Readability: How To Create GOOD PAGE FLOW In Your Manga Panels And Pages

Summary

This video from 'Monitor Comics' dives into the concept of 'page flow' in comics and manga, explaining how the reader's eye moves across the page for a smooth narrative transition. It discusses the 'Z' shape eye line, the Gutenberg diagram, and the importance of using horizontal panels to avoid blockage. The video also touches on the history of page layouts, from the grid format of the golden age to modern techniques in manga that emphasize action and focal points. Tips on using line of sight and speech bubbles to guide readers are provided, emphasizing the goal of creating an unnoticed, natural reading experience.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The channel 'Monitor Comics' focuses on creating comics and manga, covering various topics including comic effects, art programs, and creating shonen manga.
• 🔗 The video suggests checking out other useful videos in the top right-hand YouTube card section and mentions commissions for custom drawings.
• 📚 The video revisits the topic of page layout, specifically discussing 'page flow'—the natural progression of a reader's eye across a comic or manga page.
• 👀 'Eye line' is defined as the order in which our eyes comprehend textual information, typically left to right and top to bottom in English.
• ✅ For effective page flow, the script recommends aiming for a Z-shaped eye line to minimize confusion and ensure smooth transitions between panels.
• 📚 The 'Gutenberg diagram' is introduced as a psychological concept that guides reading from left to right, top to bottom, and is used in design beyond just comics.
• 📉 The script explains the strength values of different sections within the Z pattern, identifying the top left as the strongest and the bottom right as the terminal area.
• 🚫 The concept of 'panel blockage' is discussed, cautioning against placing similarly sized panels next to each other which can confuse readers.
• 🈲 The video advises against using too many square or vertical panels due to potential confusion, recommending long horizontal panels for better legibility.
• 📚 The 'T rule' in manga suggests a balance of vertical and horizontal panels to maintain readability, avoiding an overwhelming number of one type.
• 🎭 The video touches on the history of page flow, from the grid format of the golden and silver age of comics to modern多样化 panel usage.
• 🎥 It mentions the influence of cinematography on manga, with long horizontal panels allowing for high-speed action scenes or drawn-out serious moments.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the 'Monitor Comics' channel?

The 'Monitor Comics' channel focuses on creating comics and manga, covering topics such as choosing comic effects, selecting art programs, and creating shonen manga.

What is the concept of 'page flow' in comic and manga creation?

Page flow refers to the way a reader's eye moves across a comic or manga page, ensuring a smooth transition from one panel to the next with minimal confusion.

What is the 'eye line' in the context of page layout?

The 'eye line' is the order in which our eyes comprehend textual information, typically left to right and top to bottom in English, and is crucial for effective page flow.

How does the 'Gutenberg diagram' relate to page flow in comics and manga?

The Gutenberg diagram is a psychological concept that describes the left-to-right, top-to-bottom reading pattern, which designers use to effectively design web pages and is applied in comic and manga layouts to guide the reader's eye.

What is the significance of the 'Z pattern' in creating effective page flow?

The 'Z pattern' is a visual guide that helps in arranging the panels and elements on a page to ensure the reader's eye follows a smooth and logical path, enhancing comprehension and engagement.

How can panel placement affect page flow and what is 'blockage'?

Panel placement can influence page flow by creating 'blockage', which occurs when similarly sized panels placed next to each other confuse the reader's natural reading path, making it unclear how to proceed.

Why are horizontal panels considered advantageous for legibility in comic and manga pages?

Horizontal panels are advantageous for legibility because they bisect the page, providing a clear break point and eliminating confusion on how to read the panel, making the reading path more intuitive.

What is the 'T rule' in manga panel layout and why is it important?

The 'T rule' suggests that for every two or so vertical panels, a horizontal panel should be included to preserve legibility. It helps maintain a clear and easy-to-follow reading path in manga.

How have comic book page layouts evolved from the golden and silver age to modern times?

Page layouts have evolved from the traditional nine-panel grid format to more diverse and dynamic panel arrangements, including diagonal panels and skewed grids, to better convey action and emotion.

What is a 'focal point' in comic and manga page design and why is it important?

A 'focal point' is the main area of action or interest on a page. It is important because it guides the reader's attention and helps maintain the flow of the narrative without causing confusion or distraction.

How can 'intentional line of sight' be used to improve page flow in comics and manga?

