Graphic Novel Terms

The lines and borders that contain the panels.

• Frame

• Background

• Bleed

• Gutter

The way some images draw the eye.

• Foreground

• Speech Balloons

• Splash

• Graphic Weight

The space between framed panels.

• Bleed

• Gutter

• Background

• Foreground

Centering an image by using a natural resting place for vision.

• Foreground

• Midground

• Background

• Bleed

The representation of the object on the page.

• Icon

• Sound Effect

• Splash

• Emanata

When the narrator directly speaks to the reader.

• Sound Effect

• Splash

• Speech Bubble

• Voice Over

Marks that portray emotion

• Icon

• Emanata

• Border

• Splash

A panel that spans the width of the page..

• Splash

• Border

• Crossover

• Emanata

Dialogue directly from a speaker's mouth.

• Bleed

• Frame

• Speech Balloons

• Gutter

An image that extends beyond the page.

• Gutter

• Background

• Midground

• Bleed