baoyu-skills/skills/baoyu-comic/references/styles/classic.md

classic

Traditional Ligne Claire, balanced and timeless

Style Guidelines

Line Work

• Uniform, clean outlines with consistent weight (approximately 2px)
• No hatching or cross-hatching for shading
• Sharp, precise edges on all elements
• Black ink outlines on all figures and objects
• Shadows indicated through flat color areas, not line techniques

Character Design

• Slightly stylized/cartoonish characters with realistic proportions
• Distinctive, recognizable facial features
• Expressive faces with clear emotions
• Period-appropriate clothing with attention to detail
• Consistent character appearance across panels

Background Treatment

• Detailed, realistic backgrounds with architectural accuracy
• Period-specific props and technology
• Clear spatial depth and perspective
• Environmental storytelling through details
• Contrast between simplified characters and detailed backgrounds

Color Palette

• Primary: Clean blue (#3182CE), red (#E53E3E), yellow (#ECC94B)
• Skin: Warm tan (#F7CFAE)
• Background: Light cream (#FFFAF0), sky blue (#BEE3F8)

Color Approach

• Flat colors without gradients (true to Ligne Claire tradition)
• Limited palette per page for cohesion
• Colors support narrative mood
• Consistent lighting logic within scenes

Quality Markers

A good Ligne Claire comic page exhibits:

• ✓ Clean, uniform line weight throughout
• ✓ Flat colors without gradients
• ✓ Detailed backgrounds, stylized characters
• ✓ Clear panel borders and reading flow
• ✓ Hand-drawn text style
• ✓ Period-appropriate details
• ✓ Expressive but consistent characters
• ✓ Proper perspective in environments

Best For

Educational content, balanced narratives, biography comics