The 'intentional line of sight' uses elements like character body movements, background composition, and speech bubble placement as guides to lead the reader through the page, creating a comfortable and engaging reading experience.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Understanding Page Flow in Comics and Manga

This paragraph introduces the concept of 'page flow' in comic and manga creation, explaining how the reader's eye moves across the page to comprehend the story. The speaker discusses the importance of a smooth eye line, aiming for a Z-shape pattern to guide the reader without confusion. The concept of the Gutenberg diagram is introduced, which is a psychological model for reading direction in English-speaking cultures. The speaker also touches on the use of character poses and dialogue placement to direct the reader's attention and mentions the historical development of page layouts in comics, from the traditional grid format to more modern and diverse panel arrangements.

05:01

👀 Enhancing Legibility and Reader Engagement

The second paragraph delves deeper into techniques for improving legibility and maintaining reader engagement through intentional page layout. It addresses the issue of panel blockage and suggests avoiding uniform panel sizes that might confuse readers. The 't-rule' in manga is highlighted, which recommends a balance between vertical and horizontal panels for clarity. The paragraph also covers the history of page flow in comic books, from the grid format of the golden and silver ages to modern adaptations with skewed grids and stretched panels, influenced by cinematography. The concept of a focal point in page layout is introduced as a way to direct the reader's attention effectively, with examples from Batman comics and the Watchmen series. The speaker emphasizes the goal of creating a layout that works subtly in the background, enhancing the reading experience without drawing attention to itself.

Keywords

💡Page Flow

Page flow refers to the natural path a reader's eyes take as they move through a comic or manga page. It is crucial for ensuring a smooth and comprehensible reading experience. In the video, the concept of page flow is tied to the idea of guiding the reader's eye in a manner that is as straightforward as possible, avoiding confusion and maintaining immersion in the story. The script discusses the importance of page flow in creating a seamless transition from one panel to the next and from one page to the next.

💡Eye Line

The eye line is the sequence in which the reader's eyes take in textual information on a page. It is based on the reading habits of moving from left to right and top to bottom in English language texts. The script emphasizes the importance of aligning the eye line with a 'Z' shape for effective page flow, which helps in guiding the reader's gaze in a logical and intuitive manner through the panels of a comic or manga.

💡Gutenberg Diagram

The Gutenberg Diagram is a psychological concept that describes the natural pattern in which readers' eyes move across a page, from left to right and top to bottom. The video script mentions that designers use this diagram to effectively design web pages, and in the context of comics and manga, it helps in arranging the panels and text to follow this natural reading pattern, enhancing readability and understanding.

💡Z Pattern

The Z pattern is a visual representation of the eye line, dividing the page into four sections with varying strength values for guiding the reader's gaze. The top left is the strongest area, followed by the top right, then the bottom left, which is the weakest, and finally the bottom right, which is the terminal area. The script uses the Z pattern as a tool for comic and manga creators to strategically place panels and text to optimize the reading experience.

💡Panel Blockage

Panel blockage occurs when the arrangement of panels on a page hinders the reader's ability to follow the intended reading path. The script warns against placing similarly sized panels next to each other, as it can cause confusion and disrupt the natural eye line. To avoid blockage, the video suggests using a variety of panel shapes and sizes, with a preference for horizontal panels that create clear breakpoints in the reading path.

💡T Rule

The T rule is a guideline in manga creation that suggests for every two vertical panels, there should be one horizontal panel to maintain legibility. The script explains that this rule helps to preserve the clarity of the reading path and prevent confusion that might arise from too many vertical panels without breaks.

💡Grid Format

The grid format is a traditional page layout in comic books, characterized by a structured arrangement of panels, typically in a nine-panel grid that readers follow from left to right and top to bottom. The script mentions the grid format's popularity during the golden and silver age of comics and how it has evolved over time with more diverse panel arrangements.

💡Focal Point

A focal point is the area of a page where the main action or event occurs. The script discusses the importance of having a clear focal point to direct the reader's attention and maintain narrative coherence. It also touches on the concept of the rule of thirds in photography, which is analogous to placing the focal point in a position that naturally draws the eye.

💡Intentional Line of Sight

Intentional line of sight refers to the deliberate use of elements on a page, such as character gaze direction, speech bubbles, and background composition, to guide the reader through the narrative. The script illustrates how creators can use these elements to enhance the reading experience by leading the reader's eye in a controlled and purposeful manner.

