Six-panel grid
Three rows of two equal panels. It's steady and easy to read, which makes it ideal for dialogue scenes and for beginners learning to pace a page.
Use it for: conversations, slice-of-life, building a rhythm.
Nine-panel grid
Three rows of three equal panels. Small panels slow time down and create tension, so a strict nine-panel grid feels controlled and claustrophobic.
Use it for: tense dialogue, slow reveals, mystery.
Three-tier page
Three horizontal rows (tiers), each split into panels of different widths. It's the most common layout in Western comics because it's flexible while still reading clearly.
Use it for: almost anything. Start here when unsure.
Widescreen
Full-width horizontal panels stacked down the page, like frames of a film. Wide panels give room for landscapes, movement and cinematic camera moves.
Use it for: action, chases, sweeping locations.
Splash page
One image fills the whole page. Splash pages stop the reader and say "this matters." Use them sparingly, or they lose their impact. A splash across two facing pages is called a double-page spread.
Use it for: openings, big reveals, climaxes.
Inset panel
A small panel placed on top of a larger one. Insets zoom in on a detail, such as a reaction, a clue or a hand on a door handle, without leaving the main scene.
Use it for: reactions, clues, simultaneous moments.
Feature panel
One large panel surrounded by smaller ones. The size difference tells readers exactly which moment is most important on the page.
Use it for: the key beat of a scene.
Diagonal action
Slanted panel borders add energy and instability. Readers feel motion even before they look at the art. Keep the reading order obvious so the page doesn't become confusing.
Use it for: fights, falls, explosions.
Manga vertical
Manga reads right to left, top to bottom, and often uses more varied, vertical panels with frequent close-ups of emotion. If you draw manga, flip all the reading-order rules on this page horizontally.
Use it for: manga-style stories and emotional beats.
Reading order and gutters
The best layout is the one readers never have to think about. Follow these rules:
- Z-path: Western comics read left to right, then down. Make sure the next panel is always the obvious one.
- Avoid stacked traps: if two narrow panels sit beside one tall panel, readers may not know which to read first. Use balloon placement to guide them.
- Even gutters: keep the gaps between panels consistent. A wider gutter can suggest more time passing.
- Breaking the border: letting a character or effect burst out of a panel adds drama. Save it for key moments.
- Plan the bubbles: leave room for lettering in every panel before you draw.
Ready to practise? Print a free blank comic template with these layouts already ruled, and read the guide to speech bubbles and lettering next.