Word Balloons
Word balloons, also known as speech bubbles or dialogue balloons, are the visual elements in comics that contain character dialogue and thoughts. They're a fundamental tool in comic book creation that helps tell the story by showing who's speaking and how they're speaking. Different shapes and styles of word balloons can indicate different types of communication - like regular speech, thoughts, whispers, or shouting. When you see this term on a resume, it typically indicates experience with comic book lettering and dialogue placement, which is an important skill in comic book production.
Examples in Resumes
Created and placed Word Balloons for a 24-page monthly comic series
Designed custom Speech Bubbles and Dialogue Balloons for manga-style comics
Managed Word Balloon placement and typography for digital webcomics
Typical job title: "Comic Book Letterers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Comic Book Letterers
Online Communities
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle complex dialogue layout in multi-character scenes?
Expected Answer: A senior letterer should explain their process for organizing multiple speech bubbles, ensuring clear reading order, and maintaining visual balance while keeping the artwork visible.
Q: What's your approach to developing a unique lettering style for a new comic series?
Expected Answer: They should discuss how they consider the comic's tone, target audience, and art style to create appropriate lettering that enhances the overall reading experience.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you handle different types of dialogue (whispers, shouts, thoughts) in your work?
Expected Answer: Should describe different balloon shapes and text styles used for various types of dialogue, and explain how these choices help convey tone and volume to readers.
Q: What's your process for ensuring text is readable across different platforms?
Expected Answer: Should discuss font size considerations, clarity in both print and digital formats, and how they test readability across different devices.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What basic rules do you follow when placing word balloons?
Expected Answer: Should mention reading order (left to right, top to bottom), not covering important artwork, and leaving enough space around text for readability.
Q: What tools do you use for creating word balloons?
Expected Answer: Should be able to name common software used in the industry and describe basic techniques for creating and placing speech bubbles.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic balloon placement and shape creation
- Understanding of reading order
- Simple text formatting
- Basic digital lettering tools
Mid (2-4 years)
- Custom balloon styles
- Complex dialogue layout
- Digital and print optimization
- Sound effect creation
Senior (4+ years)
- Advanced typography
- Style guide creation
- Team coordination
- Multiple project management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic comic book reading order
- Poor understanding of text readability principles
- Lack of experience with industry-standard software
- No awareness of different dialogue styles and their purposes
Related Terms
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