Graphic Novel Terms

Panel

The box or segment that contains the image or text

Frame

The border that surrounds and contains the panel

Gutter

The space that lies between panels

Bleed

When an image goes beyond the borders of the page

Graphic Weight

The heaviness or intensity of a line or block of shading for visual focus. The bolder the graphic weight, the greater the visual focus, making that element more salient in the scene.

Caption

A box or section of text that gives details on the background and setting of the scene. It sits separately to speech and thought bubbles, often at the top of bottom of the panel.

Speech Bubble

This contains the dialogue spoken by different characters within a scene. It;s usually enclosed in a bubble or another shape; otherwise, can stand on its own, close to speaker.

Thought Bubble

Similar to the speech bubble, this contains the internal dialogue of a character and is usually shaped like a cloud, coming from the character’s head.

Special Effects Sounds

Words that give a sense of sound on the page (e.g. BANG! THUMP!). TO heighten their impact, the words are either bolded or have a special graphical treatment to make it stand out on the page.

Layout

The configuration of all the elements on the page; the way in which the frame, panels, speech bubbles, etc. are arranged to tell the narrative.

Close-up

An angle that zooms into an image, like a character’s face, to allow for closer view. This technique is sometimes employed to convey a feeling of intimacy between the reader and character, such as when a character reveals their thoughts or revelations.

Rough

The drawing is generalized, places and faces are generic.