Based on a Klaus Janson
exercise in Penciling Comics, 2002
Visual Movement in Sequential Images
A rectangle placed in the center of a panel remains static and stabilizes the composition. Moving the rectangle so that it bleeds off the panel can also suggest motion. By changing the shape into a car we can better see how effective this use of panel borders and the imaginary space beyond them can be.
Based on a Klaus Janson
exercise in Penciling Comics, 2002
The act of viewing an image (with the roving and scanning eyes) is a serial process in time.
Since viewers are conditioned to read from left to right, any movement in that direction will read more quickly.
When we move from right to left, it slows the action down because it goes against our conditioned method of reading.
There
are going to be times where the designer may want to manipulate the reader by
slowing down the reading process or even bringing it to a halt.
The key
to this lies in right-to-left movement.
An
entire sequence of right-to-left panels reads slower than a sequence of
left-to-right panels.
The
neutral panel can either slow down the pace or it can be used to change an
established direction.
Bill Watterson Calvin and Hobbes, 1991
Alan Moore & Dave
Gibbons Watchmen 5, 1986