From the Conductor: Speaking of word balloons - a down and dirty how-to

So, now that you've got a page colored (See my last tutorial), you still need to get the dialog added. After all, if you don't have anyone, or anything, saying anything, all you have is a page full of oddly posed pictures.

The good news? Word balloon aren't really that difficult to do. In fact, there's a down and dirty method for getting them made and up there that's quick and easy. Let's break down these steps, one at a time...

 

First, use the horizontal typing tool to type up your dialog. What font, size, and other options are up to you, naturally. For instance, I'm using Mighty Zeo at 10pt., and set to "smooth". You may choose other fonts based on effect, "sound" or any other reason. Also, where, on the grid, you type isn't too important, either, at this point.

Next, with white selected as the foreground color, select the ellipse shape tool (Sometimes hiding behind the rectangle tool) and layout where the ellipse will go. Accuracy isn't too important, at this stage, but be mindful, just the same; it'll help streamline the adjustment process, later.

Also, to make sure the "balloon" ends up under the text, start by having the layer just below the text selected. That way Photoshop will drop the new shape layer under the text. It's okay, though, if you miss this. Simply move the layer below the text, if it ends up on top.

Once you let go of the mouse button, the shape will fill with the color. (Note: You don't have to have white balloons; any color you want is fine. It's just the standard, so it's what I'm using.)

If your balloon still needs adjusting, that's okay; sometimes there's a little fine tuning involved. Go up to Edit and select Scale from the Transform option. You can now adjust it, as needed, around the text. You can also use the move tool, at the top of the left tools bar, to center it more.

At this point, it's a good idea to merge the text and the balloon. (PC:Shift+Cntrl+E, Mac: Cmnd+Shift+E, or the pull down options from the right corner layers panel) You don't have to do this; you could create the balloon as a group, too. But, this is the down and dirty way, so we're keeping it simple.

Next, make the page layers visible and, using the move tool, again, drop the balloon where it needs to go.

Now you're ready to add the "tail", pointing to the speaker. Here I've selected the regular lasso tool; because I have a drawing tablet and like a more natural tail pointer. However, you can use the polygonal lasso, if you'd like. It produces a more arrow like tail, and has become, in recent years, more common in web comics. Either one is just fine.

Add a new layer under the balloon layer and simple draw out the tail. Once it's where it looks best, simply use the bucket tool to fill it in. Finishing this step will give you the balloon on a separate layer above the tail layer. You can use the Edit selections from the top tool bar to make any more adjustments to the tail; like rotating it, for example.

Once both elements are just how you want them, simply go and merge the two layers. Now you have a single word balloon that can move, easily, anywhere on the page.

In most cases, adding a stroke line to the balloon helps separate the balloons from the scenery; making them pop, and easier to read. Double click on the balloon layer to get an options menu, and select Blending Options.

Like in the previous tutorial, select Stroke, and apply the necessary changes. Here I have a black stroke at 5pts set to "inside". I like inside because it creates a nice tight point at the end of the tail, and generally looks the cleanest. However, what color, size, and orientation is entirely up to you and your layout.

Sometimes one balloon isn't enough. That's not a problem, though. Where the words trail off, create a second balloon following the above steps. Once they're both done, use the move tool to line them up.

Occasionally you may have to reverse the order in the menu bar; to accommodate balloon size and overlap; as I've done, here. Fine tuning is a constant process, so don't be afraid to play around, a little.

Once everything looks right, simply merge the two balloon layers together. For me, I like to make sure the beginning of the dialog is the one highlighted; ensures the layer is labeled in a way I can recognized. However, you can simply double click a layer to rename it anything you want.

Like in the previous tutorial, I'm a big advocate of grouping, to keep things simple and easy to work with. So, make a group for all your balloons (And other dialog devices you end up using), and drop your layers into it. Generally, I like to name this goup "dialog", but any label you like is just fine. This group should be at the top of the pile.

When it's all said and done, you'll have something that looks like this. As you can see, the dialog group sits above everything, then the line work, and then, below, all the color. In essence, what you've done is to stack the layers, much like an old animation cell.

With a little practice this can be an easy, fun, finishing step for your work. Of course, there's also all kinds of other types of balloons, dialog devices, and "sound effects" to add. We can go over those, later.

 

Well, what are you waiting for? Go out there and start making comics!!!