💡Legibility

Legibility is the quality of being clear enough to read. In the context of the video, legibility is paramount for ensuring that the reader can easily understand and follow the story in a comic or manga. The script emphasizes the need for clear panel layouts and the strategic use of text and artwork to maintain legibility and prevent reader confusion.

💡Immersion

Immersion refers to the state of being deeply engaged in an experience, such as reading a comic or manga. The script discusses how a well-structured page with good page flow and legibility can contribute to the reader's immersion in the story, whereas confusion and disruption can lead to a loss of engagement.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of page flow in comics and manga, emphasizing the smooth transition of the reader's eye across the page.

Explanation of the 'eye line' and its role in guiding the reader's comprehension in a left-to-right, top-to-bottom pattern.

The importance of a smooth eye line to avoid confusion and maintain reader immersion in the narrative.

Introduction of the 'Gutenberg diagram' and its application in designing web pages and understanding reading patterns.

Description of the Z-pattern as an effective layout for guiding the reader's eye through the content.

The concept of 'blockage' in panel layout and how it can disrupt the intended page flow.

Recommendation to avoid using too many square or vertical panels to prevent reader confusion.

Advantages of horizontal panels in creating breakpoints and improving legibility on the page.

The 'T rule' in manga for balancing vertical and horizontal panels to maintain clarity.

Historical overview of page flow from the golden and silver age of comics to modern styles.

Discussion on how Japanese manga has evolved the grid format with skewed grids and horizontal panels.

The influence of cinematography on the use of long horizontal panels to convey action scenes.

Importance of a focal point in page layout to direct the reader's attention and maintain narrative flow.

The concept of 'intentional line of sight' as a technique to guide the reader through the page.

Strategies for using character body movements, background composition, and speech bubble placement to enhance page flow.

The goal of creating a page layout that works seamlessly and goes unnoticed by the reader.

Encouragement for creators to experiment with page layouts to find unique and interesting ways to organize content.

Invitation for viewers to engage with the channel, share their projects, and consider commissions for personalized artwork.

Transcripts

how's it going everyone

welcome back to monitor comics the

channel where we create comics and manga

we've already covered a ton of cool

topics including but not limited to

choosing the best comic effects for your

manga deciding on which art program to

use for your comics

and how to create shonen manga in 2020.

