Strip Designer
by Vivid Apps
Any mobile application that is utilized to create comic strips can be an excellent classroom tool for writing and story development. Students become engaged with creating a story and including images they take or images they find online. Research project outlines, book reports, and illustrating the school rules are just a few examples of how comic apps can be utilized to support writing. There are several good comic building apps aviable in the App Store. One of our favorite options is Strip Designer.  It allows students to create a full strip that includes multiple images as well as common comic effects. The app also offers a myriad of methods for exporting students’ work.

How It Works?

• Step 1: Tap on the “Create new” button to begin writing a new comic. Select a category and then a layout from the pop up menu.

• Step 2: Tap on one of the blank frames to add an image from the library or to draw a new one. Once the image is selected, pinch and drag to scale the image within the frame. Then repeat to fill the remaining frames.

• Step 3: Tap the filters button to add effects that mimic a comic book.

• Step 4: Tap the add icon to place text on within the comic page. Students can use text that fits within several different comic themed text boxes.

• Step 5: Students can create full comic books by tapping on the page button. A page panel appears on the left hand side and the plus icon adds new pages.

• Step 6: Tap on the share button in the top right hand corner and the app will show your comic in preview mode. Taping on the share icon will pull up the many exporting options for Strip Designer. Teachers can save the strip design file to work on the comic on other devices.

• Step 7: On the home page you may provide a title for your comic by tapping on the title underneath the tumbnail.

Cost and Platforms
Strip Designer is available for $2.99 in the Apple app store.

App Choice
Comic Touch is a free alternative for comic image creation.

Robert Heubach

Rober Heubach is the Creative Director for the Institute of Innovative Community Learning at the University West Florida. He has been currently working in classrooms as a technology consultant and experimenting with various new apps in instruction. Read more about Robert Heubach and the rest of the Class With Apps Team.