Print

[Serj]

This FAQ covers general introductory information for those wishing to make digital comics.

Table of Contents (TOC)
1.0 Digital Comic Books (what are they?)
1.1 How do I make them? What hardware/software is required?
1.2 How do I add a signature graphic or pop-up text file (.nfo) to my digital comics?
1.3 Do I have to add a signature graphic or pop-up text file?
1.4 What are CBR and CBZ - and why should I use this format?
1.5 How do I make my own CBR and CBZ files?
1.6 I've opened a CBR or CBZ file and the pages are out of order.
1.7 How do I change multiple file names? How do I change extensions from .rar to .cbr, or .zip to .cbz (and vice-versa)?
1.8 I can't see my file extensions in Windows. Help!
1.9 How do I view these files? What software is available?
1.10 Where can I distribute my file(s)?
1.11 How do I make sure someone else hasn't already scanned the issue(s)?
1.12 What about making non-English language comic books?
1.13 Where can I get more help/guidance/tutorials?

=================================================

1.0 Digital comic books

A "digital comic book" is a computer file containing a scanned comic book. The file is named with the comic book's title, version/volume number, issue number and other optional information (date, publisher, scanner's handle, etc.). Digital comic books are often read on computers using special reader software, such as CDisplay, Comical and FFView. (More information is available in FAQ item #1.9.) Some users prefer to unbundle the files, then read/view with other image viewing software.

Digital comic books are bundled (eg. all images of one issue pulled into a single .zip, .rar, .pdf or .tar compressed file) based on the user's preferences. The de facto standard are the .cbr (.rar) and .cbz (.zip) formats. More information is available within FAQ item #1.4.

Digital comic books tend to include extra files, sometimes including a pop-up text box and/or signature graphic by the scanner. More information about this is covered in FAQ items #1.2 and 1.3.

ALL users who create digital comic books are advised to scan their comic book files with anti-virus software (freshly updated before scanning).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.1 How do I make them? What hardware/software is required?

It is strongly recommended that you know how to operate a computer, scanner and photo-editing software before starting.

This section is a very basic overview of making a comic book file. To make a digital comic book, you will need to scan it into your computer. Scanning can be broken down into three big steps:

1. Scanning
2. Editing
3. Auditing

Scanning:
* Scan each comic book page at a setting of 150dpi.
* Make sure the scanner glass is clean before scanning. (Read your scanner manual for cleaning recommendations.)
* Save the scans into .png, .tif or .psd format when you scan. (When you finish editing the files, you will save them to another format, such as .jpg, or keep them as .png.) If you're scanning directly into an application like Photoshop, you can wait to save the file until you're done editing/auditing.
* Do not save files into .bmp or .gif format.
* Make sure you save the scans with a specific name/number. For file name examples, see FAQ item #1.6.

Editing:
* Use your photo-editing software, such as Adobe's Photoshop, ACD Systems's ACDSee, Jasc's Paint Shop Pro, the GIMP, etc. to open and edit/clean the scans.
* Rotate the images so they are properly aligned top to bottom, not twisted/skewed.
* Crop your images. Keep the entire comic book page intact.
* Standardize the brightness and contrast of each image. (If you need examples to match your scans against, then open a few .cbr/.cbz files and compare the works of others to your scans.)
* Adjust other levels as needed.
* And importantly: If a scan is blurry or damaged, then rescan it!
* IMPORTANT: Don't delete your original scans until you are done with the auditing process. (See below.)

Auditing:
* Pack the completed files into a .zip or .rar file. That includes your .nfo text file (if desired) and signature graphic file. (More information can be found in FAQ item #1.2.)
* Change the file extension from .zip to .cbr (or .rar to .cbr, depending on how you saved your file).
* Open the file with your software reader, such as CDisplay, Comical or FFView, to view the .cbz/.cbr file.
* If anything is out of sequential order or broken, then fix the individual broken files and start over by packing everything into a new file. (Delete the old one.) View the file again. If there is another problem, repeat the process again until the file is ready.
* Occasionally, a scanner will also lift the comic up “before” the image is completely scanned. This will result in only a partial image for the page.

As mentioned above, this is a very basic overview of creating a digital comic book.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.2 How do I add a signature graphic or pop-up text file (.nfo) to my digital comics?

