Make sure your comic is print ready from the start!

Make sure your comic is print ready from the start!

It's important your art (whether you draw it or you hire an artist to do it) is ready to print from day one. That way you avoid having to redraw pages because the DPI is too low.

Below is the checklist I use for my artists.

Checklist

  • All art is in 600 DPI
  • Final files are in CMYK .tiff format
That's it! :)

Let's break that down (just a little).

600 DPI

That's 600 dots per inch. The more dots you have in an inch, the more clear the art when you print. 

Marvel and DC expect their pages to be 600 DPI as Jason Brubaker calls out in his MakingComics post, 10 THINGS BEFORE YOU START A COMIC OR GRAPHIC NOVEL.

You will be safe at 600 DPI (less you may have to redraw, more doesn't really make a difference to the eye). 

CMYK .tiff format


Most printers use the color model CMYK vs. RGB, so it's better to have your final files in that color model.

The .tiff file format is very common and allows layers.

If you want more information on color models and formats (beyond just requesting it from your artist), check out Rhiannon and David's awesome, short comic, Let's Print a Comic ($8 USD).

It covers more details and some other interesting tidbits.

Wrap up

All my final pages from my artist are in 600 DPI CMYK .TIFF format, and I suggest you make the same request of yours. I hope that helps!

-Jeremy

P.S. - If this helped, please support me by reading my free webcomic halfwing, thanks!

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