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autodidacticphd [2012-08-24 00:09:36 +0000 UTC]

Honestly, I think a mix is best. I also tricks that somewhat transcend the panel and gutter ideas. For example, take your middle panel and turn it into a full page spread with the character the same size and position that you already have, but background going all the way out to the edge of the page. In the top two panels go with the standard rectangular layout with the background showing through in the gutters. and top it off with the irregular panel on the bottom.

I also like full page backgrounds with no more content than an establishing shot or simple setting and rendered in desaturated colours. Then have the action or dialogue work floating on top without strict borders or gutters... that wouldn't work with your example of course, and not just because of lack of colour, but because the flow of action would become muddy.

Ok, you prolly caught me by now... I just don't like hard borders with white gutters.

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Tenchi-del-Dante [2012-06-22 23:41:41 +0000 UTC]

It's all about

Location, location, location

and enjoying your grav'ey

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kurtoons [2012-04-11 13:47:18 +0000 UTC]

Most of the time, I use plain rectiliner panels in my own webcomic, although I like to use the occasional circular inset penal once in a while because the comic is a Pulp Era adventure and I like to give it a Deco look. ( [link] )

My chief concerns are readability and variety. The latter, because I get bored with the same layout all the time; but the latter gives me more headaches. Making sure the panels and word balloons flow smoothly so that the viewer reads things in the correct order sometimes conflicts with my design sense for how the page should look. (as in this one: [link] )

I tend to save the more dynamic panel layouts for scenes where I want a specific visual effect, such as this one, where the heroine is hanging upside-down: ( [link] ) or this one where there's a fight in a weightless enviroment: ( [link] ). And I tend to use them more in fight scenes, to help cover up the fact that I don't do fight scenes very well. *grin*

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Orignl-Ninja-Knight [2012-04-08 06:19:16 +0000 UTC]

You're wrong. Just Kidding!
I'm no expert in visual storytelling, but I plan to be someday. And I try to learn new techniques and practice as much as I can.

That said...

I like both. Each for different reasons.

The first page has more dimensional space giving the page a sense of setting. This is great if that's your intention. To make it clear to people that this fight is happening in the city. Perhaps a specific city? If the story were about a hero who protects his city and country, it would really express a feeling of loss if the fight in the city caused mass destruction. Giving the panels extra space gives it more time and a stronger sense of setting (Creating Comics p158-165 Scott McCloud).

The Second version is all about the action. The motion of the characters is intensified by the dynamic layout. I especially like the first and fourth panel border shapes.

There are some commonalities in both versions though, that you might want to be aware of.
The one that jumped out to me was that both versions are "contained" in the panels. The fourth panel on the second version to me could go all the way to the page's edge and BG could be already partway off the page, giving the page an even more dynamic feel.

Ultimately though, it's clear that the first page works better because that's how you envisioned it when you drew it. The second page doesn't work as well because you're taking the same images and changing the frames' shapes. To me, each different style of storytelling needs to be deliberate. Taking your panels from the first page and fitting the round peg into a square hole of the second page weakens the overall effect. However, if you were to draw the scene with different angles and use the second frame layout, you might come up with an even better version. So many options!

I won't go into any more details because you should check out the links below. They'll probably give you ideas as to what you might change as far as angles go, and give the overall page organization more clarity.
They're from Freddie E. Williams youtube channel. He's a professional comic artist and VERY skilled in visual storytelling. The links below are of a portfolio review he did for someone.

[link]
[link]
[link]

Thanks for sharing! This exercise of yours has given me insight!

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jmmtl [2012-04-08 03:58:19 +0000 UTC]

The first looks a bit mechanical, the second have more action (Don't know what are you looking for, so here goes my opinion)

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