Adjunct Instructor – Comics Studio: Digital Tools & Techniques

Columbus College of Art & Design•Columbus, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) invites applications for a Part-Time Adjunct Instructor to teach Comics Studio: Digital Tools & Techniques (COMC3300) within the Comics & Narrative Practice program. This position requires on-campus instruction and active engagement with students in a studio-based learning environment. This class explores digital tools and methods for creating sequential art. Students create digital assets specific to comics, build technical skills in flatting and coloring comic line art, practice approaches to digital lettering, and learn to prepare comic art for print to industry standards. Additionally, students will examine how these techniques are used by professionals in both historical and contemporary contexts. This is an in-person on campus course. Digital Tools & Techniques establishes and broadens the practices of comics making that rely on digital workflows. Junior-level students with a basic understanding of Photoshop and InDesign will perform exercises to expand their understanding of the programs' capabilities and specific uses within the comics industry. Emerging programs like Clip Studio Paint will be explored for their comic-focused workflows, and all outcomes will be aimed at producing print-ready comics as well as digitally-native comics. Particular emphasis is placed on professional production standards. Students will learn the process of digital flatting for comics printing, including color separation workflows, layer organization, and best practices for collaborative work. The course also covers preparing comics files for professional print production, including bleed setup, trim and live areas, CMYK conversion, resolution requirements, file packaging, and printer-ready PDF export. Faculty applying to teach this course should have demonstrated experience in digital flatting processes and comprehensive knowledge of preparing comics files for commercial print production. The course is not intended to explore basic animation, coding, or other digital-specific avenues of comic storytelling.

Requirements

BA or BFA required
Demonstrated expertise in comics theory, narrative structure, and visual storytelling
Demonstrated expertise with digital comics-making software, including Photoshop, ClipStudio Paint, and InDesign
Basic understanding of Photoshop and InDesign (for students)

Nice To Haves

MFA preferred
A minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in comics creation or a closely related field
Evidence of effective teaching or mentoring experience in art and design education preferred
Demonstrated experience in digital flatting processes
Comprehensive knowledge of preparing comics files for commercial print production

Responsibilities

Teach Comics Studio: Digital Tools & Techniques (COMC3300)
Provide on-campus instruction
Actively engage with students in a studio-based learning environment
Explore digital tools and methods for creating sequential art
Guide students in creating digital assets specific to comics
Build students' technical skills in flatting and coloring comic line art
Instruct students on approaches to digital lettering
Teach students how to prepare comic art for print to industry standards
Examine how digital techniques are used by professionals in historical and contemporary contexts
Expand students' understanding of Photoshop and InDesign capabilities and specific uses within the comics industry
Explore emerging programs like Clip Studio Paint for comic-focused workflows
Ensure all outcomes are aimed at producing print-ready comics as well as digitally-native comics
Teach the process of digital flatting for comics printing, including color separation workflows, layer organization, and best practices for collaborative work
Cover preparing comics files for professional print production, including bleed setup, trim and live areas, CMYK conversion, resolution requirements, file packaging, and printer-ready PDF export