Signature graphic:
When scanners create a digital comic book file, they can identify themselves as the file's scanner by adding a "signature file" (or "sig file"). This is a image file the scanner creates himself/herself and adds to the .cbr/.cbz file.

If you want to add a signature file, here's what you do:

* Open your photo-editing software (Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, etc.).
* Make a new image file (150dpi resolution at 1024x__).
* Add whatever artwork/text you choose to. Be sure to sign the image with your handle name.
* If you aren't sure what to do, open other comic book files and see what others have done.
* Save the image to either .jpg or .png format and add to your comic book file.

Be sure to save the file somewhere safe, as this is your personal signature graphic which you'll add to future scans. If needed, you can extract it from your other scanned files, but it's good to have it saved somewhere safe/accessible.


Pop-up text file (.nfo format):
When users open a .cbr or .cbz, sometimes a small text file pops up. This file is filled with information from the person who scanned it. Some choose to give information about the issue; others choose to brag about what they've scanned.

If you want to add an .nfo file, here's what you do:

* Typing whatever you want added, save the text file in ASCII text format (.txt). Then rename the extension from .txt to .nfo.
* Include the file in your .zip (.cbz) or .rar (.cbr) file.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.3 Do I have to add a signature graphic or pop-up text file?

No. It is the option of the scanner whether they want to include these items within their files.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.4 What are CBR and CBZ - and why should I use this format?

CBZ files are file archives with their extension renamed from .zip to .cbz

CBR files are file archives with their extension renamed from .rar to .cbr

These two formats have become the de facto standard for comic book files on GAC-UK. While some people prefer PDF format (Adobe's Acrobat format), the majority of users, in our opinions, want CBR and CBZ.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.5 How do I make my own CBR and CBZ files?

Place all comic scans into a folder and rename them in page order, eg. 001 002 003 then archive the files using WinZip or WinRAR. Now just rename them with the different extensions. Remember .zip files are .cbz and .rar files are .cbr. (Viewers, like CDisplay, can read .tar files, among other extensions, but the de facto standard has become .cbz and .cbr.)

You can rename a *.cbz file to a *.cbr file and CDisplay will still view it, although it isn't recommended. (This might be because WinRAR can read both .zip and .rar files.) Please stick to the original file format/extension name.

Also, if you are using WinRAR to rar images into an archive for CDisplay to view, you can just rename the extension from *.rar to *.cbr before you actually start the archiving process.

When labeling the file, try the following format:

MegaGigantor #01 (2004) (Monsterific-DCP).cbr

If you're creating a file that's not in English language, try the following:

MegaGigantor #01 (2004) (Monsterific-DCP){Portuguese}.cbr

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.6 I've opened a CBR or CBZ file and the pages are out of order.

The most likely cause: The files have not been named appropriately. Comics generally have more then 10 pages and sometimes scanners number pages 1-9 using a single number instead of including a zero before the number. So numbering: 1, 2, 3... rather than 01, 02, 03 which means page 10 will come before page 2 and 3.

The best way to fix: Change the .cbr/.cbz file name back (.cbr or .cbz). Then unzip/unrar the files into an empty directory, rename them, and rebundle (.zip or .rar).

Some users name their individual files with short file names:


bop00.jpg
bop01.jpg
bop02.jpg
...

While some prefer to give more information:


birdsofprey_v1_no69_00_cover.jpg
birdsofprey_v1_no69_01.jpg
birdsofprey_v1_no69_02.jpg
...

Ultimately it is your call how you name your scans, although we recommend three things:

1.) View your file before distributing it. Make sure there are no problems, like images which are out of order, missing images, etc.

2.) Don't deface the cover art/interior art with your signature. Add a separate signature graphic file if you want to identify yourself as the scanner. (It's optional.)

3.) Place your signature graphic at the back of the file. Because files are displayed based on alphanumeric/sequential order, you may want to name your signature graphic with a "z" to make sure it shows up last within the file.

Example:

t_signature.jpg

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.7 How do I change multiple file names? How do I change extensions from .rar to .cbr, or .zip to .cbz (and vice-versa)?

If you have multiple files named .zip and/or .rar -- and don't feel like taking the time to rename the extensions individually -- you can either use command line code or an application to make changes. It's important to note: You are responsible for any changes you make, using the information provided below. Make changes at your own risk!

