If we answered every e-mail that comes in regarding le size, dimensions or other technical questions, our overworked staff would

never get anything else done. In an effort to answer as many questions as possible and keep our e-mail boxes from bursting, heres the handy, dandy

RISING STARS OF MANGA MECHANICAL GUIDELINES

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Before you submit your manga to TOKYOPOPs Rising Stars of Manga competition, its important to know that your artwork must t into TOKYOPOP nal page layout. This guideline provides TOKYOPOP page layout standards, including standardized specs and measurements for the following:

Inner Box: These four lines are created to line up your panels. This will ensure that each page has a consistent look. You will use the same guidelines that dene the safety zone. Safety Zone: This is the area in which you will t all of your visual imagery. This includes panels, balloons, text, sound effects, captions, page numbers, and all other important visual elements. Because there is so much information within this safety zone, this will be the most important area to keep in mind when creating artwork. TOKYOPOP page layout standards dene this as an area of 4.5 x 6.9375. Trim: This is dened by the edge of the page. TOKYOPOP pages measure at 5 x 7.4375. Bleed: These are images which are intended to extend beyond the edge of a page. According to TOKYOPOP page layout standards, bleed images extend at least .375 from the safety zone. Keep in mind that any imagery outside of the trim will be lost. IMPORTANT: Bleed must extend beyond trim.

TOKYOPOP STANDARD SIZE

Safety Zone: 4.5 X 6.9375 Trim: 5 X 7.4375 Bleed: 5.25 X 7.6875

2X TOKYOPOP STANDARD SIZE Safety Zone: 9 X 13.875 Trim: 10 X 14.875 Bleed: 10.5 X 15.375

1.5X TOKYOPOP STANDARD SIZE

Safety Zone: 6.75 X 10.406 Trim: 7.5 X 11.156 Bleed: 7.875 X 11.531

For Penciling and Inking: If you prefer, you may pencil and ink at 1 1/2 or twice the size of TOKYOPOP standard pages. IMPORTANT: You cannot tone or letter at these expanded specs. For Lettering and Toning: Toning and lettering must be done at TOKYOPOP standard size. IMPORTANT: Please remember to keep page layout consistent, using the inner box to line up your panels accordingly. Saving Files: 1. Unless you are sending color key art or cover les, all images are to be saved as black and white bitmapped tiffs with no LZW compression. 2. Resolution should be 600 dpi in most cases. Be consistent page-for-page with resolution. 3. Save the le name as an abbreviated form of your manga title + pg### + le extension. Example: page 7 of Initial D would be called ID_007.tif. Note: Use the underscore to separate words; do not use dashes, commas, slashes, etc.

TOKYOPOP TEMPLATES

LEFT PAGE

RIGHT PAGE

Here is a sample of the template TOKYOPOP uses to layout pages. The blue guidelines indicate the safety zone. This also will create the inner box that will line up all of your panels. The solid black outline indicates the trim. The dotted black line indicates the bleed area.

SPREAD

TOKYOPOP TEMPLATES

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LEFT PAGE

RIGHT PAGE

These are pages layed out according to proper TOKYOPOP standards. Grayed areas outside of the trim, reect bleed that will be cropped during printing. Panels are arranged in line with the inner box for consistency. Important imagery is properly contained in the safety zone, even in the spread.

SPREAD

PAGE LAYOUT DONTS

(ABOVE) Lets suppose that this is a page that you have sent to TOKYOPOP. Its drawn on the standard comic book paper that all the professionals use, so it must be correct, right?

(ABOVE) Here is how your page looks after it is layed out at TOKYOPOP. The page is bleeding too much and it looks like some balloons are in danger of being cut off. The panel borders are also way past the trim.

(RIGHT) When the page returns from the press, it looks like a printing mistake. A good part of your balloons may be missing, or even some text may be cut off. Your margin is extremely small, and whats left appears tight and, worse, in error. You can avoid this and help your pages look pro throughout the manga you create by strictly adhering to TOKYOPOP specs.

PAGE LAYOUT DOS

(ABOVE) When creating a page, you can use the TOKYOPOP page layout template to create your guides. Keep your important artwork (this includes balloons) inside the safety zone. If adding bleed, make sure that whatever portion of the image that gets cut off isnt necessary to the composition of your page.

(ABOVE) Using the proper TOKYOPOP specs guides, there is not too much artwork in danger of being cut off. Use the inner box as as a tool to plan out panel borders and panel arrangement. Using the inner box as your guide ensures your page look is consistent with the rest of your book.

(RIGHT) Now your page looks well planned. Your panel borders are a good deal away from the trim, and no important art or text is cropped. Using TOKYOPOP specs, you keep a lot more of that beautiful artwork that you worked so diligently to create.

MECHANICAL GUIDE
5.25 5.0 4.5 Bleed area: If you want your art to bleed off the edge of the page, make sure you draw up to the solid black line. Also make sure important images are within the blue area so they arent lost when the page is trimmed.

Balloons and panels should stay within blue safety zone!

7.6875

7.4375

Trim: Anything outside of the red line will be cut off at the printer.

6.9375

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Safety zone: Keep all important imagery inside of this blue area. Remember to allow room for page #s (at least every 10 pages).

ACTUAL SIZE TOKYOPOP STANDARD SIZE TOKYOPOP PAGE LAYOUT TEMPLATE