Graphic Novel Vocabulary

  a kind of panel that spans the width of the page. If it runs off the page entirely, it is known as a ‘bleed’.

  the white space that separates panels from one another.

   a text-filled box or rectangle used to deliver narration, establish the setting, or reveal a character's inner thoughts

  a narration technique where an off-screen narrator—often the protagonist or an omniscient storyteller—addresses the reader directly, usually contained within a caption

  the visual layer closest to the reader.  If the subject seems closer to the reader, in the front of the scene depicted, it stands in the “foreground.”

  stands for the representation of any particular thing on the page.
 

  how heavily an element or image draws the viewer’s eyes.  It can establish a panel's focal point, create visual tension, and direct the flow of the narrative.

  the central visual plane in a panel, positioned between the foreground (closest to the viewer) and the background (furthest away).

  various kinds of icons are used to indicate sounds. Sometimes, jagged speech bubbles will suggest an exclamatory voice, but words are often used also. The classic examples would be "pow!' and 'zap!' during a fight in a Batman comic.

  graphic signs used to relate information that cannot easily be perceived, such as states of mind, particular feelings/emotions or other non-visible phenomena.

  a narration technique where an off-screen narrator—often the protagonist or an omniscient storyteller—addresses the reader directly, usually contained within a caption
 
 

  indicates the words a particular character is actually speaking. The indicator from the speaker to the bubble is called a “pointer” (tail). 

  graphic signs used to relate information that cannot easily be perceived, such as states of mind, particular feelings/emotions or other non-visible phenomena.

  indicates the words a particular character is actually speaking. The indicator from the speaker to the bubble is called a “pointer” (tail). 

  various kinds of icons are used to indicate sounds. Sometimes, jagged speech bubbles will suggest an exclamatory voice, but words are often used also. The classic examples would be "pow!' and 'zap!' during a fight in a Batman comic.

  stands for the representation of any particular thing on the page.

  the framed image on a page, often defined with use of a border.

  a kind of panel that spans the width of the page. If it runs off the page entirely, it is known as a ‘bleed’.

  the edge of a particular panel. Sometimes panels do not have defined borders; in these instances, the panel is said to 'bleed' either into another panel, or simply into timeless empty space.

  the white space that separates panels from one another.

  a kind of panel that spans the width of the page. If it runs off the page entirely, it is known as a ‘bleed’.

   indicates the words a particular character is actually speaking. The indicator from the speaker to the bubble is called a “pointer” (tail). 

  a narration technique where an off-screen narrator—often the protagonist or an omniscient storyteller—addresses the reader directly, usually contained within a caption

  a text-filled box or rectangle used to deliver narration, establish the setting, or reveal a character's inner thoughts

  the visual layer furthest from the viewer

  how heavily an element or image draws the viewer’s eyes.  It can establish a panel's focal point, create visual tension, and direct the flow of the narrative.

  the visual layer closest to the reader.  If the subject seems closer to the reader, in the front of the scene depicted, it stands in the “foreground.”

  the central visual plane in a panel, positioned between the foreground (closest to the viewer) and the background (furthest away).

  various kinds of icons are used to indicate sounds. Sometimes, jagged speech bubbles will suggest an exclamatory voice, but words are often used also. The classic examples would be "pow!' and 'zap!' during a fight in a Batman comic.

  the visual layer closest to the reader.  If the subject seems closer to the reader, in the front of the scene depicted, it stands in the “foreground.”

  stands for the representation of any particular thing on the page.

   how heavily an element or image draws the viewer’s eyes.  It can establish a panel's focal point, create visual tension, and direct the flow of the narrative.

  the edge of a particular panel. Sometimes panels do not have defined borders; in these instances, the panel is said to 'bleed' either into another panel, or simply into timeless empty space.

  the white space that separates panels from one another.

  a kind of panel that spans the width of the page. If it runs off the page entirely, it is known as a ‘bleed’.

  the framed image on a page, often defined with use of a border.

  the visual layer furthest from the viewer

  the central visual plane in a panel, positioned between the foreground (closest to the viewer) and the background (furthest away).

  the visual layer closest to the reader.  If the subject seems closer to the reader, in the front of the scene depicted, it stands in the “foreground.”

  Borrowed from filmmaking terminology, it dictates the viewer's position relative to the subject (close-up, bird’s eye view…)

  a narration technique where an off-screen narrator—often the protagonist or an omniscient storyteller—addresses the reader directly, usually contained within a caption

  indicates the words a particular character is actually speaking. The indicator from the speaker to the bubble is called a “pointer” (tail).

  graphic signs used to relate information that cannot easily be perceived, such as states of mind, particular feelings/emotions or other non-visible phenomena.

  various kinds of icons are used to indicate sounds. Sometimes, jagged speech bubbles will suggest an exclamatory voice, but words are often used also. The classic examples would be "pow!' and 'zap!' during a fight in a Batman comic.

  Borrowed from film-making terminology, it dictates the viewer's position relative to the subject (close-up, bird’s eye view…)

  the visual layer furthest from the viewer

  the central visual plane in a panel, positioned between the foreground (closest to the viewer) and the background (furthest away).

  the visual layer closest to the reader.  If the subject seems closer to the reader, in the front of the scene depicted, it stands in the “foreground.”

   the framed image on a page, often defined with use of a border.

  the white space that separates panels from one another.

  a kind of panel that spans the width of the page. If it runs off the page entirely, it is known as a ‘bleed’.

  the edge of a particular panel. Sometimes panels do not have defined borders; in these instances, the panel is said to 'bleed' either into another panel, or simply into timeless empty space.

  the visual layer closest to the reader.  If the subject seems closer to the reader, in the front of the scene depicted, it stands in the “foreground.”

  the visual layer furthest from the viewer

  the central visual plane in a panel, positioned between the foreground (closest to the viewer) and the background (furthest away).

   Borrowed from filmmaking terminology, it dictates the viewer's position relative to the subject (close-up, bird’s eye view…)

  the visual layer closest to the reader.  If the subject seems closer to the reader, in the front of the scene depicted, it stands in the “foreground.”
 

  the visual layer furthest from the viewer

  the central visual plane in a panel, positioned between the foreground (closest to the viewer) and the background (furthest away).

  Borrowed from filmmaking terminology, it dictates the viewer's position relative to the subject (close-up, bird’s eye view…)