Creating and print your own comic book is a journey full of excitement. If you are an artist or a storyteller, turning your vision into a comic feels like bringing ideas to life. But where to start? With so many tools and software out there, it can feel overwhelming to choose the right ones. Don’t worry, because we will succeed in breaking it down, step by step.
By the end of this blog, you will have a very clear idea about the best tools for comic making and printing. Whether you are just starting out or whether you’ve been at it for a while, there is something in store for everyone.
Why the Right Tools Make a Difference
Before we get to the ranks—why using the right tools is key. You wouldn’t take on a painting without a good set of brushes, would you? Yeah, me neither. Well, it’s the same deal when it comes to making comics. The right software helps you get your ideas out in a way that is liable to be not only effective for those looking at the end product but efficient for you, as well. And the right printing service ensures that your comic looks exactly in real life the way you envisioned it in your head.
Little did I know, for my first comic, how much difference the right tools could make. I was working with very primitive drawing software, not really up to the task. I spent a hell of a lot more time on it than I should have. When I finally switched to a tool made specifically for comics, it felt like a weight had been lifted. Suddenly, everything was easier.
Let’s get into it and look at some of the best software and tools that can assist you in creating and print your own comic book.
1. Clip Studio Paint
Most probably, during all the research you conducted about creating comics, you have heard about the software—Clip Studio Paint. Absolutely, this is the software universally loved by all comic creators. That’s because it’s packed with features specific to creating comics, including customizable panels and a whole array of brushes emulating traditional inking tools.
It also comes from a tool that one uses to make speech bubbles, which is another essential attribute in a comic. During all this software is very user-friendly. You don’t need to be some sort of genius to get on this piece of work. The first time I ever used Clip Studio Paint, I was pleasantly surprised by how I didn’t have to guess around to use it properly as is the case with some other programs. The learning curve gently rocked, making it a fairytale of joy to work in.
Why it’s great for print your own comic book: Clip Studio Paint supports the export in high resolution, which is crucial when it is time to prepare the final files for printing, of course. And you can also export your pages in CMYK—the golden standard for print.
2. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop can be quoted as being a design powerhouse, and on a surprising note, one of the really excellent tools for making comics. While not inherently made to produce comics, Photoshop has been such a versatile tool that it has been widely adopted by artists. You can turn out some stunning comic book artwork with its wide array of brushes, layer management, color correction tools, and so on.
One thing I noticed about Photoshop as soon as I started using it was how much freedom I was given. I could try to do whatever I wanted in terms of style experimentation and technique use without getting restrained by the application. So, if you like having a lot of control over your creativity, Photoshop is right for you.
Why it’s great for printing your comic: The output size in Photoshop is of really high quality, so it will allow you to make proper preparation of your files for print. You can save your comic pages in many popular formats for printing, like TIFF and PDF.
3. Procreate
For those who prefer working on a tablet, Procreate is a great alternative. Available for the iPad, this app offers a touch-intuitive interface free of distractions. Simple in its base form, Procreate really brings a lot of firepower when it comes to creating really intricate comic book art.
I find Procreate to be a very nice app for when I need to go. There is freedom to it, the drawing capabilities directly from the tablet, without being bound to some desktop setup. The gesture controls in this app also let you easily swipe through your work.
Why this is awesome for printing your comic: Procreate exports in high resolution, and by a click of a button, you can export your files for further work in other software. Procreate also exports in CMYK, thus perfectly preparing your comic for print.
4. Manga Studio (Clip Studio Paint EX)
Manga Studio— a.k.a. Clip Studio Paint EX— is the advanced version of Clip Studio Paint. Where Clip Studio Paint might be sufficient for most comic creators, this basic ability to work on longer comics or graphic novels without straining yourself makes Manga Studio not only be multi-page management but also sufficient.
And when I upgraded to Manga Studio, the one feature that saved me so much time, and continued to do so, was the facility to handle multiples of pages within a single project. I could change back and forth on the things I had done within the pages, making sure the results came out consistent; this allowed me not to do it page by page.
