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Calcimator

Comic Page Layout Calculator

Calculate panel dimensions, counts, and page utilization based on page format, grid layout, gutter sizes, and pacing style.

Inputs

in
in
in
in

Results

Avg Panels / Page

9

Total Panels

182

Panel Width1.96 in
Panel Height3.17 in
Panel Aspect Ratio0.62
Art Utilization93.5%
Drawable Width6.13 in
Drawable Height9.75 in
Format NameUS Standard
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Select page format (US Standard, Manga B5, European Album, or custom).
  2. Set columns, rows, gutter width (in), and page margins (in).
  3. Select pacing style (normal, decompressed, or compressed) and enter total pages and splash pages.
  4. Review panel dimensions, total panel count, and pacing ratio for the issue.

What each input means

Page Format
0 = US Standard (6.625x10.25), 1 = Manga B5, 2 = European Album, 3 = Custom.
Custom Width (in)
Live area width when using custom format.
Custom Height (in)
Live area height when using custom format.
Panel Columns
Number of panel columns in the grid.
Panel Rows
Number of panel rows in the grid.
Gutter Width (in)
Space between panels. Standard is 1/8 inch.
Page Margins (in)
Margins around the live area.
Pacing Style
0 = Normal, 1 = Decompressed (fewer panels, cinematic), 2 = Compressed (more panels, dense).
Total Pages
Total page count for the issue or chapter.
Splash Pages
Full-page or double-page splash panels (1 panel each).

What each result means

Avg Panels / Page
Average number of panels per story page given your pacing.
Total Panels
Estimated total panel count for the entire issue.
Panel Width
Width of each panel in the grid.
Panel Height
Height of each panel in the grid.
Panel Aspect Ratio
Width-to-height ratio of each panel (>1 = landscape, <1 = portrait).
Art Utilization
Percentage of drawable area filled by panels (vs gutters).
Drawable Width
Usable width after margins.
Drawable Height
Usable height after margins.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Page Format = 0, Custom Width (in) = 6.625, Custom Height (in) = 10.25, Panel Columns = 3 = 10 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Avg Panels / Page
    Avg Panels / Page = round(maxPanelsPerPage * pacingMultiplier * 10) / 10
    9 = 9
  3. Calculate Total Panels
    Total Panels
    182 = 182
  4. Calculate Panel Width
    Panel Width = (drawableWidth - totalGutterWidth) / columns
    1.958 = 1.958
  5. Calculate Panel Height
    Panel Height = (drawableHeight - totalGutterHeight) / rows
    3.167 = 3.167

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