STAGE 5 OF 6
Lettering
The last structural decision on the page. Balloons assign the voices and enforce the reading order; after this, the picture cannot move.
Lead piece
Where the tail points
A balloon tail assigns a line to a mouth and, more importantly, fixes the order the balloons are read in. Get it wrong and the conversation inverts.
Read the piece →All in Lettering5 pieces, filed in working order
- P.19Where the tail pointsA balloon tail assigns a line to a mouth and, more importantly, fixes the order the balloons are read in. Get it wrong and the conversation inverts.
- P.20Balloon placement is compositionThe letterer is the last person to change the picture, and always does.
- P.21Leaving roomDrawing for the balloon that is not there yet.
- P.22Caps, and the crossbar IComics letter in caps; the crossbar on the I is reserved. Why the convention holds.
- P.23Sound as drawingWhere lettering stops being type and becomes part of the art.