Today, I’m diving into a question from Tim Hortons (yes, that’s the name), about whether to color your illustrations or stick with black and white. Thanks, Tim, for the great question! Let’s break this down into two parts: special considerations when deciding, and whether there’s a generally preferred route for single issues or graphic novels.
Are There Special Considerations for Coloring vs. Black and White?
In short, yes—but not as many as you’d think. My advice is to do whatever works best for your story and art. That said, cost is the biggest factor to keep in mind.
Cost Comparison
Here’s an example from two books I printed last year:
- Black and White Book (Mostly):
Title: Amazing Camel Toe (a radical feminist graphic novel with a few colored pages).
Specs: 120 pages, hardcover, roughly 7″x10″ trim size.
Cost: $6.06 per unit (1,000 copies). - Full-Color Book:
Title: All Talk (a vibrant, full-color graphic novel).
Specs: Similar to Amazing Camel Toe—hardcover, similar trim size.
Cost: $7.22 per unit (1,000 copies).
So, the color version was about 20% more expensive. This gap widens as quantities increase. For example, in offset printing, much of the cost at lower quantities (300–500 copies) comes from setup and labor. But at higher quantities (2,000–3,000+ copies), materials like ink and paper start to dominate costs. At that point, black-and-white books can be up to 50% cheaper to produce.
Technical Considerations
- Pure Black vs. Four-Color Black:
When your book is black and white, make sure your blacks are 100% K (pure black: 0% Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, 100% Black). This ensures sharper text and edges.
I’ve had cases where the text was accidentally set up in four-color black, resulting in blurry, pixelated letters. Always set text layers to pure black for crisp, professional results.
Is There a Preferred Route for Single Issues and Graphic Novels?
The answer depends on your goals and audience:
Retailer Preferences
In the direct market (comic shops), books are non-returnable, meaning stores eat the cost if they can’t sell them. Higher price points (typical for color books) can make retailers more hesitant to stock them.
In the book market (Barnes & Noble, indie bookstores), the returnable model gives you more flexibility with pricing.
Audience Expectations
- Black and White: Often works well for detailed, intricate line art or darker, more serious stories. For example, The Gina Modigliani, a richly detailed graphic novel, shines in black and white. Adding color to such artwork could feel distracting or unnecessary.
- Color: Great for simpler, cartoon-style art with less line work. Take Animals Rule This Land by Luke Milton—its fun, dynamic style benefits immensely from vibrant colors.
Price and Perceived Value
While black-and-white books are cheaper to produce, I haven’t noticed a major difference in perceived value. For instance, I priced Amazing Camel Toe (black and white) at $24.99 and All Talk (color) at $29.99. Both sold about 1,000 copies, showing that pricing wasn’t a dealbreaker for either.
However, for thicker graphic novels, color can help justify a higher price point. A 200+ page full-color graphic novel is easier to price at $30+ compared to a black-and-white one.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it boils down to what serves your story and artwork best. If you have detailed line art or a darker tone, black and white can look stunning while saving costs. If your style is more minimalist or cartoonish, color can add vibrancy and readability.
I hope this helps you make an informed decision! Have thoughts or questions? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear them!
Cheers,
Andrew