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Comics Vocabulary

C
Caption

Boxes with words inside them that provide extra info or give voice to a narrator.

Close-up

A framing device used to bring attention to a subject by showing it details.

Comic strip

Short comic usually ending in a punch line.

D
Dummy book

Guide used to figure out the pagination of a comic book.

E
Emanata

Symbols used to indicate mood or emotion

Establishing shot

Framing method used to show the subject in an environment.

G
Graphic novel

A bound comic in book form.

Grid

Arranging panels in a uniform way.

Gutter

Space between panels.

M
Margin

Space between comic artwork and the edge of the page.

Master copy

The finalized, high-quality mock-up of a comic book used for reproduction.

Medium shot

Framing method that shows a subject and background elements.

P
Pagination

The order pages are placed into a signature when printing a comic book.

Panel

The boxes with words and pictures that make up a page of a comic.

S
Saddle stitch

The binding method used to create a comic book by folding and stapling signatures.

Script

A written plan for a comic.

Signature

A single sheet of paper that is folded to create multiple pages of a comic book.

Sound effects

Stylized words to indicate sound.

T
Thought balloon

Words in a cloud-like shape that indicate what a character is thinking.

Thumbnails

Quick and simple version of a comic used for planning.

Traditional comic book

Folded and stapled comic book

W
Web comic

Comic published on the Internet.

Word balloon

Workds in a circular shape that show a character speacking.