i hope you can check out some of those

after you watch this video i'll also be

linking some other useful videos up in

the top right hand youtube card section

throughout the video so keep an eye out

for that did you know i also do

commissions now that's right i'll draw

whatever you want exclusively for you

for more information about that please

check the description of this video

in today's video i want to dive deeper

into a topic i discussed previously on

the channel

if you've seen some of my older stuff

you might remember i released a video

titled

when to use different page layout frames

compositions and spread

in that video i discussed different ways

to set up your panels and describe

what each was commonly used for in

today's video i want to dive into a

specific aspect of page layout known as

page flow

in short page flow is the way your eye

glides across a comic or a manga page so

you can easily comprehend it you want

your eye line to be as smooth as

possible so there is no confusion when

your reader is looking at your pages

you want them to transition from one

panel to the next and then make their

way to the next page with as little

trouble

as possible to start i want to first

explain what exactly the eye line

is the eye line refers to the order in

which our eyes comprehend textual

information

in the english language we call this

approach left to right top to bottom

for effective page flow you'll want this

imaginary eye line to be as close to a z

shape as possible

i'll bring up a few examples from comics

and manga that effectively use the z

shape by using character poses and

dialogue balloon placement you can trick

your readers into following the path you

set up for them psychologists have

labeled this process of reading from

left to right top to bottom as the

gutenberg diagram

designers use the gutenberg diagram to

effectively design web pages

if we think of the z pattern as four

equal sections each area has a different

strength value when measuring how your

eye reacts

the top left section of the z pattern is

going to be your strongest primary

optical area with the top right section

being a strong follow area to transition

down the bottom left corner of the z

pattern there is a slight delay

causing this area to be your weakest

follow area finally the bottom right

hand corner is our terminal area because

this is where we have reached our final

destination

understanding the z pattern and

consciously using it in your own work

will allow you to justify the best areas

to include more relevant information or

calls to action

the gutenberg diagram is a great tool to

incorporate into your workflow

by keeping the concept in the back of

your head throughout your entire process

you can make smarter decisions when

creating panel layouts and telling your

story effectively

when creating page layouts panel

placement can influence your page flow

when this happens it's known as blockage

let me break it down for you

on the screen you should see an example

of panel blockage if you're placing

similarly sized panels right next to

each other like in this grid template

it can be hard for your readers to read

a percentage of your readers will read

from the top left panel to the top right

panel while another percentage will read

from the top to the bottom

to avoid this you need to make it very

clear which way your readers should be

following along

to do this i don't recommend using too

many square or too many vertical panels

because they can cause confusion

i do recommend using long horizontal

panels because they create a break point

horizontal panels have the advantage

when it comes to legibility because it

bisects the page

there's no confusion on how to read a

horizontal panel when it's on the page

as a general rule of thumb avoid too

many square panels and too many vertical

ones you can get away with using a bunch

of horizontal panels because they are

easier to distinguish

in manga terms this idea is known as the

t rule basically for every two or so

vertical panels

you'll want to have a horizontal panel

to preserve legibility if you made an

entire page of just vertical panels you

would have a mess on your hands i've

seen some western comics that make pages

with only horizontal panels

but that works because it's more of a

stylistic choice and horizontal panels

are easier to read

as long as you understand the basics of

page flow it's fine to experiment and

see if you can come up with an

interesting and unique way to organize

your pages

let's take a look at the brief history

of page flow during the silver and

golden age of comic books the grid

format was the most popular page layout

basically you would have a nine panel

grid that reads from left to right

making your way down to the bottom row a

great example of this page layout

is used here by jack kirby european and

japanese artists began to modernize this

grid format with more diverse panels

take this example here

we can still see a six panel grid that's

easy enough to follow but this page

makes use of diagonal panels and no

borders

as we can see with this page from the

watchman series modern artists still

make use of the grid format

popularized during the silver and golden

age of comics japanese manga

improved the grid format by breaking the

rules a bit by popularizing skewed grids

and horizontal panels your eyeline is

forced to follow the action at very high

speeds this technique works better when

conveying action scenes rather than the

traditional grid format this idea of the

long and stretched out horizontal panel

comes from cinematography and film

we are able to follow an entire scene in

just a single panel this opens the doors

for high speed action

scenes or drawn out serious scenes what

all these different page layouts have in

common is this idea of a focal point

a focal point is a term used to describe

where the main course of action has

taken place

in photography you may see this

technique labeled as the rule of thirds

typically for good page flow

you'll want your main action to take

place in either the left corner center

stage or right corner because that is

the direction our eye line moves by

having one central focus point you'll be

able to trick your reader into zooming

in right where you want them

make sure you are not creating several

focus points and a single pager panel

because although this sounds okay in

theory it can create convergence where

your reader's eye refocuses in the

center

don't lead your reader's focus out of

bounds take full advantage of your

artwork to point your reader towards the

next panel it's so important to be

conscious of legibility and page flow

because once your reader gets confused

and disrupted they'll slowly lose the

immersion or structuring can make all of

your hard work negated take a look at

this page from batman

this artist makes full use of line of

sight speech bubbles and background cues

to trick the reader into gliding their

eyes within the boundaries of the page

the next technique i want to introduce

to you is this idea of intentional line

of sight

what i mean by this is elements of your

page that can act as guides to progress

you through the page this can be done

through characters body movements

background composition and speech bubble

placement by following your character's

line of sight and following speech

bubbles you can create a comfortable

reading experience

don't just slap speech bubbles randomly

take control of your page and give them

more purpose

the goal you want to strive for when

structuring your pages is to have all

this work go unnoticed if your reader

doesn't have to think twice while

reading your comic or manga then you did

a good job laying it out

if you stick to these tips and concepts

when creating your panel layouts your

page flow will be natural and effective

by having compositions and page elements

that lead into the next you'll have no

problem maintaining a reader's active

interest in your story

i hope you got some value out of this

video if you did please hit the like

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you haven't already

drop a comment down below telling us all

about what project you are currently

working on

be sure to check out my own work on all

my social media accounts linked in the

description below don't forget i'm also

taking commissions now so if you want

your own character or a pre-existing

character drawn by me please check it

out using the link in the description

below

as always keep creating guys i'll see

you all in the next one

[Music]

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