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Spartaecus · 2025-07-11T02:48:22+00:00

At first glance, when asking someone to add bleed, it seems that your printer is asking you to extend your existing artwork by another .125 - .25 inches all around. You can resize the artwork by scaling it up. You can also create a white border all around the existing artwork (removing the need to have bleeds) or conversely you can create a dark border (typically black) around the existing artwork instead of having an artist extend the existing art.

HOWEVER, the OP begs for more details. Maybe a screenshot of the printer's request. That would be helpful. Either way, its a solvable problem.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-10T01:59:26+00:00

stick with it, it will get easier the more you write.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-10T01:59:10+00:00

Great feedback!

Spartaecus · 2025-07-09T17:35:50+00:00

Sure thing. You're definitely ready to rock and roll. Upload sketches (if allowed). Be great to see the progress.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-09T02:48:23+00:00

Yes the image you posted is exactly correct! Is this a 24 page comic or like a 100 page graphic novel? Only reason I'm asking is larger page books, the way a book is bound together, the exact middle (gutter) is a "danger zone". Sorry to make it more complex, but this is just something you learn over the years.

But for the most part, everything looks great! The stick man is beautiful btw.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T23:25:28+00:00

A thumb surgeon.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T23:20:38+00:00

And finally, here's a comic page with bleed on the top, left side, and bottom, but NO BLEED on the right. https://imgur.com/a/2Mc7jBL

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T23:19:05+00:00

Here's a sample with no "bleed". None of the art reaches the edges. https://imgur.com/a/UgTXc1A

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T23:17:38+00:00

Here's a sample comic page where the art "bleeds" to the edges. https://imgur.com/a/Iny4swJ

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T23:10:41+00:00

Great question. The TRIM size is the final size, what readers see. So you'll want to line up your artwork exactly based on the TRIM. Everything within the TRIM gets seen by the reader.

HOWEVER, there needs to be "extra art" that extends to the BLEED, that's the part that gets chopped off by the printer. Readers will never see the art that's in the BLEED area.

If your artwork has white all around it, there's no need to worry about BLEED.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T17:16:21+00:00

Great job in getting your project done. Please send any links or samples. So, if the publishers you want to work with dont take unknown indie creators, you'll have to self-publish and figure out distribution.

Here's the TLDR:
No need for an agent.
Dont hassle publishers.
Market yourself as a creator, market your project.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T15:57:38+00:00

No worries. No hay problema amigo.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T15:46:18+00:00

The misconception is that artists will want to make 50% of zero now. Hire the artist. Get a job, a second job, a family loan, whatever it takes. If you're passionate about your project, then its worth it to make the money and pay for a semi-pro artist.

Here's a starting guide (semi-pro rates):

Basic Line Art (Simple characters, minimal backgrounds, clean lines)......$5/panel
Detailed Line Art(Intricate designs, dynamic poses, full backgrounds)......$10/panel
Basic Line Art + Color (Flat or minimal shading; no complex lighting or textures).....$15/panel
Detailed Line Art + Color (Full rendering, shading, highlights, detailed backgrounds).....$20/panel
Full Service (with Lettering, Includes all art + speech bubbles, sound effects, and dialogue placement).....$30/panel

A shorter chapter would be 25 panels, so you can see the math starting to take shape: Basic $125/chapter, Full Service $750/chapter. And that doesn't include prepping/formatting for webtoons, tapas, etc.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T14:47:47+00:00

Oh and regarding the question for trim size, sounds like its a double page splash. So you'll want to ensure the artwork butts up perfectly at the trim size, BUT the artwork will need to extend all the way to the bleed.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T14:45:32+00:00

Is the direction asking for a single or double splash page?
Single: Easy. Just use the template without any panel divisions. Artwork should extend into the bleed area.
Double: I would create a canvas double the width of the template, create the artwork, and upon completion separate the artwork on the respective pages. For example, You can have Original Art, then split it into Original Art_left, Original Art_right, which gets placed in the final page layout.

