So You Want to Make a Doujinshi
Making your first doujinshi is one of the most rewarding creative experiences you can have. Whether it's a 12-page fan comic, an original short story, or a small art book, the process of bringing something from idea to physical object is genuinely magical. This guide walks you through each stage.
Step 1: Plan Your Work
Before you draw a single panel, spend time on planning. Ask yourself:
- What's the concept? Fan work or original? Genre? Tone?
- How long will it be? Shorter is better for your first project. Aim for 8–24 pages.
- Who's your audience? Are you making this for yourself, for friends, or to sell at an event?
- What format? A5 is the standard. Decide on black-and-white vs. full color early, as it impacts printing costs significantly.
Step 2: Write a Script or Storyboard
Even a rough outline helps enormously. For manga, create a nemu (ネーム) — a rough page-by-page breakdown with panel layouts, dialogue, and action. It doesn't need to be polished. The goal is to work out pacing before you commit to finished art.
Step 3: Create Your Artwork
You can work traditionally (pen on paper, then scan) or digitally. Popular tools among doujin creators include:
- Clip Studio Paint — The industry standard for manga. Affordable, with templates for doujinshi pages.
- Procreate — Popular for illustration-heavy works and art books on iPad.
- Krita — A powerful free alternative for digital art.
Set your canvas to 350 dpi or higher for print quality. Use standard print trim sizes — A5 is 148mm × 210mm, but always add bleed (3mm extra on each edge) per your print shop's guidelines.
Step 4: Set Up Your Print File
Print preparation is where many first-timers get tripped up. Key things to know:
- Bleed — Extend background colors and art 3mm beyond the trim line so there are no white edges after cutting.
- Safe zone — Keep important content (text, faces) at least 3–5mm inside the trim line.
- Color mode — Use CMYK for color prints. RGB looks different when printed.
- Spine width — If your book is thick enough for a spine, your printer will calculate this based on page count and paper weight.
Step 5: Choose a Print Service
In Japan, specialist doujin printers offer excellent quality, competitive pricing, and understand the format inside out. Popular choices include:
| Printer | Known For |
|---|---|
| 栄光 (Eikoh) | Event-timed packages, beginner-friendly |
| 印刷の森 (Insatsu no Mori) | Affordable, good quality for small runs |
| ポプルス (Popls) | Fast turnaround, wide format options |
| グラフィック (Graphic) | Online ordering, good for color work |
Outside Japan, services like Mixam or PrintNinja are popular for Western creators making doujinshi-style books.
Step 6: Set a Price and Sell
If you're selling at an event, research what similar works are priced at. Most all-ages doujinshi sell for ¥300–¥1,000 depending on page count, color, and production quality. The goal for many first-timers is simply to cover printing costs rather than make a profit.
For digital sales, Booth (by Pixiv) and DLsite are the standard platforms. Booth is especially creator-friendly with low fees and a good discovery system.
The Most Important Step: Just Start
Perfectionism is the enemy of finished work. Your first doujinshi doesn't need to be your best — it needs to exist. Every creator whose work you admire once made a rough, imperfect first book. Make yours, hold it in your hands, and feel the pride of having created something real.