# Argh! How can I draw perfectly straight comic panels without a computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017 "2003-08-18T18:45:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StanDup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@StanDup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StanDup)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/1 "2003-08-18T18:45:50Z")
Ok, so I draw a comic and I ink it out on paper, including the panels, then I scan it to color it, and I see that the panels are all crooked. How can I be sure to get the panels exactly lined up and straight, other than drawing the lines on the computer? ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/2 "2003-08-18T18:48:15Z")
Ruler and a protractor? ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/3 "2003-08-18T19:03:52Z")
Carpenter’s square? ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/4 "2003-08-18T19:15:30Z")
Could you ink it on vellum on top of graph paper? Or maybe draw it on graph paper then Xerox it before scanning. (I think the blue of graph paper lines is one of those that are supposed to not show up on a B&W copy.) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/5 "2003-08-18T19:19:21Z")
T-square and triangle. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/6 "2003-08-18T19:28:23Z")
I’m not sure what the problem you are describing can be. You should trim the top edge of the paper square with the inked panels (Rapidograph or ruling pen, work best) so that when you put the paper on the scanner (flush with the top edge of the scanner bed) you start with a perfectly square image. You know, square to the computer pixels. If you see what I mean… ---
**Author:** ![StanDup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@StanDup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StanDup)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/7 "2003-08-18T19:34:40Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not sure what the problem you are describing can be. You should trim the top edge of the paper square with the inked panels (Rapidograph or ruling pen, work best) so that when you put the paper on the scanner (flush with the top edge of the scanner bed) you start with a perfectly square image. You know, square to the computer pixels. If you see what I mean… I mean, when I draw the panels and scan later on, the panels just kind of… slant and don’t look straight with the edge of the paper. Your idea sounds good, but I’m not too crazy about cutting. ---
**Author:** ![lesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/34f0e0/32.png) [@lesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lesa)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/8 "2003-08-18T20:32:34Z")
I’ve had this problem. I can never get the paper just right on the scanner, so long straight lines have a noticable slant to them. I think your best bet is to draw very thin lines around your panels. After you scan, use these lines as guides to draw thick lines around your panels. The thick lines will cover any “slant” in the thin lines. ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/9 "2003-08-18T20:32:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Topaz \* > \*\*I mean, when I draw the panels and scan later on, the panels just kind of… slant and don’t look straight with the edge of the paper. Your idea sounds good, but I’m not too crazy about cutting. \*\* I think **randwill** has the right idea - the frame needs to be _perfectly_ aligned within the scanner. Otherwise, the lines will come out jagged. It’s a limitation of square pixels. Could you make the lines thicker and then use a paint program to trim off the excess after scanning? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/10 "2003-08-18T21:50:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Amp \* > \*\*Ruler and a protractor? \*\* Compass and straightedge. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/11 "2003-08-19T18:36:29Z")
How about if you draw the artwork without panel lines, scan it, then add the frames in a CAD or photoshop-type program? ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/12 "2003-08-19T19:00:49Z")
Could you rotate or whatever on the computer? I don’t know what tool would do it, but wouldn’t PSP or similar have something that would tidy up rough lines automatically. BTW - what were you drawing? Do we get to see it? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/13 "2003-08-20T00:56:50Z")
You can buy a square template from craft stores for use in stenciling or in creating scrapbooks. ---
**Author:** ![StanDup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@StanDup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StanDup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-how-can-i-draw-perfectly-straight-comic-panels-without-a-computer/196017/14 "2003-08-20T02:30:52Z")
> [@](#): > > BTW - what were you drawing? Do we get to see it? If you want… when I’m done. I’m not much of a cartoonist, so don’t laugh…🙂