A SIMPLE TEN POINT GUIDE TO CREATING A WEBSITE FOR A WEBCOMIC

Are you interested in designing a website for a webcomic, but aren't really sure where to start? Well, this concise, but comprehensive, guide will help you get started down the merry road of creativity, fun, love, and all things artistic.

Now for some strange reason people often forget the internet part of webcomics (i.e. they tend to neglect it). Although this part isn't as much fun as working on the comic itself, it should still be considered to be important. Consider your favorite graphic novel or comic book, would you have bought it if the packaging was terrible? 

No. I didn't think so either. So for those of you who are just starting out with webcomics -- don't panic -- web design doesn't have to be difficult as a web design san diego located company can make it for you. There are really only a few things that you will need on your website, and they include:

1) The Comic Itself

People are coming to your site to read your comic and keep up to date with the latest antics of your hero or team. So to keep things operating smoothly, you will need a website that updates automatically. WordPress and other similar blogging platforms are excellent for this type of task, but, there are also several webcomic hosting sites that you can use as well. 

2) The Site Navigation Menu

Your website should have at least three pages dedicated to who you are and what you're all about (i.e. contact information, archives, and a home page). 

3) Comic Navigation

Your webcomic site should have links going to the first, previous, next, and latest pages. Make sure that you arrange them in the aforementioned order and call them by the same names; anything else will simply confuse your readers and may frustrate them to the point that they leave your site. 

4) A Logo Or A Header. 

Well, this goes without saying, but generally this type of thing will let people know that this particular webcomic is your creation. 

5) Navigation

Your webcomic should be easy to navigate, so it's important that you place the appropriate links in an obvious location, like the top and / or bottom of the page. 

6) Make The Comic The Main Theme Of Your Website

For instance, if you're making a gritty, noir comic, you should use lots of greys, whites, and black. On the other hand, bright colors and rounded shapes are perfect for cartoony or comedy themed comics. Just remember to keep it simple. 

7) Stay Away From Pixelated Images

When you are exporting an image file, make sure that it's not pixelated. For your edification, you should know that the popular image format jpeg is prone to pixelization, instead use PNG. But, if your comic is black and white (or only has a little bit of color) GIF is also a good option. 

8) Your Comic Size Should Be Appropriate

Large pictures take a million years to load and you have to remember that everyone doesn't have a blazing fast internet connection. If you need to scroll in two directions to see the full comic, then it's too large. Plus, going back and forth can be a huge pain in the behind. The best image size should be able to accommodate any screen size and load fast as well. 

9) The Background Of Your Website

The background should make your comic stand out, not visa versa. Before you think that you will need the help of a professional, it's important to note that this feat can be easily accomplished with a simple and clear color background. Also, you may want to avoid overly saturated and bright colors because they are going to make the eyes of your viewers tired after a while. 

10) Less Is More When It Comes To Fonts

Your site will load a little bit faster and be less confusing if you stick to just a few fonts. This same rule goes for the comic itself. While it may make sense to use different fonts for each character, it can also be a little jarring.

What do you think of the tips listed above? Is there anything else that we should discuss? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.