Comic book guide
How to Make a Comic Book: Script, Pages, Print (2026)
By the Panelo team · Updated
Quick answer
Outline a story that fits about 20 to 22 pages, write a full script with numbered pages, panels and balloons, sketch thumbnails, then pencil, ink, colour and letter each page at the US trim size of 6.625 × 10.25 in plus 0.125 in bleed. Print through a comic printer or print-on-demand, or publish online.
The five jobs in a comic
Big publishers split a comic between specialists. Doing it alone, you still do each job in this order:
| Job | What it is |
|---|---|
| Writer | Story and script: what happens on each page and in each panel, and every word |
| Penciller | Layouts and drawings in pencil |
| Inker | Final black lines and shadows over the pencils |
| Colourist | Flat colours, then light, shadow and effects |
| Letterer | Balloons, captions and sound effects |
1. Fit the story to the pages
A standard US single issue has about 20 to 22 story pages (32 pages with covers and ads). Graphic novels run from about 64 to 200 pages or more. For a first comic, aim for one complete story in 8 to 22 pages: a hero, a goal, an obstacle, a turn and an ending. Write a one-page outline before the script.
2. Write the script
Most publishers use a full script: each page, each panel with a description for the artist, and each numbered balloon. The alternative "plot first" method (associated with Marvel in the 1960s) gives the artist a plot and adds dialogue after the art. Our guide to comic script format has an example, and the free script formatter lays it out for you.
3. Thumbnail every page
- Sketch each page tiny and rough: panel shapes, figures, where balloons go.
- Put reveals on even-numbered (left-hand) pages, so the reader sees them right after a page turn.
- Save a splash page (one big image) for the biggest moment.
4. Pencil, ink and colour at the right size
Traditional US comic art is drawn larger than print on 11 × 17 in board and reduced. Digitally, set the canvas to the print size with bleed at 600 dpi for line art (300 dpi minimum for colour).
| Area | Inches | Pixels at 600 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| Canvas with bleed | 6.875 × 10.5 | 4,125 × 6,300 |
| Trim (final page) | 6.625 × 10.25 | 3,975 × 6,150 |
| Safe area (0.25 in inside) | 6.125 × 9.75 | 3,675 × 5,850 |
Other sizes (graphic novel, manga, A4) are in the page size calculator.
5. Letter it
Western comics are traditionally lettered in all caps with a comic font, bold italic for stressed words, and yellow or white caption boxes for narration. Place balloons so they read left to right and top to bottom, and keep text inside the safe area. See speech bubble types and sound effects.
6. Print, sell or post it
- Comic printers print short runs of floppies at the US size; they need PDFs with bleed and usually CMYK colour.
- Print-on-demand services (such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark) print paperbacks one at a time in trade sizes like 6 × 9 in.
- Crowdfunding on Kickstarter is how many independent comics pay for a print run.
- Online: post pages on your site or social media; digital readers like page-by-page.
Making a comic book with AI
The Panelo comic book maker writes the script, draws each character from a reference sheet, lays out pages with varied panel rows, and letters in all caps with burst balloons and yellow captions. You can edit any scene or line, and download PNG pages or a PDF. One comic holds up to 24 panels (about 4 to 5 pages), so it suits short stories or drafting a longer issue. In the US, images made only by AI can't be copyrighted; the US Copyright Office protected the text and arrangement of the comic Zarya of the Dawn but not its AI images.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages is a comic book?
A standard US comic issue has about 20 to 22 story pages and 32 pages in total with covers and ads. Graphic novels are usually 64 to 200 pages or more.
What size is a comic book page?
The standard US comic trim is 6.625 × 10.25 inches, with 0.125 inches of bleed on each side for printing (6.875 × 10.5 inches in total).
How long does it take to make a comic book?
A professional artist often pencils and inks about one page a day, so a 22-page issue takes about a month of drawing for one person, plus writing, colours and lettering.
What is the order of making a comic?
Story and script, thumbnails, pencils, inks, colours, then lettering. Lettering comes last so balloons can be placed over finished art.
How much does it cost to print a comic book?
It depends on page count, quantity, paper and colour. Short runs cost more per copy than large runs. Ask two or three comic printers for quotes with your exact specs.
Sources
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