Vertical panels
Webtoon is not a print comic turned sideways. Scrolling replaces the page turn, white space replaces gutters as the timing device, and the reader sees roughly one screen at a time. That changes how a scene should be built.
White space is time
The gap between panels is how long the reader waits. It is the closest thing vertical comics have to a page turn.
- Small gaps read fast - Action and rapid exchanges, assembled in Panel Maker.
- A long empty stretch creates genuine suspense, because the reader must scroll to reach what follows.
- Uniform gaps read as monotonous no matter how good the art is.
Width is emphasis
Panel size tells a reader what matters.
Full width
Cannot be skimmed. Use it for the beat you most want to land.
Narrow or inset
Accelerates the read. Good for reactions and quick exchanges.
Alternating
Creates rhythm - The difference between a composed episode and a stack of images.
Compose for one screen
A reader sees about one phone screen at a time, so any composition wider than that is never seen whole. Keep important content within a screen height and let the scroll do the rest. Panel Maker builds sequences this way, and Expression Lab keeps a character consistent between beats.
Common questions
How tall should an episode be?
Long enough to carry the beats, and consistent between episodes. Consistency matters more than any particular length.
Can I use traditional page layouts?
You can, but grid layouts fight the scroll. Phone readers see fragments rather than the composition you designed.
How do I control pacing?
With the gaps. Spacing is timing in a vertical comic.
Where to go next
This guide pairs with build a sequence, camera in sequence and make a cover.