How to Add Word Balloons to a Comic Strip

A good comic requires a balance between words and art. When creating the artwork, leave enough space for each panel's text and word balloon. The word balloon is the boundary between your text and the artwork. Artists can either create their word balloons by hand or use photo manipulation software to create the word balloons.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Draw Word Balloons by Hand

1. Ink the lettering with a felt marker. Different marker sizes affect text legibility.

2. Draw a small tail going up from the speaker's head to just below the text. Do this first with blue pencil.

3. Circle the text, keeping it equally distant from the text. Correct any errors with a kneaded eraser. Ink the word balloon with a felt marker.

Create Word Balloons Digitally

4. Review your panel artwork. Make sure there's enough space for the text and word balloon.

5. Create two new layers in your photo manipulation software. The first layer is for the text and the second layer is for the word balloon.

6. Enter the text on the first layer. Check text for any errors. The text needs to be 1/4" above the speaker.

7. Select the second new layer. Choose the Circle Tool. Surround the text with an ellipse. Leave space between the text and the ellipse.

8. Choose the Polygonal Lasso Selection Tool. Hold the Shift Key down until you see a "+." Create a triangle above the speaking character's head. This is the text balloon's tail. Double-left clicking merges the tail with the ellipse.

9. Fill the text balloon with black ink. Use either a fill tool or large paintbrush to do this. From menus, click "Select - Modify - Contract." A pop up window will ask how many pixels to contract. Enter "2." The word balloon becomes 2 pixels smaller.

10. Color the new word balloon white. The word balloon now has a 2 pixel black border. Move this layer below your text layer.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not smear lettering.