Also: Don't change .rar file to .cbz, or .zip to .cbr. Remember: It's .rar to .cbr and .zip to .cbz

AS A GENERAL RULE: DO NOT CHANGE FILE NAMES UNLESS YOU MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR FILES FIRST!

Save the entire set of files to another directory, or offline, before you make any changes. If you screw up, you'll still have the original files.

Using the Command Line in DOS or MS-DOS prompt in Windows:

1. Start-->Run-->type in cmd
(Another option: Evoke the MS-DOS Prompt from within the Accessories menu.)

2. In the new window type cd eg. c:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\comics\Alpha Flight

3. Now type ren *.* *.cbr to rename all files in the folder to a cbr, or ren *.* *.cbz to rename all files in the folder to a cbz.


Using the Command Line in Linux, UNIX, and MacOS X:

# change .rar files to .cbr
Note: for file in *.rar ; do mv $file `echo $file | sed 's/\(.*\.\)rar/\1cbr/'` ; done

(Go here for more information: http://lab.artlung.com/other/unix-batch-file-rename/ )


Software applications for renaming files:

For Windows:

THE Rename for Windows
http://www.herve-thouzard.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=1

A.F. 5 for Windows
http://www.fauland.com/af5.htm

1-4a-rename for Windows
http://www.1-4a.com/rename/

(See also: Google.com to search on more Windows options.)

For Linux

GPRename for Linux
http://gprename.sourceforge.net

(See also: Google.com to search on more Linux options.)

For Mac

A Better Finder Rename for Macintosh
http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/

(See also: Google.com to search on more Mac options.)

Again, use these applications at your own risk. GAC-UK bears no responsibility for their use/misuse.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.8 I can't see my file extensions in Windows. Help!

Newer versions of Microsoft Windows do not display file extensions unless you change your preference settings. That means (by default) you see:

Sushi Monster Mania #004 (2005)(Ebi-san-ZC-DCP)

...but not:

Sushi Monster Mania #004 (2005)(Ebi-san-ZC-DCP).cbr (and you want to see the file extension like this!)

To change the settings to see file extensions within Windows:

1.) Open Windows Explorer (from "Start", then "Programs", then "Accessories")
2.) Within the top menu bar of Windows Explorer, go to Tools
3.) Then click Folder Options
4.) Then click the tab marked View
5.) Within the Advanced Settings box, scroll down to "Hide file extensions for known file types" and uncheck the box. (Again: Click the box to remove the check mark. The box should not be checked.)
6.) Before clicking "OK" you will want to click the button marked "Reset All Folders." (If you want to restore the original setting, then repeat steps 1-5, except click on the box to check it.)
7.) Click "OK"

That's it!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.9 How do I view these files? What software is available?

The de-facto standards for reading/viewing digital comic books have become:

* CDisplay, the Windows Sequential Image Viewer for Windows by David Dayton.
Available here: http://www.geocities.com/davidayton/CDisplay.html

* Comical, the UNIX, Linux and MacOS X Sequential Image Viewer.
Available here: http://www.sketchyorigins.com/comics/forumdisplay.php?f=47

* FFView for MacOS X.
Available here: http://www.feedface.com/projects/ffview.html

These are free software image viewing programs designed specifically for reading digital comic book files, particularly those in .cbr and .cbz formats (and .rar and .zip formats, if they haven't had their file extensions changed to .cbr and .cbz yet).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.10 Where can I distribute my file(s)?

Recommended distribution channels:

Here at GAC!

However, do not post files until you have read the rules. Follow the guidelines that are provided.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.11 How do I make sure someone else hasn't already scanned the issue(s)?

Do some detective work:

* Use discussion forums to ask community members, too. Be sure to post your question(s) to the appropriate forum.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.12 What about making non-English language comic books?

You are welcome to make digital comic books which contain non-English language. We are asked, though, to label your files so others will know if they aren't in English. (All files are assumed to be in English, since this is an English-speaking web site/file creation community.)

An example of labeling your non-English language file:

MegaGigantor #01 (2004)(Monsterific-GAC){Portuguese}.cbr

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.13 Where can I get more help/guidance/tutorials?

Visit the Golden Age Comics help section for more assistance by community members.