word balloons

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neostar8710
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word balloons

Post by neostar8710 »

hi,
i'm trying to make a manga, but i'm confused. How do i make word balloons? all the sites that say it..and yet their directions dont seem to work?..i'm horrible with computers, so idk how to make word balloons in photoshop...and thought bubbles and the bubles when the characters are yelling...and if possible..does anyone know how to make double pages?
William G
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Post by William G »

I knew a good tutoral once that showed you, but I read it as long time ago...

This might be hard to follow since we dont have pictures, but here's how I do it:

After finishing my coloring, I reduce my image to it's final display size. Say, 300x 400 pixels.

Then, I use the text tool and I type directly on the image, with the text justification set to "centered". That way I can adjust font size, and text layout to fit into the panel better.

On your tool bar, the tall thingy on the lefthand side of your screen, select the eliptical marquee tool. It's the very top lefthand one. If it doesnt look like a circle, left click and hold down. You'll get some options pop up.

Once you get the eliptical marquee tool, drag it around your text until you get the balloon shape you want. You'll see a balloon shape with squiggly lines. Leave it alone

Then, go to the background layer of your image. Under "edit" up top, select "fill". Choose a color, usually white, and click.

Remember to not move your balloon shape

Then go back to "edit" and select "stroke", chose a width and click okay.

You should have your word balloon. Flatten your image, and then draw in your tails to show who's speaking.

I know this would be clearer with images.
William G
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Post by William G »

As for double pages... are you doing your comic for the web or for print?
neostar8710
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Post by neostar8710 »

i liek to make double paghes for both...well preferrable for the web..but i like to for print also..like in manga or any comics, they have images or covers that span across both pages..and one more question..how do you do sound effects?...do you draw them or use photoshop too?
neostar8710
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Post by neostar8710 »

but with the world bubles and etc..how do the pros do it?..dont they just hand drawn the bubles and type in the dialogue?..idk..
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Greg Stephens
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Post by Greg Stephens »

neostar8710 wrote:but with the world bubles and etc..how do the pros do it?..dont they just hand drawn the bubles and type in the dialogue?..idk..
They probably do it a lot like what William said above.

Also, order is important, too- Don't draw the bubble first (no matter if you do it by hand or by some computer method). You may not have enough room for all the words, or too much room. Type or write all the words first, then design the bubble after. That way, you know it fits.
Good morning! That's a nice tnetennba.
neostar8710
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Post by neostar8710 »

how do you do double pages then?
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Greg Stephens
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Post by Greg Stephens »

neostar8710 wrote:how do you do double pages then?
I don't really understand the question.

If you're drawing on paper, you put two pieces of paper next to each other and make sure the image lines up. After scanning, you'll have to use Photoshop or some other program to put them together into one image file.

If you're creating your images digitally, just start at double the width.

I don't know if that answers anything.
Good morning! That's a nice tnetennba.
miketx1warno
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word balloons free here

Post by miketx1warno »

William G
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Post by William G »

Take the fonts. The rest is a waste of time unless your plan is to make a comic that looks like everyone else's comic who's downloaded it.

GIMP has a script that creates balloons for you that was pretty good. But you had to make it before you typed out the text. If your guess was off, you had to kill it and do a new one.
Tim Mallos
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Post by Tim Mallos »

The Blambot balloons are a good thing to download and look at though, if you are going to be creating your own balloons in a vector program, or by hand for that matter.

I'd suggest using them for reference though. Give your bubbles your own style - William's point well taken.

Integrating a vector program (such as freehand or illustrator)

Do your art, do your color, save image large flat.

Import art into an illustrator file.

Type text.

Draw your own bubbles using pen tools etc (this allows for full variety of styles - many bubbles want to tend more toward interestingly "rounded" rectangles vs. perfect elipses (sp?))

Save As what you want.

Nice thing about vector bubbles and text, they scale smoothly if you publish to multiple sizes etc.

Could probably use paths in Photoshop too, but I am not versed in those thingies.

Lots of tutorials:

http://hans.presto.tripod.com/links005.html

Tim
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ibidibidi
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Post by ibidibidi »

GIMP has a script that does this?! i've been killing my self trying to figure it all out.. could you tell me where i can find it? thanks! :oops:
William G wrote:Take the fonts. The rest is a waste of time unless your plan is to make a comic that looks like everyone else's comic who's downloaded it.

GIMP has a script that creates balloons for you that was pretty good. But you had to make it before you typed out the text. If your guess was off, you had to kill it and do a new one.
DOOM2099
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Post by DOOM2099 »

Here is a good page for you

http://forums.bizhat.com/ftopic6285.html
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