Page images on
This Wiki are often made by combining several different pictures, either as multiple frames or a collage. Sure it would be nice if every trope could be shown with a single
canon picture
* (even if the single picture itself has multiple panels, such as a comic)
, but while it's actually pretty common, it doesn't always happen. Therefore we find times when a trope is better illustrated by a Multi-Part Picture.
Some common reasons for using a Multi-Part Picture include:
- To show examples in several works: Many tropes are widespread, so sometimes it's a good way to show its popularity or range.
- To show several examples in a single work: Some tropes are about something with multiple elements, but it's not often they shown in the same frame, or not in a way that makes a good picture (such as not shrinking well in cluttered pictures). So we make pictures of the elements from several parts of the work.
- To show "before" and "after": Using more than one frame is effective, when a single image does not show both cause and effect, or the trope involves the passage of time.
- To compare or contrast elements: Many tropes involve a comparison between two things. We do this when those things don't appear together in the same frame.
- To show a sequence of events: When a trope involves an action of some sort, it may have problems being shown in a still frame. Multi-panel comics are frequently the answer, and another option is to put together a sort of "comic strip" from pictures in other media.
Although
Multi-Part Pictures can be a useful way to illustrate a trope, there are some caveats. A common problem is including frames that add almost nothing that the other frames already show. Such frames should be removed.
* even if the result leaves a single frame
Ways you can tell include:
- If a sequence can be shown in X number of frames, then any that just show more of that sequence are extraneous. Any extra frame should show some extra information.
- Extra frames are bad when they show basically the same thing as other frames.
- If illustrating the trope is compromised when the frames are shrunken down. If six frames look good at 300 pixels wide each, but not so good at 150 pixels wide, then it might be best just to go with one to three frames at the larger size.
Compare
Split-Screen Reaction,
Before and After Pictures.
No Examples, Please. This just describes the concept.