Knowledge Base
Find Answers to Your Self-Publishing Questions: Search Our Knowledge Base and Master the Terminology
Starting
Introduction To Childrens Book Publishing
Creating The Ideal Writing Environment For Childrens Book Authors
The Importance Of Crafting An Effective Book Summary
Brainstorming And Conceptualizing Ideas For Your Childrens Book
Planning
Setting Your Title And Author Name Before Applying For Copyright
How To Plan The Plot And Key Conflict Of Your Story
How To Plan The Theme Of Your Book
How To Plan The Ending Or Resolution Of Your Story
How To Write An Impressive Author Bio For Your Book
How To Choose The Right Book Type For Your Story
How To Develop Engaging Characters For Your Book
Should You Establish Your Own Publishing Company
How To Plan Your Story Using Flow
Ideal Word Count For Illustrated Books Based On Age And Book Type
How To Enter The Author Name For Your Book
How To Plan And Choose The Right Genre For Your Book
Understanding The Differences Between Fiction And Nonfiction
How To Plan Where Your Story Begins
How To Plan Distribution Options For Your Selfpublished Book
How To Conduct A Competitive Analysis For Your Book
How To Plan The Plot Climax Or High Point Of Your Story
How To Define The Time Setting For Your Story
How To Write A Captivating Book Blurb For Childrens Books
How To Plan Your Narrative Pointofview Pov
Typography And Text Design In Illustrated Books Best Practices
Understanding Book Types Formats And Sizes In Childrens Publishing
Structuring Your Childrens Book Plot Climax And Falling Action
Your Childrens Book Tone Theme And Point Of View
How To Define The Place And Setting For Your Story
Writing
How To Plan Page Turns With Spread Breaks In Made Live
How To Add Tags To Your Manuscript In Made Live
Crafting A Compelling Plot In Childrens Books
The Milestone Of Completing Your First Draft
Overcoming Writers Block In Childrens Book
How To Selfedit Dialogue In Your Book
How To Plan The Language And Tone For Your Book
Effective Techniques For Childrens Books
Registrations
How To Set Up And Modify Your Copyright Information In Made Live
How To Enter Your Isbn In The Section
How To Officially File For Copyright Protection As An Author
How To Secure An Isbn For Your Book A Global Guide
Designing
Adding A Dedication Or Acknowledgements To Your Book
Choosing The Right Fonts For Your Book
How To Import Final Illustrations For Your Illustrated Book
How To Design The Back Cover Of Your Book
How To Transfer Your Manuscript To The Storyboard
How To Check The Visual Appeal Of Your Book For The Target Audience
Basics Of Book Illustration Style And Color In Childrens Books
Creating A Physical Book Dummy For Your Illustrated Book
How To Use Visual Storytelling In Your Illustrated Book
Revising Your Books Design And Layout For Optimal Flow
How To Create Effective Pacing In Your Illustrated Book
How To Design A Book Cover For Your Book
How To Create A Title Page For Your Illustrated Book
How To Delete Extra Spreads To Avoid Blank Pages In Your Book
How To Generate Or Import Placeholder Images In The Storyboard Workspace
How To Modify Text Blocks In The Storyboard Workspace
How To Add Your Barcode To The Back Cover
How To Add Back Matter To Your Illustrated Book
How To Check Your Storyboard And Design For Continuity
How To Insert Copyright Information Into The Storyboard
How To Set Up And Select Color Choices For Your Book In Made Live
Prioritizing Accessibility In Childrens Book Design
Selfediting Your Book Layout Fitting The Story To The Format
Choosing The Right Illustration Style For Your Childrens Book
How To Find And Hire A Professional Illustrator For Your Book
Editing
How To Selfedit For Filler Words
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Illustrations
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Consistency
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Clarity
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Pacing
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Vocabulary
Self Tips And Techniques For Aspiring Authors
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Your Audience
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Theme
How To Selfedit For Flow By Reading Your Manuscript Aloud
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Story Structure
How To Selfedit For Punctuation In Dialogue
How To Selfedit And Proofread For Grammar Punctuation And Spelling
How To Review The Cover Design For Your Illustrated Book
How To Edit With A Final Read Aloud Before Sending To An Editor
How To Provide Clear Illustration Notes For Your Illustrator
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Redundancy
Steps To Finalizing Your Manuscript For Childrens Book Publication
How To Find And Hire A Professional Editor For Your Illustrated Book
How To Get Feedback On Your Manuscript
Publishing
Choosing The Perfect Title For Your Childrens Book
Preparing For International Distribution Language Translations And Multiple Formats
Going Global Preparing Your Childrens Book For International Distribution
Understanding Isbn Pcn And Pcip For Childrens Book
Navigating Legal Aspects Of Copyright And Infringement In Childrens Book
Navigating Contracts And Rights For Childrens Books
Navigating Self Vs Traditional In Childrens Books
Marketing
Building An Author Brand And Online Presence
Navigating Book Reviews And Publicity For Childrens Books
Connecting With Key Players Engaging With Schools Libraries And Bookstores
Mastering Book Launches And Promotional Events For Childrens Books
Maximizing Your Reach Utilizing Social Media And Online Platforms For Childrens Books
Mastering Effective Strategies For Childrens Books
Community
Joining Writing And Publishing Communities For Childrens Book Creators
Enhancing Skills With Workshops Webinars And Learning Opportunities In Childrens Book Publishing
Maximizing Your Publishing Success With Made Live Resources And Support
Building Connections Networking With Other Childrens Book Authors
Business
Navigating Literary Agents And Query Letters For Childrens Books
Advanced Marketing Techniques And Analytics For Childrens Picture Books
Leveraging Technology In Childrens Book Publishing
Staying Ahead Keeping Up With Industry Trends And Changes In Childrens Book Publishing
Embracing Diversity Exploring Diverse Themes And Representation In Childrens Books
Mastering The Query Process In Childrens Book Publishing
How to Check Your Storyboard and Design for Continuity
How to Check Your Storyboard and Design for Continuity
Overview: Continuity is a crucial element of an illustrated book’s design, as it ensures a cohesive visual experience for readers. Inconsistent character details, settings, or styles can disrupt the reader’s engagement and reduce the overall impact of your book. To create a professional and polished final product, it’s essential to review your storyboard for continuity in character appearances, settings, and artistic style. In this article, we’ll discuss how to check for continuity across all spreads of your illustrated book and provide tips for maintaining consistency throughout your design.
