Design and Publishing That Makes You Laugh (or Grin or Groan or Cringe or Cry)

At one time the first part of the newspaper I always turned to was the comics (aka funny pages). Now, when I pick up the paper I'm more apt to start with the front pages and work my way through all but maybe the Sports section. But I still value a good comic for a chuckle or a smile. I stumbled across a blog recently of single panel cartoons. Enjoyed it and decided to intentionally seek out a few more.

Comic strips and single panel comics work well in newspapers, magazines, and newsletters. If you're planning to create your own comics, here are some tips and tools:

• Many comics use a speech balloon or bubble to show the words or thoughts of characters.

  
  

• With or without speech balloons, some comic panels may use a caption for the punchline.

  
  

• Comic Sans may be the best known font used for lettering comics (and for too much more these days) but there are other fonts that speak for cartoon characters or convey action (such as fonts that look like the sounds they depict zap, pow). Some collections that include commerical and free fonts: Comicraft Comic Book Fonts and Blambot Comic Fonts and Lettering. Here's a free font: VTC Sunday Komix Font. Comicraft also has Balloon Tales, Comicrafts Online Guide to Comic Letterings and Production.

  
  

• There are many styles of cartoons. Use some of these tutorials to learn how to draw your own: How to Draw Manga, Drawing Cartoons, Comics, Cartoon Drawing Lessons and Tutorials and Creating Comic Books 101.

Check out some different styles of comics (here's your chance to take a break and still be working):

• The Colo(u)r of the Sun features single panel cartoons drawn by David Sprague and Angelica Bennett. This was the blog that inspired this blog entry.

  
  

• The Phunny Pages from Graphic Designer Toni Allen include panels for all ages and some slightly more adult materials (choose your link).

  
  

• Newsletter Cartoons by Ted Goff offers up purchases and downloads you can use in your own publications, such as employee newsletters, or for presentations. Offers safety, financial, sales, computer and management themes.

  
  

• Cartooning, It's Just Like Art features the work of designer Tim Tripp who shows off some of his cartoon work done for fun and commissioned by clients. He explains each one.