How to choose a layout
Choose the layout by the job of the page. Count the beats of the scene first. One beat is one thing that the reader must see. Then pick the layout that gives the most important beat the largest panel.
- Large panels slow time down. Use them for a place, a face or a surprise.
- Small panels speed time up. Use them for quick actions and short replies.
- The last panel of a page is a hook. Put a question there, and the answer on the next page.
Paper sizes
| Paper | Sheet | Drawing frame | Cut size |
|---|---|---|---|
| B4 manuscript | 257 × 364 mm | 180 × 270 mm | 220 × 310 mm |
| A4 manuscript | 210 × 297 mm | 150 × 220 mm | 182 × 257 mm (B5) |
Keep speech and faces inside the drawing frame. Art may run to the edge of the sheet, but the printer cuts it at the cut size.
Gutters
The space between two rows is wider than the space between two panels in a row. The eye then finishes a row before it drops to the next one. This tool makes the space between rows twice the gutter that you set.
The manga page size guide lists pixel sizes for digital work.
Common questions
What size is manga manuscript paper?
Professional manuscript paper is B4, 257 by 364 mm. The artist draws inside a frame of 180 by 270 mm, and the printed page is cut at 220 by 310 mm. Doujinshi paper is A4 with a frame of 150 by 220 mm.
How many panels go on a manga page?
Most pages have four to six panels. A page with one or two panels gives weight to a moment. A page with seven or more panels makes time feel fast.
Which way do you read manga panels?
Japanese manga reads from right to left and from top to bottom. You finish a row before you move down. Choose left to right for a comic in the Western order.
Why are the guides light blue?
Light blue separates guides from black artwork. Some scanning workflows can remove it. Hide guides before export if you need clean panels.
Konyomi turns a written story into manga, with the same faces on every page. It opens soon.