Establishing Shots

The establishing shot sets up the setting of a scene, of course. It could be a wide shot of a city or a house, or a crowded bar, or two characters at a dinner table.

It'll need more detail than other panels; even in a simpler art style, establishing where we are and what characters are there takes more detail…and more work.

The good news is that once an establishing shot is put together, the reader's mind will accept it as established, and much less detail is needed for the rest of the page…or maybe more.

This is how a blank background, or just a prop or corner of the wall, or a blurry, undefined background will do the job. I've used that blurry, textured blob a lot…but it still requires creating a background before blurring it.

A background that I used to see in Archie comics was a smear of color - like a curved or "S" shaped line of color against the white background. I've tried it behind character closeups or medium shots.

Another trick I've tried - I don't remember where I first saw it - is turning my characters into pure black silhouettes against white. I really like the effect for to use for a panel in an extended conversation or even a simple action panel. I think it works really well.

Of course, you need to establish the setting when the location changes - not necessarily in the first panel but SOMEWHERE early in your new scene. Unless you're going for a confusion of place for a story related reason.

Any thoughts of establishing shots?

Sorry about this quick article; I nearly forgot to write it up until the last moment!

bye for now!


Banes