Manga is a term applied to comics or cartoons originating from Japan. Unlike the comics made by American comics, manga has its own unique aesthetic and character, such as the character's wide and expressive eyes. Mastering the technique of making manga does require practice, skill, and creativity, but that doesn't mean it's impossible for you who are still new to it. Read on for this article to find out the powerful tips, yes!
Step
Step 1. Find out more about manga
Learn the differences in drawing styles such as shonen (drawing style aimed at male readers) and shoujo (drawing style aimed at female readers); understand the techniques that are often used by professional mangaka.
Step 2. Learn to draw
Remember, all comics tell stories through pictures (including manga). As such, your story won't be able to convey well if the only characters you can draw are stick figures, right? Take advantage of your knowledge of different styles of manga drawing, then try to develop your own instead of just following the existing ones. If you can't draw, study or ask another manga artist to become an illustrator (provided you have to be able to come up with a compelling story to grab their attention).
Step 3. Create a manga script
Plan your story well and make sure you know what's going to happen in your manga. To make it easier for you to understand, try “playing” the story in your brain like a movie. If you are working with a professional mangaka, make sure you provide clear and detailed descriptions to make it easier for them to understand.
Step 4. Create the basic elements of the manga
When writing a script, you should have thought about the layout of the manga you are going to create. However, if you haven't thought about it, try drawing a comic panel and then filling the panel with sketches that represent the characters in your manga. If you are working with a professional manga artist, ask if they will do it themselves or you will have to create it. At this stage, it doesn't matter if the mangaka you are working with doesn't really understand the flow of the script because you can always make changes without risking damaging the whole work. Don't be in a rush to add dialogue balloons at this stage!
Step 5. Add the required details
Bring the characters in your manga to life and turn your ideas into professional works of art. If you're working with a professional manga artist, leave the process to them. Remember, don't add dialogue balloons just yet!
Step 6. Scan your comic pages
A less expensive option is to shoot your comic pages with your phone or laptop camera; the risk, the resulting image quality will not be good.
Step 7. Using a software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, remove the guide lines and make sure the resulting image looks professional
If you have a graphics tablet, feel free to use it because a graphics tablet has the same precision as a pencil. Again, leave the process to an experienced mangaka.
Step 8. If you want, you can also color and add shadows to the manga
If you want to produce manga regularly, you should not color it. However, if you only want to produce one manga or create a short graphic novel, coloring it is a good choice.
Step 9. Add dialog balloons and desired effects using image editing software
Don't color the dialogue balloons or add unnecessary effects. If you're working with a professional manga artist, anyone can take part in drawing the dialogue balloons, but try asking their help to add more complex effects.
Step 10. Try the ways below to publish your comics:
- If you'd like to try publishing your manga online, try visiting the Ngomik.com site. Ngomik.com is one of the online comic publishers in Indonesia that earns revenue from advertisements on the application. However, it's worth remembering that most of the comics published on the site can be accessed for free. In other words, if you're a beginner mangaka and don't have a lot of readers, you're generally not going to make a dime. After your manga gains success and your name gets bigger, then you can create paid premium comics. If you aspire to become a full-time manga artist, this option may not be right for you; the income of full-time mangaka/comicians is highly dependent on the popularity and publicity they have.
- Look for local publishers in your country. If you are a beginner mangaka, this is the first step you must take. Worried that the sales figures are not good because you are not a Japanese mangaka? Don't worry, nowadays the popularity of manga in all parts of the world is increasing rapidly; put in the effort first and be prepared to be surprised at the results!
- If you insist on publishing your manga in Japan, be prepared to dedicate yourself completely and accept disappointment. Although it is not as easy as turning the palm of the hand, being a comic artist in Japan is not impossible to do. As a first step, first try to enter a contest to make a manga; this is the easiest way to assert yourself and your skills in the Japanese manga industry.
Tips
- Don't publish anything that first comes to mind. Spend as much time as possible developing and editing every element in your manga. If your work doesn't meet the standards you set yourself, keep trying to be better than the previous one!
- Know the limits. Don't make a plot that is too long or too convoluted in each chapter so that your story doesn't end up boring (unless your story contains fight scenes). Also, don't include too much dialogue that risks making your story feel even more boring.
- Think carefully before creating a character. Establish relationships between the plot and each character in your manga, but only include additional characters if their presence is absolutely necessary (for example, the main character's family in your manga).
- Generally, the colors that dominate manga are black and white. In other words, you only need to color the first few pages of the manga and leave the rest in black and white.
- Try making different character designs; After that, compare all the designs you created to determine the design that best suits your taste and the character's personality.
- Keep practicing your drawing skills while analyzing the mistakes that arise.
- If your first sketch fails, do not rush to despair. Remember, drawing is an activity that requires practice and process!
- Try publishing the manga in your country first. If your name as a mangaka is not even known in your own country, chances are that your offer will be rejected by a Japanese manga publisher.
- Make sure you include an appropriate age group for your readers.
- Learn how to design landscapes for different areas of your comic panel.
Warning
- Always put the story first. Manga that focuses solely on images instead of stories will likely not be successful in the market.
- Don't change the story after the drawing is complete, especially if you're working with other mangaka/comicists.
- If your work is rejected, don't be discouraged right away. Learn from your mistakes, correct your flaws, and try again until you succeed.
- Be prepared to receive income that is not too large. If you don't publish your comics regularly, you're more likely to only get paid once or twice a year. If you are the breadwinner of the family, make sure you also have another regular job and only make comics when you have free time (or after you retire).
