BlankComic can export your comic in three formats: PNG, PDF, and SVG. Each has a different purpose, different quality characteristics, and different file size implications. Choosing the wrong one can mean blurry print output, oversized web files, or text that becomes uneditable. This guide walks you through each format so you can always pick the right one.
The Three Export Formats
PNG is a pixel-based (raster) format. BlankComic renders your page at your chosen resolution scale and saves it as a flat, lossless image. Every pixel is captured exactly — no compression artefacts. It's the most compatible format and works everywhere: print shops, social media, websites, and messaging apps.
Use 2× for web. At 2× scale on an A4 page that's approximately 1654×2339 pixels — sharp on any screen including Retina displays. Use 3× for professional print — approximately 2481×3508 pixels at 300 DPI, which is the standard professional print resolution.
PDF is the industry standard for print-ready documents. BlankComic's PDF export bundles all your pages into a single file, preserving page order and margins. This is what you send to a print-on-demand service, a publisher, or a printer when producing a physical comic book or zine.
PDF supports vector elements and embedded fonts, so text stays crisp at any print size. However, BlankComic's PDF export renders at high resolution rather than pure vector, which means the file size will be larger for very long comics.
SVG is a vector format: it describes shapes mathematically rather than as pixels. This means an SVG file looks crisp at any size — from a thumbnail to a billboard — with no loss of quality. It's also a surprisingly small file size for panels that are mostly flat color and shapes.
Best use case: embedding your comic directly in a website, where the browser renders the SVG natively. It's also useful if you want to further edit the panels in a vector editor like Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator. Avoid SVG for most print shops — they generally prefer PDF or high-resolution PNG.
Quick Comparison
| Use Case | Best Format | Resolution Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Posting on Instagram / Twitter | PNG | 2× (150 DPI) |
| Sharing via email or messaging | PNG | 1× or 2× |
| Embedding on a website | SVG or PNG | SVG (native) / PNG 2× |
| Home printing (inkjet) | PNG | 2× or 3× |
| Professional print (print shop) | PDF or PNG | 3× (300 DPI) |
| Print-on-demand comic book | High (automatic) | |
| Further editing in Illustrator | SVG | — |
| Archiving your project | .blank file | — |
PNG, PDF, and SVG exports are one-way — you can't re-open them in BlankComic and keep editing. Always save your project as a .blank file (File → Save Project) before exporting. This is your editable master file.
Resolution Deep Dive
BlankComic exports PNG at a pixel scale multiplier: 1×, 2×, or 3×. Here's what that means in practice for an A4-sized page:
- 1× (72 DPI equivalent) — ~827×1169 px. Suitable for very small web thumbnails only. Will look blurry on modern screens.
- 2× (150 DPI equivalent) — ~1654×2339 px. Sharp on all screens, good for web and social sharing. Fine for basic home printing.
- 3× (300 DPI equivalent) — ~2481×3508 px. Professional print standard. What you need for print shops, publishers, and anything that will be reproduced physically.
BlankComic exports in sRGB color space, which is standard for screens. If your print shop requires CMYK, you'll need to convert the exported PNG or PDF in software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP before submitting. Most modern home printers and print-on-demand services accept sRGB without conversion.
Summary: When to Use What
- PNG 2× — Web, social media, email. Your everyday export.
- PNG 3× — Anything that will be printed physically.
- PDF — Multi-page print-ready comic books, zines, or submissions to publishers.
- SVG — Web embedding, further vector editing.
- .blank file — Always. Your editable master project.