How To Make A Comic Strip

Collage Cartoon Characters

Dec 18, 2006

Making a simple bright, colourful and cheery comic strip or quip is quick and easy if you use the cut paper method.

In the article Cut Paper Collage Drawing Combo I describe for you the method of cut paper backgrounds and one of it's uses. Comic strips also become quick and easy but very well polished when you develop the technique further.

Follow this recipe until you develop a style of your own.

keep the script very simple
draw up a story board as a layout
create the background as shown in the article
referr to Creative Character Creator
create one character
place into the back ground and glue in place
this character can be anchored but leave the other elements of the strip free floating
speech bubbles can be created from torn paper
if you would like a consistent look write the words on front and back of the torn paper speech bubble
since you won't be sticking them down you can push them around until they have a nice feel
this will keep the speech bubbles looking similar
when cutting out figures make them proportionally bigger as they come forward in the frame
Frame 1 Frame 2 Frame 3 Frame 4
when you have each frame prepared, photograph it with a digital camera mounted on an tripod
if you want consistancy make sure that the rectangle is registered, this enables you to place it back into exactly the same place each time - this way you will be sure that it all matches when you assemble the comic strip
import each image into Photoshop and enhance and clarify
save into jpg format
add a stroke around the outer rim of the frame
if you have InDesign and place them into a strip format
if you do not have the InDesign Programme then you can assemble the strip in Photoshop but not with quite the same ease
if you don’t have these programmes or do not want to use a computer then you can assemble each collage onto a large strip of paper and mount it onto the wall!

Learning Areas

Maths: proportion
Literacy: scripting, story boarding, character creation, dialogue
Visual Literacy: formatting, consistency of design
ICT: InDesign, Photoshop, Digital Photography, Scanning

The students will experience transference of knowledge from PIVOT animation to comic strip creation if you question them about the similarities.

Appreciative Inquiry could focus on positive statements about the project.

If you have examples you would like to share please post them to the discussion boards. If you have trouble posting images please email.

The copyright of the article How To Make A Comic Strip in Arts Education is owned by Jo Murphy. Permission to republish How To Make A Comic Strip in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.