From being the best it is for printing your comic: Just like Clip Studio Paint, Manga Studio also supports high resolution on exporting files and CMYK formats. Plus, the additional page management tools make it easy to get your whole comic ready for print.
5. Canva
If you’re a beginner to this software and not a professional in making such types of designs, or if you’re seeking a simpler one, Canva is for you. It is a drag-and-drop design tool found online. Even if Canva isn’t made as an actual comic creator, it does serve as an easy and pretty fun way to produce quick panels, layouts, covers, and a comic book in general.
What’s more interesting is the fact that I usually show friends or mention to them personally this new tool in graphic design because their reactions were usually amusing. I remember one friend who needed to make a short comic feel intimidated by all the other more complicated software; although it got the job done, the comic kind of did come out quite polished. She totally did without any technical know-how, though. Canva also has a bevy of different templates and/or design elements that you are able to make use of for saving time.
Reason for printing your comic: This makes Canva good because it allows you to download your projects in high-resolution formats. Although not offering the exporting features of professional comic software, it still can be trusted for small projects or for beginners.
6. Comic Draw: by Plasq
Another really great way to do it, especially if you want to get into the iPad, is an app called Comic Draw by Plasq. A creation app for comics that does it all: from sketching to inking to lettering—put this baby at the top of the heap. Heck, it’s even got a script editor if you’re writing your own dialogue.
I found Comic Draw to be particularly good for me whenever I was looking to keep everything in one place. With the app being an all-in-one design, you can successfully create an entire comic without putting a foot outside the app for anything else.
Why it is great for getting your comic into print: Comic Draw provides all of the export options that are print-ready, commonly known for their strong interface—meaning, the comic you have will look sharp when printed. You can even export pages as high-res files with multiple formats, in actuality made for off-screen layouts and web postings, which means you can clearly see what your product will look like.
7. Blurb
Now that we’ve talked now about creation tools, let’s talk about printing. Blurb is one of the most popular platforms that allows a platform where any single individual can print their comic book. They offer many different printing formats, from softcover to all the way to hardcover, and so forth.
When I was about to print my first comic, I was so nervous about what would happen. Blurb makes it so easy and quite affordable to do so. They’ve got very handy tools for formatting and making your contents print-ready, which actually relieved me of a lot of anxiety.
Why it’s great for printing your comic: Their quality in print is great; it’s very easy to order copies because it’s print-on-demand. Whether you are looking to print just a small batch for friends and family or a larger run for sale, Blurb has you covered with ease.
8. Ka-Blam
Ka-Blam is another outstanding self-print choice of comic book printing. They specialize in printing similar comics and offer you broad options on size and format. Ka-Blam also has really useful online software that will let you upload and even preview your comic before it will be printed.
One thing I really did like about Ka-Blam was their attention to comic book creators. The website for that company is not only very structured and packed with resources, but it had a lot of tips to make the most out of your print run, set at ease in terms of how you were going to do everything.
Why it’s great for printing with respect to your comic: Since Ka-Blam specifically deals with printing comics—this company knows to a great extent just what any comic creator needs. Their quality of printing is astronomical, including both digital and offset.
Conclusion: Making Your Comic a Reality
The process of making one’s comic book and actually having it printed later is simply invigorating. This all flows so smoothly with quite a lot of pleasure when you just have the right equipment and software. Either you are a novice or have been an experienced hand for many years in producing comic books, the right tools make your creative journey so much better.
After all, there is no right or best way. You might find that a combination of these tools works best for you. The key is finding what feels right for your creative process and enjoying the ride.
But when you finally hold your printed comic in your hands, it’s all worth it. Hard copy means a lot; motivationally speaking, seeing your hard work in physical form represents previous satisfaction that sparks drive to continue. So go on, get started, and print your own comic book. The world awaits to see the story you can tell.
