Guided View

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

For those of you that use comixology, do you read in guided view? Is that the best way to read comics? Can you see yourself reading a digital comic without guided view? I'd love to hear any viewpoints on it, both pro and con. So, please, share your feelings!

To me, it seems to be the industry standard. I read in guided view, although I go in and out. Is this what sets Comixology apart? Or is it merely a gimmick that's possibly unnecessary?
Thanks for any input!

[lorddunlow]

For those of you that use comixology, do you read in guided view? Is that the best way to read comics? Can you see yourself reading a digital comic without guided view? I'd love to hear any viewpoints on it, both pro and con. So, please, share your feelings!

To me, it seems to be the industry standard. I read in guided view, although I go in and out. Is this what sets Comixology apart? Or is it merely a gimmick that's possibly unnecessary?
Thanks for any input!

First to comment again - you're probably tired of hearing my opinions.

I personally don't like Guided View at all. If I'm reading on my phone, I might use it (ComicRack has a similar, but not nearly as well designed form of this) when I read on my phone, but I don't even do that now that I have a phone with a 5in screen. I prefer to see the whole page. I almost exclusively read on a 10in tablet screen which is almost the same size as a printed comic.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Do you then just manipulate with pinch zoom to get a little closer?
I'm just trying to gauge if it's worth our time to provide it on our app, or not waste time with it, at least initially. that's why I'd love to get as many replies as possible, although I do highly value yours Dunlow!

[jeremycoe]

I use guided view on my phone. If I'm on my kindle fire I'll usually view the comic full screen. I feel it's almost necessary on small screens. Constantly zooming in and out manually would be tedious.

[lorddunlow]

Do you then just manipulate with pinch zoom to get a little closer?
I'm just trying to gauge if it's worth our time to provide it on our app, or not waste time with it, at least initially. that's why I'd love to get as many replies as possible, although I do highly value yours Dunlow!

I usually don't have to do anything on my tablet. Very seldomly, the lettering is smaller on a panel or two, so I might zoom in, but overall, I don't notice a difference as I tend to read in bed with the tablet a little closer to my face than I would hold a book.

On the phone, I actually put it into landscape mode and read the top third, middle third, and bottom third (sucks for splash pages and forget getting the full effect of a 2-page spread). My phone held in landscape is actually the exact width of my Nook in portrait, so it works fairly well.

[bygranddesign]

I think guided view is crucial

It's a much better experience,IMO - especially if there are surprises panel to panel. If the whole page is presented to you - you end up sneaking a look at the bottom.

And if you don't like guided view (like that weirdo Dunlow .. I kid.. ) just give the option to turn it off. After I watch a guided page - I will a lot of times just tap to go off guided view for a moment and look at the page as a whole.

[BugsySig]

This is a tough question to answer. I very much prefer to take in the entire page as the artist and writer intended. However, reading word balloons and captions on a tablet, even with the retina display/HD/etc, can be difficult. On splash pages it's basically impossible. In those cases guided view is necessary.

On a computer monitor, however, it is large enough for me to read and take in the whole page. In that case, the screen image is often even larger than the printed comic.

All that being said, there are just some comics which read well in guided view. These tend to be the books with very basic page layouts. Those with more creative/innovative layouts read much better as a whole.

[hunter_peterson]

I absolutely hate guided view. It's a comic, not a storyboard! The pages are meant to be read as a whole. As for spoiling reveals... in good comics they're paced for the page turn. I basically think it turns the experience into something it isn't and completely ruins the format. Also, it always activates accidentally, which is doubly annoying. Zooming in is great, but that's all I need.

[hunter_peterson]

This is a tough question to answer. I very much prefer to take in the entire page as the artist and writer intended. However, reading word balloons and captions on a tablet, even with the retina display/HD/etc, can be difficult. On splash pages it's basically impossible. In those cases guided view is necessary.

On a computer monitor, however, it is large enough for me to read and take in the whole page. In that case, the screen image is often even larger than the printed comic.

All that being said, there are just some comics which read well in guided view. These tend to be the books with very basic page layouts. Those with more creative/innovative layouts read much better as a whole.

For splash pages I zoom in so that the page borders meet the screen ones and then scroll sideways, like your eye naturally does when reading. It works really well for me. And if fonts look difficult to read, you can always zoom on that point and continue reading.

[lorddunlow]

I absolutely hate guided view. It's a comic, not a storyboard! The pages are meant to be read as a whole. As for spoiling reveals... in good comics they're paced for the page turn. I basically think it turns the experience into something it isn't and completely ruins the format. Also, it always activates accidentally, which is doubly annoying. Zooming in is great, but that's all I need.

+1

[Rufusharley]

I like it because it keeps me from reading ahead. I actually focus on the panels more and notice things I might not see.

[ilzuccone]

Guided view all day long. By far a better experience. Iphone or ipad. The only thing that bugs me about comixology's guided view is it crops the panel even when its not necessary.

[ilzuccone]

Guided view all day long. By far a better experience. Iphone or ipad. The only thing that bugs me about comixology's guided view is it crops the panel even when its not necessary.

[bribri]

Yeah, guided view is great. Not only does it keep you from reading ahead, but it also helps reading in the correct order. I understand it's the job of the creators to lead you to the next bubble, but sometimes the eye wanders and reads them out of order.

I buy the books digitally and read with guided view first thing every Wednesday morning. In the afternoon I go to my LCS to pick up my floppies. I go through the paper copies again, which is when I get to appreciate the full-page art.

Best of both worlds.

[RogueJedi74]

I love guided view. I have no patience and my eyes wonder. There are times when I flip a page and literally scan everything before I read anything on the pages.

[bygranddesign]

Yeah, guided view is great. Not only does it keep you from reading ahead, but it also helps reading in the correct order. I understand it's the job of the creators to lead you to the next bubble, but sometimes the eye wanders and reads them out of order.

I buy the books digitally and read with guided view first thing every Wednesday morning. In the afternoon I go to my LCS to pick up my floppies. I go through the paper copies again, which is when I get to appreciate the full-page art.

Best of both worlds.

+1

[IanAlexavier]

+1 for guided view. Its not perfect but it works well for me. I like flipping my tablet on its side and having the picture large in front of me. As stated above, this helps me focus on one panel at a time. It does have its disadvantages though; page layout can be lost. I always look at the entire page first then hit the panels. Its takes a bit longer but with the way the books are written these days I like slowing it down so Im not finished in 4 minutes..

[Ramses818]

And I am so sorry for not responding sooner as I have meant to, but guided view is worthless for me. I don't use it at all I don't appreciate its benefits even. I'm very traditional and I like seeing the whole page in reading it myself and going through and looking at everything. I feel it's much more immersive experience and if the comic is really good I'll go back and read it another time or even multiples. But that's just my opinion and you asked for it! LOL

[lorddunlow]

And I am so sorry for not responding sooner as I have meant to, but guided view is worthless for me. I don't use it at all I don't appreciate its benefits even. I'm very traditional and I like seeing the whole page in reading it myself and going through and looking at everything. I feel it's much more immersive experience and if the comic is really good I'll go back and read it another time or even multiples. But that's just my opinion and you asked for it! LOL

+1