Graphic Novel Vocabulary Terms

Panel

A single frame or box that generally contains one sequence or segment of action. Pages may consist of a single panel or may contain several panels of uniform or varied sizes. The varied sizes generally help to create pacing.

Tier

A row of panels

Splash

A full page illustration

Spread

An image that spans two or more pages

Gutter

The blank space between panels. Actions that occurs here is not literally seen or experienced by the reader; rather, it is to be inferred.

Foreground

The panel or part of a panel that is closest to the viewer.

Midground

The center of a panel that helps create tone and mood. Author may create tension in the text by placing the image off-center.

Background

The backdrop of an image where illustrators tend to place objects that help create backstory, subtext, or other additional information.

Chiaroscuro

The contrast of light and dark in a work of art to give graphic weight. If the background of the frame is dark, it is called an inverted frame.

Graphic Weight

A term that describes the way some images draw the eye more than others, creating a definite focus using color and shading in various ways

Voice over

Narrators speaking directly to the reader. Usually done with a hard line separating the narrator's speech at the top or bottom of a panel from within the panel.

Speech Bubble

Frames around the characters' language--'direct speech'--where the characters speak for themselves. Clouds - a character's thoughts
Jagged lines - the character is shouting

Emanata

Unrealistic pictorial elements emanating from a character, symbolizing something about that character. Ex: sweatdrop for anxiety, question mark for confusion, etc.

Icon

any image used to represent a person, place, thing, or idea

Abstract Image

appearance might closely resemble the real-life counterpart, others will be unlike the real-life counterpart

fixed/absolute

appearance doesn't affect the invisible ideas. Ex: peace signs

fluid/variable

appearance differs from real-life appearance to varying degrees. Ex: cartoony face

Perceived

information that takes time to recognize and usually require background knowledge. Ex: reading a book

Received

spontaneous understanding that doesn't require background knowledge. Ex: a drawing of a tree