As with any creative endeavor, crafting a manga entails a significant amount of storyboarding along with a myriad of advanced planning, which is far less exciting than the drawing itself. Additionally, in the manga world, the use of thumbnails, which refers to tiny sketch representations of a page’s layout, is prominent. A thumbnail is an indispensable part of refinement in image and story progression, pacing, and narration in manga. This paper outlines the importance of thumbnails for storyboarding and provides insight on how a manga storyboard can benefit from the use of thumbnails.
What Are Thumbnails in Manga Storyboarding?
Thumbnails are basic, small drawings depicting the layout and design of manga pages. These sketches are created to plan the composition of a page before the artist starts work on detailed artwork. They clearly illustrate the arrangement of the panels, the progression of the story from one panel to the next, and the placement of dialogues or actions within the panels.
Despite being rough, these sketches serve as the foundation of the manga page. The intent remains to capture the layout and structure which guarantees that the story’s visuals make sense before finer details are added. Read a detailed article about manga storyboarding .
Why Thumbnails Are Crucial for Manga Creation
Using thumbnails in manga storyboarding is essential for several reasons:
Time-Saving: Creating thumbnails allows artists to experiment with different layouts quickly without worrying about making every panel perfect. This saves a lot of time, especially when adjustments need to be made.
Helps with Panel Layout: Thumbnails help artists decide how to arrange panels on the page. Choosing the right number and placement of panels is crucial for pacing the action and dialogue properly.
Improves Story Flow: By sketching out the thumbnails first, artists can visualize how the story progresses across multiple pages. It helps ensure that the pacing, transitions, and visual storytelling are smooth and engaging.
Error Prevention: Thumbnails help prevent mistakes by giving a broader view of the page before diving into the details. This way, artists can spot potential issues, like overcrowded panels or awkward transitions, early in the process.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use Thumbnails for Manga Storyboards
Here’s a simple, easy-to-follow process for using thumbnails to create effective manga storyboards:
Step 1: Sketch the Basic Layout
Start by sketching the basic layout of your page. This includes drawing the outer frame of the page, as well as the margins and gutters (the spaces between panels). Your goal here is not to focus on the details, but to visualize how the page will be divided into sections for panels.
Draw a rough outline of where each panel will be placed on the page.
You don’t need to worry about getting the proportions or angles perfect. The idea is to experiment with panel arrangements and figure out what works best for the flow of the story.
Step 2: Focus on Composition and Visual Hierarchy
Next, focus on the composition of your panels. Composition refers to how the elements in the panel are arranged to create visual interest. Think about the placement of characters, background elements, and objects within each panel.
Ensure that the most important elements of the scene are in the focal areas of the panel (such as the center or slightly off-center).
Consider the visual weight of each element, and use it to guide the viewer’s eye across the page.
Step 3: Plan Your Panel Transitions
One of the key aspects of storyboarding is planning how the story transitions from one panel to the next. Thumbnails help you plan these transitions by showing you how the action flows from one moment to the next.
Think about whether you want to use action-to-action, scene-to-scene, or aspect-to-aspect transitions. Each of these creates a different pacing and effect in your manga.
For example, a fast-paced action scene might benefit from quick transitions between close-up panels, while a more relaxed scene might use a wider shot with slower transitions.
Step 4: Experiment with Perspective and Angles
Thumbnails allow you to experiment with different perspectives and camera angles for each panel. The angle and perspective of each shot play a significant role in how the scene feels and how the audience engages with it.
Try different camera angles, such as bird’s-eye view, low-angle shots, or over-the-shoulder views to find the one that best conveys the emotion or action of the scene.
Use thumbnails to test out these variations without worrying about the details.
Step 5: Add Rough Dialogue and Action Notes
While creating thumbnails, it’s helpful to include rough notes about dialogue and action. This will help you visualize how the text and art interact on the page.
Place rough sketches of speech bubbles and action lines to see how the dialogue fits within each panel.
Think about pacing and how much room the dialogue needs in each panel, so it doesn’t feel cramped or overcrowded.
Step 6: Review, Adjust, and Finalize Your Thumbnails
After you’ve completed your thumbnails, take a step back and review the layout as a whole. Look for areas where you may need to adjust panel sizes, reposition characters, or change transitions.
Don’t be afraid to make multiple versions of your thumbnails to experiment with different layouts.
The final thumbnails should give you a clear and effective visual structure that you can use as a blueprint for your detailed manga pages.
Tools You Can Use for Creating Thumbnails
While traditional tools like pencil and paper are still popular for sketching thumbnails, there are many digital tools that can make the process easier and faster.
Traditional Methods: Use simple tools like pencils, erasers, and sketch paper to create your thumbnails. This method is quick, cost-effective, and great for those who prefer working offline.
Digital Tools: For digital artists, software like Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, or Procreate can help streamline the thumbnail process. These programs allow you to create rough sketches with layers, making it easier to adjust and refine your designs.
Online Thumbnail Tools: There are also online apps and software designed for creating storyboards, such as Storyboard That or Canva, which can provide templates and easy-to-use features for creating manga thumbnails.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Manga Thumbnails
While creating thumbnails is a great way to plan your manga, there are some common mistakes to watch out for:
Overloading Pages with Too Much Detail: Thumbnails are meant to be rough and simple. Don’t get bogged down in fine details—focus on layout and composition.
Ignoring Pacing: Make sure you think about pacing when arranging your panels. Too many panels in a row without breaks can make the story feel rushed.
Not Thinking About the Full Page: Sometimes artists design individual panels without considering how they work together on the full page. Ensure your thumbnails show how the panels will flow from one to the next.
Skipping Thumbnails Altogether: While it’s tempting to jump right into detailed artwork, skipping thumbnails can lead to layout problems later on. Take the time to sketch out your ideas first.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Manga Thumbnails
Best Practices for Using Thumbnails in Manga Storyboarding
Here are some best practices to ensure you’re making the most of your thumbnails:
Consistency: Try to keep your panel sizes and proportions consistent. This will help maintain a smooth flow from panel to panel.
Keep It Simple: Thumbnails are not about creating finished art. The goal is to explore your ideas quickly and effectively.
Iterate and Explore: Don’t hesitate to create multiple thumbnail versions for a page. Experiment with different panel layouts and angles until you find the one that works best.
Think About the Whole Page: When creating thumbnails for a manga, always think about the entire page, not just individual panels. Consider how the panels will flow together and guide the reader’s eye.
Conclusion
Thumbnails are invaluable aids to the storyboarding process in manga. They enable artists to strategize panel movement, pacing, and polished artwork down to the last detail. If thumbnails are utilized properly, creating a captivating manga with excellent structure, effortlessly engaging the readers from beginning to end, becomes easily achievable.
One thing to remember is that thumbnails help in testing, planning, and achieving the desired end result. No matter if you’re a novice or an advanced manga artist, with the addition of thumbnails to one’s workflow through the creation process, there is reduced time expenditure and an improvement in storytelling.
