Step 2: Western or Japanese Format?
Although both Japanese and Western comics use the same principles to create pages, the original manuscript sizes are very different.
Japanese Manga Format
The original Japanese manuscript has a width of 234mm and a height of 320mm, with interior margins of 27mm on the left and right sides, and 25mm at the top and bottom. Images may extend into the margins, but most often the frames occur within the interior drawing area. (Or "Live Area")
Western Comic Format
The original manuscript size of Western comics is 9 inches wide by 14 inches tall, with margins of 1/2 inch on all sides. As with Japanese manga, the interior drawing area is most commonly used, with the margin being reserved for large frames.
