1. MakeBeliefsComix.com
MakeBeliefsComix.com is easy enough for children to use, but there are enough options for adults to get a message across, too. Users can choose from 25 characters to fill a two-, three-, or four-paneled comic strip. Currently, the site supports typing in seven different languages. There are plans to add Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters in the future.
One limiting factor is color. Though you can choose a background color, the characters remain black and white. If you’re planning on printing your comic strip, this could be a good opportunity to pull out the old-fashioned box of crayons. But if you’re planning on sharing it online, it’s a bit restricting.
The pre-set options that make the site so easy to use can also be slightly limiting. Your comic strips will look pretty generic. There are only about four different expressions for each character. The upside of this is that you can finish a perfectly respectable online comic in about 10 minutes.
The creator, Bill Zimmerman, is the author of 18 books — including Make Beliefs: A Gift For Your Imagination. “My hope is that by giving you a choice of characters with different moods and the chance to write words and thoughts for them,” he writes on the site, “you will tap into your creativity and explore new possibilities.”
2. MarvelKids.com’s Create Your Own Comic
If there’s any company that knows what it takes to build great comics, Marvel Characters does. So it’s no surprise that its DIY comic site is pretty awesome, considering its simplicity.
Features that make it awesome include choices for different styles of panels (not into boxes? try zig zags), the set-up for creating up to a 22-page comic book, and the Photoshop-esque tool dock that moves around the page. Your character choices include the stars of the Super Hero Squad Show, including The Hulk, Falcon, and Wolverine.
The site does have some rough patches. If you’re hoping to create an original-looking comic strip, you’re out of luck, because you are limited to Marvel characters. There are a measly five options for objects, and you can’t change the background. With no option to save your work on the site, it’s also unlikely you’ll be completing a full 22-page comic book in one sitting.
3. Pixton
This is the comic strip creation website for artists. The site allows for as much customization as possible without the need to build from scratch. Instead of just choosing the color of a character’s shirt, for instance, there are options to adjust the collar, shape, sleeves and size of the shirt. Instead of relying on preset poses and emotions for each character, users are able to click and drag character limbs into new postures and can customize eyes, ears, noses and hairstyles. It’s also convenient to add images from Flickr or Google images.
Successful comics vie every day for a spot in the prestigious Pixton top 10.
4. ToonDoo
ToonDoo hits the fine balance between creative versatility and user friendliness, ensuring that the final results look sharp. While there’s still an extensive library of characters and objects to use in your comic strip, there are also tools to create your own touches. The TraitR tool allows you to create custom characters and DoodlR lets you paint freely. If you want to use your own photos or another image in your comic strip, you can manipulate it through the ImagineR photo tool.
Unlike other sites, there’s an option to save your project mid-creation so that you can come back to it later. When you finish a handful of ToonDoos, you can compile a book. It’s easy to embed individual cartoons in a website or share them over networks, and you can buy print-quality images of your favorites.
5. Strip Generator
The stoic characters of Strip Generators lend themselves to sarcastic commentary. There’s not a whole lot of opportunity to create a personal style — you need to work with what the site gives you — but that doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. The community topic-themed galleries are testimony to this (check out the current theme, “Autumn”).
One unique capability is adjustable frames. If you need a specific cell to be a bit wider or longer, you can just drag the wall. Another stand-out trait is the personal library. When you tweak an image to get it just right, you can save it to use again later.
6. Pikistrips
Pikistrips takes your photos (er…”Pikis?”) and turns them into comic strips. Once you upload your favorites into a customizable comic cell format, you’re free to add text bubbles, speech bubbles and objects. The object gallery is pretty extensive, and its contents aren’t random. Many of the categories — like hairstyles, hats, mustaches, scars, and tattoos — wouldn’t be much fun without using your own photos as a canvas. If you miss the cartoon look, you can apply the “comic” effect to your photo or choose from seven others.
All in all, this site is fun for tweaking your photos (also see the related Pikipimp.com), but is intended to boost the company’s custom printing business (you guessed it, “pikiprint”). On the other hand, if you want a custom mouse pad, bag or cup with your photocomic on it, this aspect works nicely.
My thoughts...
BEFORE you let anyone start this project--they need to have a story board created. This is a lot to process. They really need to have this well planned out ahead of time.1. A little difficult to use...takes time to figure out how it works. Very limited use of color, max only four boxes, doesn't save your work.
2. I couldn't even find the link to do this. Limited to only five marvel characters--if you can figure out how to get to it.
3. Love this site...but you have to create account, be 19 (there is some questionable content)...great editing capabilities...but these don't out weigh the potential inappropriateness of some content.
4. Looks like you can only do up to four boxes, but you are virtually limitless on the amount of choices you have for everything from backgrounds, characters, props, etc.... You can also create your own characters and save them for later use or share with friends. This could be a lot of fun. Did I mention you can upload your own pictures here for use? Not sure what all you can do with them, but cool feature. Looks like you can print, embed, email, facebook, tweet, save to your computer or buy a high quality version printed. You can also save and edit later and compile for a book!
5. This is a nice tool. Easy to figure out. Can be saved and make up to . Limited to the characters given. Plenty to choose from. Lots of re-sizing options as well as rotation, creation and saving of new designs, and such. Love the idea of running things off the page as well as enlarging and shrinking. Be sure to watch the video for a quick summary and example. When you are done you can print it, embed it with the code or get a direct link. I think you can save this as you are working if you register-but need to double check. Can do whole pages.
6. I didn't get to play with. Wasn't working.
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