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Now let's analyze two morę typical panels through the use of simplified diagrams. In the top panel, the artisfs main purpose was to create a mood of fear and menace. Once again, notice how boldly and simply he applied his black masses. The heavy shadow seems to totally engulf the smaller white figurę, which is sharply highlighted for maximum emphasis. In the corresponding panel on the right we’ve reduced the entire design to its simplest form, so that you can easily discern the crisp contrast between the stark black and white values.

Always remember—the placement of your black areas creates a definite pattern in every picture. This pattern must never be too complicated, ortoo busy, lest it confuse the reader. Whenever an illustration causes confusion in a reader’s mind, it also causes the reader’s attention to be diverted, thus breaking the dramatic mood that each preceding panel has attempted to create.

In other words, Charlie, keep it simple—and keep it elear!

Here we have an extremely complicated scene. Yet, despite the wealth of detail, notę how the placement of the black areas creates a pattern which seems to draw the reader’s eye smoothly across the picture. Notice also how the three figures in the center have been given just enough black dabs—especially around their heads—to allow them to stand out from the background.

Next time you study a panel in order to analyze the inking technique, train yourself to squint your eye and try to recognize the way the black areas are massed for design, in the same way as we’ve attempted to show you by use of the two simplified panels on this page.