M3OW

World-Three is looking for a quality checker for series such as:

• Dead Dead Demons
• Imperial Guards
• Watamote
• Misc. Hentai

Previous experience in manga or general English language prefered. Ability to QC hentai reccomended, but not required.

Contact us

Hello, I'm M3OW. I've been typesetting, cleaning, and redrawing manga for a little bit over a year, and I've seen all other scanlating groups have different methods and guidelines about typesetting manga, and the reason for this post is to show the guides and rules that I use when I typeset, so that other people can learn or expand on their methods. Keep in mind that for most of these examples, I'll be using Photoshop, but both GIMP and P.net should have the same settings, just in different places.

Red Rules are rules that should be followed always. These are usually for leggibility.
Orange Rules are rules that should be followed usually. These are standard, but can change depending on the page.
Blue Rules are rules that I personally follow, but depends on your preference.

bonus rule) It's just manga. Have fun.

Positioning/Size

1) Text in text bubbles should be at the center of the bubble with an equal amount of padding on all sides, this mean the text should somewhat resemble the shape of the speach bubble.
The Reason we do this, is so that the text is kind of 'buffed' by white space in the middle of the middle. This seems trivial now, but remember, MOST people will read your scanlation in a browser, and the browser will resize the bubble if the user has a smaller monitor. This means the text might touch the sides if you're not careful.

2) The font size of all bubbles of the same font must be the same size on a page. If you feel a font should be bigger (shouting, ect), then that usually means to use a shouting font. Do NOT change a font-size to fit the page.
This is the biggest error I see in manga. People usually change every dialgoue bubble's font size in order to fit. If you do this, then it looks like the speaker is shouting and whispering words ("did you hear?" "WHAT" "The font size changes!"), and that confuses the reader. A way to combat this is to select all text layers, and then change the properties there, so they all have the same font size and leading (covered in the fonts section)

3) If there is one bubble with two or more parts (usually connected like in the example), then the two different bits of text need to be seperated. Keep in mind that there NEEDS to be an ellipsis or a comma at the end of the first part in order to show that they are combined ideas.
The reason we do this is because these bubbles are one line, but split up, and therefore we need to split up the lines as it is in the original. The reason for the ellipsis or comma is so that the reader can understand that the sentence doesn't end at "..should be together", and that the "do you?" is a connected idea.

4) If a word has less than 5 or 6 charecters, do not use a hyphen. Only use a hyphen when it is really nessisary. Also, if you do use a hyphen, try to put it where it seperates parts of a word. ("I am/Over-/joyed").
The reason you split a word at the end of a syllable is so it's easier to read. Keep in mind that if you're using honorifics (-san, -chan, ect), that the hyphen goes before the honofic, and not after the name itself.

5) A lot of times, a manga will have out-of-bubble text when a charecter whispers or mumbles something. This can be given a stoke and overlated over the main bubble to show that it's part of the same idea.
The reason we overlay the text is because the original text only fits when it's vertical in japanese. By placing it smaller and off to the side, we get the same effect. I reccomend Akbar or Ashcan as a font.

Punctuation

Source/Inspiration: Blambot.com/grammar

6) Do not use a period to end a bubble. You can use a period to end a sentence in a bubble however.
However, if a sentence is 2 or less words, then use a period to accent the statement. Usually this will happen when somebody says "No." or "I'm ready." If you do put a period here, use bolditalics. Also remember that since bolditalics is different from normal, you can break rule #2 and make it bigger for emphasis
The reason we don't use periods at the end of a bubble is because it's redundant. There's no reason tell the reader that the sentence is over if the bubble already does that. The reason you CAN add a period to small sentences is for dramatic effect.

7) If a charecter shouts a question, put the question mark before the exclamation point. Also, bolditalic the line.
The reason the question mark is first is because the charecter is exclaiming a question, not questioning a exclamation. The bold is just for emphasis

8) If there is any form of punctuation, (comma, question mark, exclamation), in the middle of a bubble, try to insert a line break right after that punctuation.
This seperates the two sentences in the bubble. Also, fast readers will read the line "Did you know how I? I didn't" and put the "I" in the first sentence.

9) If you are separating two thought boxes, (usually rectangles), use an ellipsis in order to show that they are part of the same idea, not a comma. (A comma is used for situations like #3). At the end of the whole thought, use a period.
You can also choose to use a special font for thoughts. However, if you do this, remember to capitalize the first word.
The ellipsis serves as a way to combine two ideas, but also, there will usually be something happening between the thought boxes, so the ellipsis also serves as a way for the reader to remember what the thought bubble was about. The period at the end marks the end of a group of boxes.

10) If there is any shouting or exclaimation that you feel should be in bolditalics, then it is also necessary to add exclaimation points.
If you feel that the bubble "works" without exclaimation, then it also does not need bolditalics. Keep in mind that you do need italics and bold, and to never use only bold. Also keep in mind that you require two exclaimation points if the bubble is one word or phrase.
 

[20:49:47] <M> Hello. I recently wrote down some typesetting guides/tutorials and i'd like to post it on the forums, but where should I put it?
[20:50:07] <M> I thought it would fit in Scanlator's Forums, but that's for specific groups
[20:52:22] <Gendalph> putting it in General should be a good idea
....
[20:55:11] <Gendalph> M, put your guides into General forums and pm me (Genda1ph) and a mod to pin it for you
[20:55:23] <Gendalph> it will get sorted out later