Final Layout and Proofs
Before printing the finished comic, artists create a mock-up of the full book. The process of printing and binding is not straightforward and requires arranging the artwork in a specific order, based on the total number of pages in the book. These comics are printed on both sides of 8 ½” x 11” paper, folded in half to make a booklet and bound with staples or sewn. To determine the correct order, artists can make a blank booklet into which they paste their artwork, or they may digitally arrange the pages. The disassembled book appears jumbled, but reveals its order once folded and bound. See Payton Crain’s A Cryptic Comedy for one mock-up example.
The finished versions of these comics were printed using a risograph (see the central column in this exhibition for a description of risograph printing.) To ensure the best final version of the pages, an artist may produce several test prints or proofs. This lets the artist adjust color choices (like adding or eliminating areas of color) and correct any registration issues, or misalignment in the printing. With Sara Syarto’s Alucard of the Moon, you can see several stages of the test print process: the black and white master that would be used to generate a stencil on the risograph machine; the teal color layer; and the “final” test with gold, teal, and black line art. Compare the last page with the same panels in the comic to see how the artist corrected the alignment issues from the test version.