Setting up a Comic Book Page in Clip Studio Paint for a Perfect Bound Comic Book
When creating a comic book, one of the most critical decisions is the type of binding to use. Two popular options are saddle stitch binding and perfect bound binding. In this article, we'll explore the differences between these two binding types and provide a step-by-step guide on how to set up a comic book page in Clip Studio Paint for a perfect bound comic book.
Differences between Saddle Stitch and Perfect Bound Comic Books
Saddle stitch binding is a common method used for comic books, where two pages are butted up against each other and stapled together. This method is simple and cost-effective, but it has its limitations. Perfect bound comic books, on the other hand, are also known as square bound or trade paperback, where pages are glued together. This method provides a more professional and polished look, but it requires more careful planning and setup.
Issues with Perfect Bound Comic Books
One of the significant issues with perfect bound comic books is the area where pages are glued together, which can cause alignment issues with artwork and word balloons. Additionally, information in this area can be lost when pages are glued together. To avoid these issues, it's essential to account for the binding size and adjust the dimensions accordingly.
Dimensions for a Typical Western or US Comic Book
A typical Western or US comic book has a canvas size of 7.55 inches in width and a variable height. The binding size is slightly smaller, at 7.1 inches in width, and the default border or inner border size is the same as the canvas size.
Adjusting Dimensions for a Perfect Bound Comic Book
To adjust the dimensions for a perfect bound comic book, you need to add 0.25 inches to the canvas size for the binding size. This will ensure that the artwork and word balloons align properly, and no information is lost in the glue area.
Considerations for Perfect Bound Comic Book Setup in Clip Studio Paint
When setting up a perfect bound comic book in Clip Studio Paint, it's essential to account for the area where pages will be glued together. You need to adjust the dimensions to ensure that artwork and word balloons align properly and no information is lost.
Offsetting the Inner Square
To offset the inner square to the left, you can use a negative value, such as -0.13 inches. This will move the inner square to the left, and changing the binding size dimensions will affect all other dimensions.
Setting Up the Document
To set up the document in Clip Studio Paint, you need to enter the original binding size of 7.55 inches, offset the binding size to the left by 1.3 inches, and set the canvas size to 7.55 inches. All other dimensions will remain the same. Once you've entered these values, hit OK to apply the changes.
Resulting Document
The resulting document will have a blue area on the right-hand side, which is twice the size of the blue area on the left-hand side. The black area indicates where the page will be glued, and the red area represents the trimming area by the printer.
Perfect Bound Comic Book Dimensions
The dimensions used in this setup can be used to create a comic book with an extra added space for perfect binding. You can pause the video to get the exact dimensions.
Calculating the Spine Thickness
To calculate the spine thickness, you can use Mixium's calculator, which depends on the number of pages used. For example, 56 pages with 4 pages for the cover would result in a spine thickness of a certain dimension, while 120 pages would result in a different spine thickness.
Setting Up the Document in Clip Studio Paint
To set up the document in Clip Studio Paint, you need to use Clip Studio Paint EX to set up multiple pages, set up the page for perfect binding, and bind the pages on the left-hand side (western comic style). Page 1 will be on the right-hand side, and for covers with different artwork on the front and back, use the "Cover with different front and back" option.
Generating a Comic Book in Clip Studio Paint
Configuring the Spine
When generating a comic book, Clip Studio Paint will ask for a separate drawing for the spine. You need to know the thickness of the spine, which depends on the number of pages. You can create a drawing for the spine in Clip Studio Paint.
Wrap Around Cover
If you have a wrap-around cover, choose this option and enter the size of the spine, which depends on the number of pages.
Generated Comic Book
Clip Studio Paint generates a comic book with a perfect bound spine. The generated pages show the spine and the interior pages, and the spine is indicated by blue lines (not visible in the video), and the red area is where the interior pages will be glued to the cover. There is usually an indentation or fold mark where the cover will fold.
Interior Pages
In Clip Studio Paint, when you generate a book, you have the back cover, front cover, inside of the cover, and then page 1. Page 1 is glued to the inside cover of the book. You can draw the glue area, which is roughly the same size as the spine, but half of it will go into each page.
Two-Page Spread
When combining two pages in Clip Studio Paint, it puts them in two separate folders, but you can combine them into one spread. To show a two-page spread, label the pages (e.g., page 2, page 3) and align them with no gap in between. Draw diagonal lines to show how the pages will be aligned correctly or incorrectly.
Creating a Comic Book with Perfect Bound in Clip Studio Paint
Understanding the Cover and Spine
The red area on the cover is where the glue will be applied, and the black area is the spine, where the paper will be folded. On the back cover, you'll see another crease where the paper will be folded.
Inside Cover and Page 1
The inside cover and page 1 demonstrate how the black lines do not align, but the blue lines do. This is because the creator adjusted for the information lost between the two pages getting glued together.
Adjusting for Glue Area
To account for the glue area, the creator used a negative value of 0.13 to push the inside square to the left. This only works for even pages (2, 4, 6, 8, etc.). For odd pages, a positive value of 0.13 is needed to push the inside square to the opposite side.
Creating a Comic Book in Clip Studio Paint Pro
To create a comic book in Clip Studio Paint Pro, create a layer with a black bar to indicate the glue area. Fit your artwork inside the black bar, making sure not to put important information in the glue area. Turn off the layer with the black bar before exporting as a JPEG or PDF. This ensures that no artwork will be lost in the glue area when printed and bound.
Tips and Recommendations
By following these steps and considering the unique requirements of perfect bound comic books, you can create a professional-looking comic book that will impress your readers. Remember to account for the glue area, adjust the dimensions accordingly, and use Clip Studio Paint's advanced features to create a high-quality comic book.