How to Print a Comic Book
Printing a comic book can be a daunting task for a new cartoonist. For best results, specialized (and often expensive) equipment is required, and assembly of the finished work can be a painstaking, time-consuming process. Fortunately, with the advent of several online print-on-demand companies, you can pass this work onto other people. Often there is no upfront charge; instead, a service charge is included in the price of the finished product at checkout. Read on for instructions on how to print your comic book using the print-on-demand service Lulu.
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Things You'll Need
- Paper Art supplies Scanner Digital image manipulation program Desktop publishing program
Instructions
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1
Create your comic pages. The printable area in a standard comic book page is 6" x 9"; write your story with these limitations in mind and draw your artwork accordingly (it may be useful to create thumbnail layouts prior to creating each full-sized page). Ink, color and letter your pages as desired.
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2
Scan your artwork into your computer. Save your images at a resolution of 300 dpi, in greyscale or CYMK color. If desired, scan your sketched comic pages prior to inking, coloring and lettering and complete those steps using a digital image manipulation program such as Photoshop.
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3
Import your saved artwork into a desktop publishing program, such as Adobe InDesign. Compose the interior pages of your comic in one file, taking care to ensure that they are properly aligned according to margin dimensions for your chosen format (for standard comic books, the margins are: top: .5", bottom: .75" and sides: .3125"). Save your finished work in PDF format.
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4
Go to the Lulu website's comics portal (see Resources below). Click on the "Publish Your Own Comic Book" link. Click on "Paperback." Enter your name and the title of your comic book in the appropriate text field. Choose whether you want to publish your comic solely for personal use or wish to make it available for purchase. Click "Save & Continue."
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5
Select standard size paper. Navigate to the tab labeled "Tall" under "Size Options" and select "Comic Book." Choose saddle-stitched binding. Select the appropriate color option and click "Save & Continue." Upload your saved PDF file. Click on "Make Print Ready File" and wait for processing to complete. Click on "Download & Review" to review your file for errors. Click "Save & Continue."
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Edit your comic book's cover. Upload cover art by clicking on the "Edit Picture" options and selecting "Use a Different File;" follow the onscreen directions. Click on "Make Print Ready Cover." Click "Save & Continue."
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Review your options and click "Save & Finish." Enter your email address and choose a password to create a Lulu account. A printed copy of your comic is now available for purchase.
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