Creating Comics with Comic Book Creator

(for Windows XP) NOTE: In order to export your comics as PDF files, you must install the PDF Writer software !o do this, after you install Comic "oo# Creator, run the setup program again and select Install PDF Writer NOTE: Comic "oo# Creator includes at least one Content Pac# (a collection of clipart and other media assets) $i#e PDF Writer, the Content Pac# must %e installed separately, %y running the setup program and selecting to install the Content Pac#

& )

Dou%le'clic# the Comic "oo# Creator icon on your des#top to start the program( *s Comic "oo# Creator opens, you will see a splash screen with these choices( Clic# New Comic Book !ype a title and author for your comic %oo#( -elect the initial content pac# that you wish to start with (you can modify this later, and you can e.en create your own content pac#s if you wish) 0ext you will need to choose a page template for the first page of your comic %oo#( Clic# here to see 2*03 more page layout templates to choose from Choose one of these page layouts Clic# Next to go on

+ ,

When you clic#

you will see the editing screen for the first page of your comic %oo#(

!his is the Resource Browser, where you select all the media elements for your comic %oo#

!his is the Tools area, where you can change the formatting of your text, text %alloons, Panels, etc

!his is the where you drag the media elements onto your comic %oo# page 0otice that it the page layout template that you chose

&

Using the Resource Browser *t the top of the 4esource "rowser you can clic# these "uttons to switch %etween the different collections of Caption "oxes 5lements( "alloons (for
-creenshots (this is where you access your photos) adding dialogue text) (for adding narrati.e text)

When you clic# one of these resource types, you will see the choices a.aila%le here 3ou can simply drag these elements into the panels of your comic %oo# page ;o from one page of elements to the next %y clic#ing these arrows

Page 2as#s (these ta#e the place of your layout templates)

Clip *rt collection

!ext %oxes

Adding your own photos to the Screenshots folder In order to use your own photos (from a digital camera, from the Internet, etc ), you must sa.e them into a folder and then tell Comic "oo# Creator where that folder is & ) First, place all of your photos you need for your comic %oo# into a folder (a good place to put this folder is in you6re My Pictures folder in My Documents) When you are %ac# in Comic "oo# Creator, clic# on the Screenshots %utton in the Resource Browser *t the %ottom of the 4esource "rowser there is a row if dice icons !his allows you to set up four different folders of images that you can access in the Screenshots mode Clic# on the second icon (7)) to select it !o designate which folder this icon accesses, clic# the small folder icon that is under the row of dice !his opens a widow where you can select your folder of pictures for this comic %oo# 0ow whene.er you clic# the 7) dice icon, you will ha.e access to the pictures that are in this specific folder

+ ,

Working with im ges on your comic !ook p ge With your mouse, drag the images from the Resource Browser to the panels on your comic %oo# page to insert them there 3ou can position your image in the panel %y dragging it around with you mouse When you clic# on an image that is one your comic %oo# page, you will see a magnifying glass appear %elow it 3ou can change the si8e of your image %y selecting a magnification in the drop'down menu, or you can right'clic# the magnifying glass icon to increase it %y &9: (if you left'clic# it, it will decrease %y &9:) )

Working with di logue B lloons !o place a dialogue %alloon on your comic %oo# page, clic# the Balloon icon at the top of the Resource Browser !ype your text in the %alloon * list of the a.aila%le %alloon styles will appear here -imply drag the %alloon from the resource "rowser into one of the panels on your comic %oo# page
If you clic# once on the %order of the %alloon, you will get handles that you can use to resi8e the %alloon Dou#le$click to get two green handles that you can use to change the direction of the %alloon arrow

3ou can format this text %y highlighting and, and then use the text controls at the top of the screen or in the Tools area on the right

3ou can extend a dialogue text %alloon to a second connected %alloon !o do this, clic# the %alloon on your comic %oo# page to select it !hen clic# the dd Secondary Balloon icon in the Resource Mana!er !his creates a secondary, connected dialogue %alloon, which you can mo.e to the desired location and type text in it

Working with " ption Bo#es !o place a caption %ox on your comic %oo# page, clic# the Ca"tion Boxes icon at the top of the Resource Browser

3ou will then see the a.aila%le caption %oxes in this area Drag the desired caption %ox from the Resource Browser into one of the panels in your comic %oo# page !hen you can type text in the %ox, resi8e the %ox, or drag it to a different position in your panel Working with "lip Art !o use the clip art that is supplied with Comic "oo# Creator, clic# the Cli" rt icon at the top of the Resource Browser 3ou will see the a.aila%le clip art here Drag the desired clip art image from here into one of the panels of your comic %oo# page +

Working with Te#t Bo#es nd Action Te#t !o insert a text %ox into your comic %oo#, clic# the Text Box icon at the top of the Resource Browser Drag one of the text %ox styles onto your comic %oo# page !hen you can mo.e or resi8e the text %ox, and type text into the %ox 3ou can also create ction Text %y dragging this icon onto your comic %oo# page !hen you can format the action text %y using the text controls at the top of the screen or in the Tools area on the right of the screen

"re ting new p ges for your comic !ook !o add additional pages to your comic %oo#, clic# on the File menu and select dd Pa!e 3ou will then need to choose the panel layout that you want for your new page 3ou can mo.e from page to page %y clic#ing these arrows in the upper right of the screen( S $ing your "omic Book "re tor for editing l ter If you wish to continue editing your comic %oo# pro<ect later, you must sa.e it as a = c%cx> file !o do this, simply select Sa%e s from the File menu !hen name your pro<ect and select the destination (prefera%ly the My Comic Books folder, which is in the My Documents folder) %u!lishing your comic !ook s %&' file or s n im ge If you wish to print your comic %oo# on paper, it will %e %est to sa.e it as a PDF file
NOTE: In order to export your comics as PDF files, you must install the PDF Writer software !o do this, after you install Comic "oo# Creator, run the setup program again and select Install PDF Writer

When your comic %oo# is finished, select Pu#lish from the File menu( Clic# the PDF icon here !hen select the destination for your file to %e sa.ed If you wish to sa.e the pages of your comic %oo# as ?P5; images, clic# this icon ?P5; images are great for pu%lishing your comic %oo# on your we% site@ ,