usethistohelpyouconsidersimilaritiesbetweenpicture.docVIP

Use this to help you consider similarities between picture books and graphic novels. The skill of visual storytellers lies in their ability to create anticipation, tension and suspense through both written and illustrative text. There is a great similarity between the elements involved in conveying the narrative in picture books and graphic novels. The ability to read, comprehend and critique visual texts is enhanced by an understanding of the elements and devices used. A number of these important elements are outlined in the table below. Picture Book Graphic Novel Definition A picture book is one in which pictures predominantly tell the story. Some picture books are wordless and some use pictures and written text to contribute to the narrative. Definition A graphic novel may be classified as a picture book, but graphic novels employ some other elements that distinguish them. In particular, they use sequential frames of pictures, with or without written text, to tell a story. Predominant sequences of panels and gutters throughout a narrative, indicate that the text is a graphic novel. Elements of Picture Books Elements of Graphic Novels Frame format often a whole page, or a double page sometimes smaller panels within a page are used to show a sequence pictures may have borders or frames around them sometimes the pictures have no frames pictures may bleed off the page. Frame format regular panels (5-7 per page) splash page (full page; opening page with title, credits, etc.) floating panels over a background (designating outside/inside ideas) depth and size of panels – represents significance or pace overlapping panels 2 page spread zooming in/crops Panels give POV (point of view) shots. Framing devices page borders ornate frames no frames a mixture of frames and no frames picture composition drawing the eye to focal points – vectors Framing devices frames used to draw attention – different sizes, angles, outlines, not outlined arc