The Transparent balloon topic got me thinking... I'm more of a print comics fan than a digital/web comics one, but it seems like some digital artists dislike word balloons in general. I see a lot of comments like "tone down your balloons, they're too big" or "opaque balloons take up art." I think this is a good topic to discuss.

In my opinion, word balloons are a part of the art, not something that you paste on top of the art. If you take the time to create interesting or new word balloons, you can easily make the text more organic and natural. Instead of drawing the balloon into the picture, draw the picture around the balloon. Nothing ruins a comic more than squishy lettering and poor planning. Your eyes should naturally view the text first and then slowly move to the picture as you register what is being said.

I'm currently making a series of "How to Hand Draw Comics" tutorials and this is an excerpt from the "Hand Lettering" tutorial where I play with word balloons to create new and interesting designs.



I'd really like to hear everyone's opinions on this subject.

Text placement is important as it's the most obvious guide to reader eye movement. Different placement of text on the same drawn page can completely alter the flow of action. One doesn't realize this to the extent it merits until one works with a co-artist who feels an inexplicable need to change agreed-upon balloon placement willy-nilly, seemingly hoping secretly that the other person won't notice. Ed, do it again and I really will throttle you!

The balloons need to feel at home with the art. Filling the ballons with some non intrusive colour can help a lot. Making the balloons fun to look at, as with the examples above seems to be something all to easily forgotten. I like flicking through Hellboy comics, simply because the word balloons in there are so nice to look at.

creative balloon placement can really add a lot to art, as well as varying the style of the balloons and the text. In a really great comic balloons shouldn't appear to be an afterthought but integral to the comic itself... hope that doesn't sound too pretentious.

I agree. What you do with a word balloon or even the words inside the balloon can affect the frame or even the whole page! I like to get creative with word balloons, sometimes to a fault. ;)

I think part of the problem is that overall, in digital comics people use the shape tool, so they're all the same basic shape. In the print comics- the bubbles look hand drawn and often have shading and such to give it more of an effect.

It can also be really hard to get the balloon placement to be good and have a good effect on the comic. I really have no idea what I'm doing in terms of that- and generally just put it where it's out of the way of the characters/focus.

I have little experience in digital text balloon creation so mine tend to be generally pretty dull looking and i depend on the placement more then the balloon itself.

Looking at this gave me a sudden urge to play with word balloons. Usually I don't use them, but they can do something my "floating text" just can't.

I think I'll have to drag out "Bob: The Life and Death of Tea" again soon. I miss that little guy.

my comic labrynth has no pictures. heh.