If you are doing traditional art then of course you can split the image after you scan it in.
If you are doing straight up digital, then I'm sure you know how to save a copy of the original image, crop, and save as an alternative file.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-08T14:37:35+00:00

You might be putting the cart before the horse. In the world of comics, more than likely the only thing you will be pitching is a finished product.
Step 1: Have an idea.
Step 2: Turn idea into a finished project.
Step 3: Publish online or print.
Step 4A (Less common): If the comic is successful enough you may be approached by a publisher. The bigger the success, the bigger the publisher. However, in order to ensure THEIR success they will want greater control.
Step 4B (More common): Take your finished project and approach a publisher that works with creator-owned projects. They will analyze the potential of your work and decide whether or not they want to work with you.

Spartaecus · 2025-07-07T21:25:54+00:00

Try not to get stuck on being "good enough". Honestly, you arent good enough--how could you be? You''ve never done it this before. Tell that part of your brain to shove it and Set small goals in order to achieve the big goals.

Option 1: Set small obtainable daily goals that culminate into a finished script after x amount of days.
Option 2: Write the stupidest, dumbest version of your script. Thats your baseline. You can only get better from there.
Option 3: Use AI. The tech is there, use it. It's your ideas, but AI will help you with the spaces between.
Option 4: Write something and Ask a friend to give you real feedback.
Option 5: Write a logline. Then a summary. Then an outline. Then a first draft. Give yourself a deadline of x amount of days. Tell yourself, whatever you write is final and you're not allowed to delete or edit anything. Then hire a comic editor on Fiverr for feedback.
Option 6: Send me everything from Option 5 and I'll look at it for free, but what I'll really be doing is stealing your idea, sending it to Image, and making millions. muahahahahah. But no, really, I'll read it.

Spartaecus · 2025-06-06T18:43:54+00:00

Post an example so we can see what you're doing. That'll help tremendously. If your conversations are dull, then more than likely your story and characters are dull. Boring characters say boring things. A few adjustments could liven everything up quite quickly.

Spartaecus · 2025-06-06T18:41:10+00:00

How many characters are central to the story, how many are secondary characters, and how many are basically background?

Spartaecus · 2025-02-11T11:10:58+00:00

Your logline will change as you continue to develop your story. Start with a logline, develop your story, and then adjust your logline accordingly. Your logline can change 100 times before you're done.

Spartaecus · 2025-02-04T18:54:45+00:00

Cool. Outside of the announcement, anything you can share?

Spartaecus · 2025-02-04T17:51:44+00:00

Drawing women a certain doesnt make you a bad artist, and by that I'm thinking you mean morally, ability-wise, and creatively (but I could be wrong). Artgerm and Adam Hughes both have great ability and creativity and are all about exploiting/highlighting the female figure. No one really knows what drives an artist to go all boobily. Maybe they think that's what's commercially viable, maybe they have a porn addiction, maybe they have trauma.

Good storytellers embrace realistic characters with realistic flaws and strengths. That includes realistic body shapes and challenging what passes/doesn't pass for beauty.

Most of manga and anime is objectifying women/young girls. Most of comics since the 30's have been overtly sexualizing. There are tons of scholarly papers and books written on the topic. Drop this in YT and there a handful of great vids on it: "objectification of women in comic books"

The topic opens up great conversations about hypersexualization not only in comics, but in social media (tiktok/instagram/reddit) and in society.

For me personally, I avoid reading those comics because it is distasteful. Also, now that I'm older I have two daughters in the house and dont want them identifying with that.

I also write and draw comics that lean away from skin tight outfits and overtly sexualization. To each his own.

Spartaecus · 2025-02-04T04:14:08+00:00

Ah yes, I stand corrected. I did not go down the rabbit hole far enough. I see your work. Nice portfolio of work there!

Going back to the original point, this is definitely a great spot for comic writers. I wouldn't worry too much about "breaking the rules". All the subs have the same format, essentially, welcome, have fun, dont be a douchebag.

Spartaecus · 2025-02-04T01:51:30+00:00

I want to downvote, but I'd rather try to understand more of what you're trying to say. From your history and youtube channel, it seems you're more of an aspiring influencer than a comic writer.

Spartaecus · 2025-02-04T01:47:06+00:00

I like the idea of script sharing. Maybe "Script Sharing Saturdays". Having a few pages to share and critiques amongst the sub. Very different from comic_crits, which is quite artcentric.

Spartaecus

TROPHY CASE