Draw sound effects on your comic

What can I use if I don't have a black marker to trace the penciled letters?

If you don't have a black marker, trace the penciled letters with a dark ballpoint pen, a fine-tip felt pen, or thin black acrylic paint and a small brush so the word stays bold as in the tracing step.

My marker smudged before it dried—how can I fix or prevent smears when erasing pencil lines?

Prevent smears by following the instruction to let the marker dry completely (or speed drying with a hairdryer on low), then gently erase remaining pencil lines and use a clean white eraser to lift any smudges.

How can I adapt this activity for younger children or older kids?

For younger kids, simplify by offering pre-drawn thumbnail templates, thicker crayons and a larger panel for sketching and colouring, while older kids can design more complex thumbnails, refine expressive letter shapes, and experiment with colour gradients or digital editing before sharing.

What are some ways to enhance or personalize my finished sound-effect panel?

Enhance the panel by adding extra motion lines or action marks around the word, using metallic markers or textured paint when you colour the letters, gluing small craft embellishments for pop, or turning the sequence into a flipbook or GIF and sharing the finished panel on DIY.org.