Drafting Checklist
A finished page is built in layers. Do not jump from idea to ink. Thumbnail, pencil, letter, ink, check, then scan.
Success criteria
- I can plan a page through thumbnails before drawing it large.
- I can check my page for clarity, flow, and readability.
- I can prepare a clean scan or photograph for submission.
- I can use feedback to make one specific improvement.
Stage 1: Thumbnails
- I have drawn at least two thumbnail versions of the page.
- Each thumbnail shows panel shapes, not detailed art.
- I can see the reading path without labels.
- I have chosen the version with the clearest sequence.
- I have checked that the page turn lands on a strong moment.
Stage 2: Pencils
- I have drawn panel borders with a ruler or straight edge.
- I have left room for balloons and captions.
- Faces, hands, and key objects are readable at a glance.
- The background gives enough information without clutter.
- I have checked the character's costume and props for consistency.
Stage 3: Lettering
- Every balloon has a clear tail or speaker.
- Balloons are in reading order.
- No balloon covers a face or important detail.
- Dialogue is short enough to read in one breath.
- Captions and SFX are visually distinct from dialogue.
Stage 4: Inks and finish
- Line weights separate foreground, middle ground, and background.
- Black areas are intentional, not accidental.
- I have checked the page in greyscale as well as colour.
- I have erased pencil guides and cleaned up smudges.
- I have not rushed the final panel.
Stage 5: Scan or photograph
- The whole page is in frame, with no cut-off edges.
- The page is flat and evenly lit.
- The image is sharp enough to read the smallest lettering.
- I have saved a copy as PDF or PNG at a sensible size.
- The file name includes my name and the task.
Accessibility check
- Text has strong contrast against the background.
- Lettering is large enough to read on a phone screen.
- I have not used colour alone to carry essential meaning.
- Sound effects are readable as words, not just shapes.
- I have provided a text transcript of the dialogue if required.
Feedback
| Reader's comment | What I will change | Done |
|---|---|---|
Before you submit: read your page as if you have never seen it. Can you follow the story without asking the artist? If not, fix the reading path or the gutter logic before adding more detail.
Paper, pencil, and a phone camera are enough. Digital tools are optional and must not create an access barrier.