The Application of Manual-Digital Mixed Media Techniques in the Design of Picture Books for Children
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Picture storybooks play an important role in supporting children's literacy because they combine text, illustrations, colors, characters, and storylines in an engaging manner. However, the dominance of digital illustrations can create a uniform visual appearance and diminish the presence of natural textures typically found in manual artwork. This research aims to explain the application of manual-digital mixed media techniques in the design of a children's picture storybook entitled Bubu si Kelinci Imut. The research employs a design method with a qualitative descriptive approach conducted through three stages: pre-production, production, and post-production. The pre-production stage includes the development of story concepts, narratives, mood boards, character designs, media selection, and storyboards. The production stage involves creating sketches and applying manual coloring techniques using watercolor on watercolor paper, after which the illustrations are scanned at a resolution of 300 dpi and digitally processed using Procreate. The post-production stage includes the preparation of typography, cover design, layouts, page numbering, and book mockups using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. The design results demonstrate that the manual-digital mixed media technique can produce illustrated storybooks with natural visual textures, more expressive colors, organized layouts, and print-ready finishes. This approach provides an alternative method for children's book design by combining the tactile qualities of traditional media with the flexibility and efficiency of digital technology.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mutiara Sani, Syakir
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