Panels… What Are They for? A good story needs pacing, flow, and balance. When composing a comic, this balance can be achieved through character movement, character acting, or how and where we choose to begin or end scenes and sequences. However, one of the most 1. tools in storytelling is the panel (or frame), and its silent partner, the gutter. The panel is the border that wraps around a single moment or scene in a comic. Its job is to contain an 2. that puts forth an idea, shows action, or moves the story forward in some way. Usually, the contents of each panel are a complete thought, but sometimes that thought can fill a whole page or be as short as a single speech bubble. Beyond its contents, the panel is a 3. tool by itself. By containing that idea or scene, it is separating that idea from the one before and after it. It’s literally a wall that says to the reader “here is a complete idea, read it, and move onto the next.” There are different panel types which are all useful 4. for storytelling. These are pretty standard but can be used in multiple ways and combinations to create drama or emphasise a plot point. Also, adding various panels to an action can draw out time, show detail, or show the steps of the action that were otherwise 5. . Progressions such as a “zoom in” can also create excitement or tension when telling a story. The space between panels is called the gutter. If each panel is an idea, the gutter’s job is to be the space between 6. . Basically, this gives the reader time to absorb the contents of the first panel before moving on. Gutters control the pacing of your story. Traditionally, a gutter is always the same width, which implies a fairly smooth transition from panel to panel with no accent or alteration to the reading. On the other hand, a wider panel borders give the reader more time and space to rest and think about the story. This creates “in-between” 7. . Removing panel borders tends to make the contents of two panels blend together. It’s as if the two actions are happening at once or immediately after one another. To lead the reader from one picture to the next and create a sense of 8. within a story, instead, overlapping panels are used. Changing the shape of a panel and its borders can be a great way to introduce 9. and switch scenes or locations. For example, using different styles of borders to show that characters are in a new world, state of being, or even to represent a shift in time, like a memory. Sometimes a powerful effect can be created by leaving out a panel in order to emphasise a specific object or action. This pairs well with a standalone object, or a 10. . These objects would extend to the edge of the paper, and beyond the “safe” area of the panels. Adapted form: https://www.clipstudio.net/how-to-draw/archives/160963#:~:text=But%20one%20of%20the%20most,story%20forward%20in%20some%20way