What Is Continuity in Illustrated Book Design?
Continuity in illustrated book design refers to the consistent appearance and style of characters, settings, and visual elements throughout the book. This means ensuring that characters look the same from one spread to the next, that environments are depicted with the same level of detail and coloring, and that the overall artistic style remains cohesive, even if scenes or environments change.
Lack of continuity can lead to confusion and disrupt the flow of the story, making it difficult for readers to follow along. For example, if a character’s size or appearance changes drastically from one spread to the next, readers may become distracted or disengaged.
How to Check for Continuity in Your Storyboard and Design
Follow these steps to check your storyboard and design for continuity and ensure a cohesive visual experience:
1. Review Character Consistency Across Spreads
Characters should appear consistent throughout the book. Pay attention to:
- Size and Proportions: Make sure characters’ sizes and proportions remain the same across spreads. Avoid having a character appear larger or smaller without a narrative reason (e.g., distance or perspective).
- Expressions and Poses: Check that characters’ facial expressions and body language align with the events of the story. Avoid having characters display emotions or poses that contradict the narrative.
- Physical Details: Ensure that characters’ physical details, such as hairstyles, clothing, and accessories, are consistent across all illustrations. Small details like eye color or markings should remain unchanged.
2. Evaluate Settings and Backgrounds for Continuity
Settings and backgrounds should remain consistent in style, perspective, and coloring:
- Setting Continuity: If the story takes place in the same environment for multiple scenes, make sure that the background elements (e.g., buildings, furniture, trees) remain consistent in appearance.
- Perspective and Angle: Maintain consistent perspective and angles for recurring settings to avoid confusing shifts in viewpoint.
- Color Palette and Lighting: Use the same color palette and lighting for each scene within the same setting. If a scene takes place in different lighting conditions (e.g., day vs. night), make sure the change is deliberate and visually clear.
3. Ensure Consistency in Artistic Style
Artistic style refers to the overall look and feel of the illustrations, including the use of shading, textures, and line work. Consistency in style helps create a unified visual experience:
- Shading and Textures: Ensure that shading techniques and textures are applied consistently across all spreads. Avoid using highly detailed shading on one spread and flat shading on another unless it serves a narrative purpose.
- Line Work and Brush Strokes: If using line work or brush strokes, make sure they are applied uniformly throughout the book. Changes in line weight or stroke style can create a jarring effect.
- Illustration Detail Level: Keep the level of detail in the illustrations consistent. Avoid having highly detailed illustrations on one spread and overly simplified ones on another.
4. Look for Consistency in Visual Storytelling Elements
Review other visual storytelling elements, such as color schemes, patterns, and motifs, to ensure they are applied consistently across the book:
- Color Schemes: Use consistent color schemes for recurring elements, such as characters’ clothing or setting details. Changes in color should be deliberate and meaningful.
- Patterns and Motifs: If using patterns or motifs (e.g., recurring symbols or designs), make sure they are consistently applied and maintain the same style.
5. Review the Flow of the Storyboard
Look at the entire storyboard to see how the story flows visually from spread to spread:
- Flow of Action and Movement: Ensure that action and movement are depicted consistently and logically. Characters should move naturally from one spread to the next.
- Transitions Between Scenes: Make sure transitions between scenes are smooth and do not create abrupt visual or narrative shifts.
Best Practices for Maintaining Continuity in Your Design
Create a Style Guide for Reference
Develop a style guide that includes character sheets, color palettes, and reference images. Use the style guide as a reference to ensure consistency across all illustrations.
Use Templates or Guides
Use templates or guides to help maintain consistent proportions and placement of elements. This can be especially useful for recurring settings or complex illustrations.
Make Adjustments in the Storyboarding Phase
Use the storyboarding phase to make adjustments to continuity issues. It’s easier to fix inconsistencies at this stage than in the final illustration stage.
Solicit Feedback from Others
Ask others to review your storyboard and point out any inconsistencies they notice. A fresh set of eyes can help identify areas for improvement.
Review Continuity Regularly
Continuity checks should be a regular part of your design process. Review the storyboard multiple times throughout the project to catch and correct any issues.
Final Notes: Maintaining continuity in your storyboard and design is essential for creating a cohesive and professional illustrated book. Use this guide to review your characters, settings, and artistic style across all spreads, and make adjustments to ensure a unified visual experience for readers.