. However, fans may also appreciate well-done grayscale art if it is detailed and rendered with care.

Like superhero and detective comics, sci-fi and fantasy comics are typically printed in standard size. They are sometimes written as standalone graphic novels, depending on the length of the story. Some epic fantasies are multiple graphic novel volumes in length.

Any format and length can be successful for this genre as long as it is well-presented and within the readers’ budget. A full color magazine-sized comic can sell at a higher price point, but only if readers think the art is worth paying for.

Dramas and Memoirs

Typically, dramas and memoirs are in black and white or grayscale, because readers of these genres are not quite as concerned with detail-packed action scenes. Like with detective comics, consider printing strictly black and white art in bitmap format. Grayscale needs to be tweaked carefully to make sure the final product will have enough contrast to sharpen details.

Since dramas and memoirs tend to be text-heavy, check the text on each individual page to make sure it prints large enough. It’s wise to put the speech bubbles and text on separate layers in case you decide to make adjustments after seeing the proof.

Kids’ Comics

Comics aimed at kids need to be printed on a budget to get parents to buy them. These are generally not considered collectors’ items, but they still need to be durable enough to hold up to wear and tear.

It’s wise to print with slightly stronger cover stock and 70# paper instead of 60#. This small difference may help your book last longer, making it more likely your readers will re-read it and continue to show it to others.

Kids’ comics should be given the same care you would give any other genre. Consider making the text slightly larger than usual if the book is intended for very young readers, and double-check the proof to ensure all colors are printed in vibrant, kid-friendly tones.

Manga Size

Manga size comics are slightly smaller than standard comics. This size is generally only used by artists publishing manga-style art, but some more traditional artists still like it due to its compact size and slightly different aspect ratio. Manga size may be expected by readers who are typically fans of Japanese manga.

Partnering Up for a Successful Print Run

Breaking into comics without the backing of a comic book publisher can be challenging, but it’s a worthwhile adventure. Since indie artists don’t have the support of a full-time editor or letterer, they have to be extra careful to do all formatting correctly. With the help of the right  comic printing company, writers and artists can create fantastic series or stand-alone graphic novels for readers to enjoy.

Whether you’re already a popular comics creator or are just starting out, you can rely on Comix Well Spring for all your printing needs. In addition to comic books, we print bookmarks,  business cards, trading cards, and even banners and tablecloths to help you promote your work.

We have templates for each type of product we sell. Give us a call at (734) 345-6852 with any questions about how to self-publish comics with us.