Seeking advice about series releases with and without immersive reader frames - GC Forums
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Seeking advice about series releases with and without immersive reader frames
I am about to release a new series. It's been previously published on my own website. It's a big work in progress probably about 35 episodes of which I've created 9 so far over a few years. It's my major work. It's been created for big screen users with 1920 x 1080 format. I've tested the preview of the first episode without frames and it runs well here on GC.
Now here's my problem: I'm happy to put frames in for users with phone, mini screens, but I find that using frames when on a big screen is tiresome and somewhat annoying. I've looked at other creators who have done that. I also have issue with frames on big screens because they make dialogue sequential, which is not always required or desired on large screens. I like to compose some graphics with multiple characters where their dialogue is not necessarily sequential and can be viewed individually. Sort of like the user can find little bits and pieces of subcontext dialogue if they look around a big scene. I use it often for humor, backstory and asides sometimes. I'm also sympathetic to users with tiny screens and am happy to do the frames to get a broader reach to users.
I'm thinking I will do two separate series with identical graphics for 1) no frames for big screen users and 2) all frames for small screen users. But I fear that might get a bit confusing for readers and your indexing. I'll also have to create separate covers. I don't want to change the title of the release for one or the other but indicate screen size somehow.
So advice required, what's best for GC? Are two separate series of the same comic acceptable to GC? Any other thoughts you might have.
Ideally, it would be good if the user could enable/disable frames as they required at run time on their client device. Just a thought. Thanks for a great platform. Regards.
Users/readers already have the ability to turn panel to panel off at their discretion, and the website/app will remember those settings. It won't be forced for readers unless it is the first time on the platform in Web IF the comic has it enabled. Other than that, it will remember the settings the user prefers. The same is true in reverse, if a user opens your series and wants to turn them on, they can have that luxury.
Making two series will create unnecessary confusion with two different versions of the same series, especially since they will STILL have the option to change it once opened.
That all said, if you want to make one that is an ideal mobile experience, and a different series for that experience (and feel up to a challenge) I would suggest looking into a vertical comic. Those are typically the best for mobile users. The vertical format can be a bit difficult to adjust to, but it allows for one panel to be viewed at a time without the need for frames. Panel to panel reading is disabled for vertical comics, as it would be kind of redundant. lol
I hope this helps.
Thanks ArtCrumbs, that's exactly what I needed to know. I thank you kindly. So happy to hear that users have the option. It saves me a lot of work that I didn't want to do. As for making a vertical scroll, my previous release which was vertical scroll as an experiment taught me a lot about doing it. It's a totally different production. I must say it was enjoyable to play with it, but for now my main major work would require a massive amount of rework that frankly I don't want to do. Thanks very much again.
Oh, last question, as a user, where, how, can I toggle frames ON or OFF when reading a comic? I'm new, I haven't found that option yet when reading another creator's work. You guys are champions!
Hi Zmax, I'm glad I could help! When you open the reader experience (in app or desktop), you can click on the current page to bring up an overlay display. On the right should be a gear icon. If you select that, and scroll down, you should see a setting to disable panel to panel /immersive reading. While you are there, you can set reading to single page, double page, or even vertical!
The second way you can turn off panel to panel is by starting the same, clicking the page to bring up the overlay display. If the comic has panel to panel on, you will see three smaller buttons, a gear icon for settings, a set of stacked pages for the page finder, and an icon that looks like a set of panels. If it is orange, it is turned on, clicking it should grey it out and turn it off.
Hope that helps. Please know that you can only turn panel to panel ON if the comic is set up for it, as not all creators or publishers add frames for their pages.
Again, great info. Thanks. Yes, I did find it. There's much about this platform I'm yet to learn. I shall definitely be incorporation frames for sure. I shall do that today and probably release it. Everything here just keeps getting better and better, the more I find out. Respect.