Elements of Visual Texts (GRAPHIC NARRATIVES/CARTOONS)

PANEL

An individual frame or drawing in a comic.

GUTTER

The spaces between comic book panels.

BLEED

When the image extends to or beyond the edge of the page/panel.

SPLASH PAGE

A panel that spans across the entire page (or more than 1 page).

CAPTIONS

A rectangular box that is separate from the rest of the panel and can provide narration or reveal a character's thoughts.

CAMERA ANGLE

Our perspective on the panel. Consider how far away the subject is from the camera (long shot, medium shot, or close up) and how the camera is pitched: bird's eye view, high angle, eye-level, or low angle.

GRAPHIC WEIGHT

The amount of CONTRAST in an image.

SPEECH BUBBLES

A bubble that appears beside and pointing towards a character's head that tells the reader what they're saying.

THOUGHT BUBBLES

A cloud-like enclosed shape, usually white, used to visually manifest a particular character's thoughts.

EMANATA

Unrealistic pictorial elements drawn on the air coming out of (i.e. emanating from) a character, symbolizing something about how that character is feeling, such as a sweatdrop for anxiety or a question mark for confusion.

SOUND EFFECT LETTERING

Words that indicate a sound; the fonts, colors, and lettering of sound effects are important and should be considered as parts of the text.

STYLE (ART)

The particular look (use of color, level of detail, etc.) of an artist's work.

STYLE SCALE

Describes the artistic style of the images in relation to reality. Common scales to consider are:

TIME

Graphic texts can tell a story using similar narrative elements as fiction and film.

TIME - Linear Narrative

chronological

TIME - Analepsis

Flashback

TIME - Prolepsis

Flashforward

TIME - Montage

Multiple moments in one panel, like a collage.

TRANSITIONS

The process of closure where the reader mentally 'fills in the gaps' in the gutter between panels.

Moment to moment

transitions across a very short period of time (second to second).

Action to action

Transitions that focus on key parts of a specific action.

Subject to subject

Transitions between people, places, or things

Scene to scene

transitions across significant distances of time and/or space

Aspect to aspect

Transitions from one part of an object, place, idea, or mood to another

Non-sequitur:

Abrupt and illogical transitions from one subject to another