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How to Make My Own Frame Cartoons

Frame cartoons are jokes or stories told within the span of a single image, similar to one panel of a comic strip. You can make your own frame cartoons with a sheet of paper that you draw a frame into. Inside the frame you can sketch an image for the cartoon as well as a joke or piece of dialogue that helps convey what is happening. The finished cartoon can be shared with friends or posted online for others to view.

Things You'll Need

  • Ruler
  • Black pen
  • Colored pencils
  • Paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Write out a joke or plot for your frame cartoon. Cut down the text to no longer than two sentences.

    • 2

      List the characters and elements in the cartoon as well as any dialogue that might be spoken. The dialogue can be in place of a caption at the bottom of the cartoon or be written as the caption itself.

    • 3

      Sketch a rough image for inside the frame. Use stick figures for your characters and simple lines for other objects.

    • 4

      Mark where any dialogue will be placed within the cartoon on your rough image. You may need to re-size elements of your drawing to fit the dialogue.

    • 5

      Measure and draw a box for your cartoon in the center of a sheet of paper. The box should be about 4 inches on each side, but you can increase or decrease the size based on your preferences.

    • 6

      Draw your image inside the box in pencil. Trace over the pencil with ink and erase any extraneous or mistake lines.

    • 7

      Write the text for your frame cartoon either above the characters speaking dialogue or at the bottom of the frame.

    • 8

      Color your pictures to complete the frame cartoon.

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