Spotlight on newspaper strip layout: Difference between revisions

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== Newspapers - layout ==
== Newspapers - layout ==
===Daily strips===
In 1934 the size of newspapers in the United States were about 381 × 578 mm. And where each page was divided into eight<ref group="footnotes">9 columns at pages with small ads</ref> columns.  
In 1934 the size of newspapers in the United States were about 381 × 578 mm. And where each page was divided into eight<ref group="footnotes">9 columns at pages with small ads</ref> columns.  


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|}
|}


By 1945 KFS offered the Mandrake daily stripes only as 4 or 5 columns, adding a 3 column variant in 1946. The 3 column variat was intended to be split in half. So that the last half of the strip came under the first half. The measurements in inches for the height given by KFS for these three variants are: 3c = 4 <small>3/4</small>, 4c = 2 <small>7/16</small> and 5c = 2 <small>1/4</small>.
By 1945 KFS offered the Mandrake daily stripes only as 4 or 5 columns, adding a 3 column variant in 1946. The 3 column variat was intended to be split in half. So that the last half of the strip came under the first half.  
 
From 1954 KFS only offered the 4 columns variant.  


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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|bgcolor="grey"| column 8
|bgcolor="grey"| column 8
|-
|-
|colspan="3"|Mandrake the Magician
|colspan="3"|Mandrake the <br>Magician
|bgcolor="grey"| column 4
|bgcolor="grey"| column 4
|bgcolor="grey"| column 5
|bgcolor="grey"| column 6
|bgcolor="grey"| column 7
|bgcolor="grey"| column 8
|-
|}
From 1954 KFS only offered the 4 columns variant.
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="8"|Newspaper page
|-
| column 1
| column 2
| column 3
| column 4
| column 5
| column 6
| column 7
| column 8
|-
|colspan="4"|Mandrake the Magician
|bgcolor="grey"| column 5
|bgcolor="grey"| column 5
|bgcolor="grey"| column 6
|bgcolor="grey"| column 6
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[[Lee Falk]]'s other comic strip, [[The Phantom]] had a corresponding development in size. It started spanning 6 columns in 1936, and 5 columns variant was added in 1939. In 1942 there was only 4 and 5 columns variant. A 3 columns variant was added in 1947. Then, from 1953 there was only the 4 and 5 columns variants.  
[[Lee Falk]]'s other comic strip, [[The Phantom]] had a corresponding development in size. It started spanning 6 columns in 1936, and 5 columns variant was added in 1939. In 1942 there was only 4 and 5 columns variant. A 3 columns variant was added in 1947. Then, from 1953 there was only the 4 and 5 columns variants.  


====Differences between the different variants====


Comparing the size ratio between the 6 column strip and original art by [[Phil Davis]], one find that the strips printed in the newspapers are slightly higher then the original art ''(fig. 1)'' in 1934. Comparing the 5 and 6 column variants of the Mandrake strip in 1935, one find that the 5 column variant is closest to the original art drawn by Phil Davis. The 6-column variant is stretched in height, as seen in the illustration below ''(fig. 2)''.  
Comparing the size ratio between the 6 column strip and original art by [[Phil Davis]], one find that the strips printed in the newspapers are slightly higher then the original art ''(fig. 1)'' in 1934. Comparing the 5 and 6 column variants of the Mandrake strip in 1935, one find that the 5 column variant is closest to the original art drawn by Phil Davis. The 6-column variant is stretched in height, as seen in the illustration below ''(fig. 2)''.  
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</gallery>
</gallery>


===KFS proof sheets===
====KFS proof sheets====
KFS distributed the strips in a form of proofs, with one week ''(Monday to Saturday)'' of run on each sheet. Each strip the same size as how it appeared in the newspapers.  
KFS distributed the strips in a form of proofs, with one week ''(Monday to Saturday)'' of run on each sheet. Each strip the same size as how it appeared in the newspapers.  
<gallery>
<gallery>

Revision as of 11:42, 16 July 2023

Newspapers - layout

Daily strips

In 1934 the size of newspapers in the United States were about 381 × 578 mm. And where each page was divided into eight[footnotes 1] columns.

The first Mandrake story was offered by KFS to the newspapers in a format spanning 6 columbs.

Newspaper page
column 1 column 2 column 3 column 4 column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8
Mandrake the Magician column 7 column 8

In 1935 the strips were offered in two variants, spanning 5 or 6 columbs, and in 1942 a 4 columbs variant was added.

Newspaper page
column 1 column 2 column 3 column 4 column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8
Mandrake the Magician column 7 column 8
Mandrake the Magician column 6 column 7 column 8
Mandrake the Magician column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8

By 1945 KFS offered the Mandrake daily stripes only as 4 or 5 columns, adding a 3 column variant in 1946. The 3 column variat was intended to be split in half. So that the last half of the strip came under the first half.

Newspaper page
column 1 column 2 column 3 column 4 column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8
Mandrake the Magician column 6 column 7 column 8
Mandrake the Magician column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8
Mandrake the
Magician
column 4 column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8

From 1954 KFS only offered the 4 columns variant.

Newspaper page
column 1 column 2 column 3 column 4 column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8
Mandrake the Magician column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8

Lee Falk's other comic strip, The Phantom had a corresponding development in size. It started spanning 6 columns in 1936, and 5 columns variant was added in 1939. In 1942 there was only 4 and 5 columns variant. A 3 columns variant was added in 1947. Then, from 1953 there was only the 4 and 5 columns variants.

Differences between the different variants

Comparing the size ratio between the 6 column strip and original art by Phil Davis, one find that the strips printed in the newspapers are slightly higher then the original art (fig. 1) in 1934. Comparing the 5 and 6 column variants of the Mandrake strip in 1935, one find that the 5 column variant is closest to the original art drawn by Phil Davis. The 6-column variant is stretched in height, as seen in the illustration below (fig. 2).

By the end of 1938 it looks like the 5 and 6 columns strips size ratio are identically, but compared to the original they seem significantly stretched in height (fig. 3).

By the end of 1942 the 4 and 5 columns variant are identically with the the original art, but the 4 columns are is slightly stretched in height, while the 5 columns variant are compressed in height (fig. 4).

In 1946 the 4 columns are slightly stretched in height compared with the original (?) art. The 5 columns variant now are reduced in height by cutting away the lower parts of the original (?) art. In the 3 columns variant are reduced in height by cutting away the lower parts, but not as much as seen for the 5 comlumns. In addition, each panel having more art on the sides of the panels (fig. 5).

The size of the column (where a column is about 1.83 inches (46 mm) wide) variants was in 1946 stated to:

  • 3c = 4 3/4 inch (= about 138 x 120,65 mm)
  • 4c = 2 7/16 inch (= about 184 x 61,91 mm)
  • 5c = 2 1/4 inch (= about 230 x 57,15 mm)

KFS proof sheets

KFS distributed the strips in a form of proofs, with one week (Monday to Saturday) of run on each sheet. Each strip the same size as how it appeared in the newspapers.


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Note

  1. 9 columns at pages with small ads
  2. *picture from PhantomRayMoore

Sources

  • information for the size and years of the Mandrake strips from "Editor and Publisher", Annual directory of features - Newspaper art features: years 1934-1942 and 1945-1976.

See also