MakeBeliefsComix.com allows people of all ages to create comic strips online. It provides characters, backgrounds, objects and tools to design each panel. Users can choose a character, add expressions and props, then insert speech or thought bubbles. The finished comic can be printed, emailed or saved as an image. The tutorial walks through each step, from naming the comic to publishing the final version.

1. Where people of all ages can use their imaginations
Created by Mary Crenshaw 7/24/11

2. Make Beliefs Comix Tutorial
 MakeBeliefsComix.com is a Web site where people of
all ages can use their imaginations to create comic
strips. It is as easy as one, two, three. First, you
choose a character with emotions. Next, make your
character come to life by adding a thought balloon and
words. Finally, complete your comic strip with detailed
objects and colored backgrounds. You may print your
comic strip, email it, or take a screen shot of it to
export it as an image.
MakeBeliefsComix.com © 2006-2011 By Bill Zimmerman, Guarionex Press Ltd.

3. Table of Contents:
Select a link to skip directly to a section [Home]
1. Getting Started
2. Naming You Comix
3. Choosing the Number of Panels
4. Choosing a Background Color
5. Choosing a Character
6. Choosing a Facial Expression
7. Choosing Backgrounds and Objects
8. Moving a Selection
9. Flipping a Selection
10. Adding a Second Character
11. Scaling a Character
12. Bring to Front
13. Deleting a Selection and Starting Over
14. Adding Talk and Thought Balloons
15. Panel Prompts
16. Printing or Emailing Your Comix

4. 1. Getting Started [Top]
 Visit http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
 Press the “Enter Here!” Button to get started

5. Getting Started [Top]
 This is the page where you will create your comic strip

6. 2. Naming Your Comix [Top]
 Fill in a name for your comic strip in the “NAME YOUR
COMIX” box.
 Next, put the name of the person who is creating the
comic strip in the “AUTHOR’S NAME” box.

7. 3. Choosing the Number of Panels (2 pages) [Top]
 Choose the number of panels you want 1, 2, or 3 from
the bottom right side of the screen.

8. Choosing the Number of Panels (con’t) [Top]
 Select the first panel, it will have a red
outline around it.
 Note you can only work on a panel if you
select it first. You will know it is selected
by the red outline around it.

9. 4. Choosing a Background Color [Top]
 You may want to choose a background color for your
panel. They are located in the bottom right corner of
the screen.
 Click on a color then click on the panel where you want
to place it.

10. 5. Choosing a Character (2 pages) [Top]
 Choose a character from “Our cast of
characters”, the character will appear in the selection
window.

11. Choosing a Character (con’t) [Top]
 Once you select the character you want click the
selection window and they will appear in the first
panel.

12. 6. Choosing a Facial Expression [Top]
 Use the red arrows under the selection window to
select a different facial expression on a similar
character.
 Here are some examples of other expressions for the
vampire.

13. 7. Choosing Backgrounds and Objects (2 pages) [Top]
 If you click on “Our many objects and scenes” you can
select from various background scenes and objects to
use in your panel.
 First they will appear in the selection window, then
use the red arrows under the box to flip though the
collection.

14. Choosing Backgrounds and Objects (con’t) [Top]
 Here is an example of an object and a scene.
 Once you see the one you want, click on the panel.

15. 8. Select a Different Panel and Move an Object [Top]
 To select another panel, click on it. A red outline will
appear around the panel to be worked on next.

16. 8. Moving a Selection [Top]
 To move a selection once inside the panel click
the red “move” cross then click on the object
you want to move. You will then be able to
move it around.

17. 9. Flipping a Selection [Top]
• To Flip a selection select the “flip” button then click
on the object you want to face the opposite direction.

18. 10. Adding a Second Character [Top]
 To add another character in the same panel select
the character and double click on it.

19. 11. Scaling a Character [Top]
 To bring a selection to scale click the “scale” button.
A slide bar will appear, use the red mark on the bar to
slide the size from big to small.

20. 12. Bring to Front [Top]
 To bring a selection to the front select the bring to
front button, then click on the selection you want in
front.
 In this example the background was brought to the
front. You can see a black line in the bottom right
corner of the second picture where the vampire has
been brought to the back of the image.

21. 13. Deleting a Selection and Starting Over [Top]
 To delete a selection select the “delete” button and click on the
selected item you want to delete.
Before After
• Start over will erase the whole panel.

22. 14. Adding Talk and Thought Balloons (4 pages) [Top]
 You may either add a talk balloons or thought balloons
to help your characters communicate. The thought
balloons have little bubbles underneath them, they let
the reader know what the character is thinking.

23. Adding Talk and Thought Balloons (con’t) [Top]
 Click on either balloons selection and it will
appear in the selection window. You can choose
different balloons by using the red arrows
under the selection window.

24. Adding Talk and Thought Balloons (con’t) [Top]
 Once you see the one you want click on the panel you are
going to use it in. You may have to move your thought
balloon to place it once it is selected. Click inside the
balloon and the text will highlight in black. Press delete
and that text will disappear then you can add your own.

25. Adding Talk and Thought Balloons (con’t) [Top]
 Do not use a scene if you want to use a background
color as it will not show up.
 Example with scene and background color.

26. 15. Panel Prompts [Top]
 There are also panel prompts.
 If you want to use them click on them and wait until
they are in the selection window. Then click on the
panel where you want to place them.

27. 16. Printing or Emailing Your Comix [Top]
 To print or email your comic strip click this icon.
 You will be brought to the following screen.
 You can either print or email your comic from this screen.

28. Congratulations [Home]
 You are now ready to create your own imaginative
comic strip.
 Remember to check your spelling and grammar before
you print or email your comic strip.
 You may use the Table of Contents to revisit any part of
this tutorial you may need to review.