Identifying the eyeline in comic pannels.
3mo
Michael Giff
Hello. Trying to figure out how to spot the eye line in comic book pannels. I tried sketching (very poorly) and then placing a blue line where I think the eye line would be. Am I close?
Source: Goldie Vance no12 Illustrated by Noah Hayes, Colored by Sarah Stern
•
2mo
This is how I interpreted the eye line/horizon lines for this page.
Storytelling always involves a focus. Who or what is the focus of the story panel to panel, page to page, etc.
Goldie is the protagonist, so she’s the primary focus throughout the story. In panel 2 the actual horizon line is visible, which gives us a quick indicator of where the eye-level is. Horizon-line is eye-level. You can see the perspective of the building leading off to a vanishing point actually hidden in the first panel right where Goldie is located. This hidden vanishing point in panel 1, coupled with the eyes of the character looking at Goldie in the first panel shows how the artist is using the leading lines of perspective, and a literal eyes to focus the reader towards Goldie. While the horizon line isn’t exactly at Goldie’s eye level, we’re close enough that we’re about at Goldie’s height throughout.
In panel 3 the eye-line is right at Goldie’s eye level as she unravels the details of the case. It’s like we’re part of the crowd of people outside the door. Seeing the top of the phone table behind her shows that we’re above that table, looking down. You can follow the axis of the table top back to a vanishing point right by Goldies eyes. This coupled with the foreground framing characters looking at Goldie draws focus directly to the main character.
The reverse shot in panel 4 is lower, at Goldie’s POV. The corner of ceiling in the room gives a slight directional down towards Goldie showing that we’re low, looking up, along with the eyes of the doubting characters slightly looking down towards Goldie. The other subtle hint is the bottom edge of the picture frame on the wall, it’s slightly thinner on the bottom, making it seem like we’re slightly below looking up.
The eye-line for panels 5, 6, and 7 all appear to be at a similar height. We’re above the table looking down at the scene, with the eye-line almost directly leading through Goldie’s eyes in panels 6 and 7. The perspective of the table in panel 5 is leading the viewer directly to Goldie in the last panel, and her hand leading out of frame is a great indicator that the action continues on the next page.
Hope this helps!