Graphic Novels Flashcards
Gutters
The space between framed panels, (Readers tend to ‘fill in the blanks’ and imagine what happens between panels, a process known as ‘closure’)
Frame
Boarder around an image that contain the panels
Bleed page
Picture runs to the end of the page and/or beyond and is kind of unfinished
Splash Page
A panel that spans the width of the page
Graphic weight
The amount of colour contrast in an image, or the use of certain patterns. The way some images draw the eye more than others
Foreground
At the front of the image, or something quite central. (The subject and point of focus) If the subject seems closer to the reader, in the front of the scene depicted, it stands in the ‘foreground’.
Midground
Not as central in the middle of the scene (natural resting place for vision allowing cantering of the image) (If the subject stands in the middle of the scene that is depicted, thern there it is in the midground.)
Background
Objects in the back, (provides Contextual/subtextual information)
Transition
The thing between two scenes or sections of the story. They are direct
Emanata
Tear drops, sweat question marks, and motion lines to portray emotion
Voice over
Narrator speaking directly to the reader (Usually this is done with a hard line separating the narrator’s speech at the top or bottom of a panel from the image within the panel.)
The six transition types
Moment to moment, action to action, subject to subject, scene to scene, aspect to aspect, non sequitur
Spatial arrangement
Allows immediate juxtaposition of the present and the past
Placing an image off centre
Used to create visual tension
Panel
Distinct segment of the comic (containing a combination of image and text with endless variety) they offer an experience rather than just reading the text (Panel refers to the framed image. It offers the reader a perspective or point of view on the subjects also known as the camera angle)
Captions
Boxes containing a variety of text elements including scene setting, description, etc
Speech balloons
Enclose dialogue and come from a specific speaker’s mouth. They vary in size, shape, and layout and can alternate to depict conversation (kind of ‘direct speech’, where the characters speak for themselves.)
Speech bubbles are able to show
External or internal dialogue
External dialogue
Speech between characters
Internal dialogue
A thought enclosed by a balloon that has a series of dots or bubbles going up to it
Special effects lettering
Method of drawing attention to text. It often highlights onomatopoeia and reinforces the impact of words such as bang or wow
Colour
This affects the audience experience
Graphic weight
New definition itunes U
To do with emotion
Time
Graphic novels and comic books do not have to tell a story in a linear way. Besides the use of transitions between panels artists can explore multiple momentsin one panel, like a collage
Camera angle
Long shot, medium shot, close up, bird’s eye view, a high angle, eye-level, or low angle (All of this will have an effect on the reader’s understanding of the subject.)
Appearance of Speech Bubbles
If these appear as clouds, they represent the character’s thoughts. If they appear in jagged lines, the character is shouting
Style
The artist’s drawing style can be discussed using several terms. Scott McCloud, in Understanding Comics, shows that there are four ‘scales’ of style: complex to simple, realistic to iconic, objective to subjective, specific to universal
Panel with no boarder
Create a unique effect where the subject seems to stand outside the storyline
Direct narration
N/A
Indirect narration
N/A
