Graphic Novels Vocab

Graphic Novels vocab

Panel

Square or rectangle that contains a single scene

Gutter

Space between panels

Tier

One row of panels

Spread

An image that spans more than one page

Composition

How the panels, text, dialogue, etc. are arranged on a page

Caption

Boxes containing scene-setting, captions, narration, etc.

Letterer

creates text in the novel. Respondible for text, sound effects, titles, speach balloons, and inks pencil drawings.

Emanata

Unrealistic pictorial elements emanating from a character, symbolizing something about that character, such as a sweatdrop for anxiety or a question mark for confusion

Negative space

Think “What’s left out?“

Voice over

Narrators voice appearing in a caption

Moment to moment

Action to Action

Subject to Subject

Scene to Scene

Aspect to Aspect

Non-sequiter

High-Angle / Low-Angle Shots

Make character look small, puny / large, dominiative

Graphic weight

some images draw the eye more. than others, creating a definite focus using color and shading in various ways