Set The Action! Creating Backgrounds For Compel... May 2026

– Covers gaining perspective and laying out action.

by Elvin A. Hernandez is a highly-regarded instructional guide that positions the environment as a "silent character" in visual narratives. Book Overview Set the action! Creating Backgrounds for Compel...

The book is structured into three "Acts" that take the reader from foundational concepts to advanced scene design: – Covers gaining perspective and laying out action

This book is best suited for who already have a handle on character design but struggle to ground those characters in a believable world. It is a valuable "missing piece" for visual storytellers looking to master staging and composition. Book Overview The book is structured into three

: Techniques for making environments reflect their inhabitants (e.g., a messy character should live in a messy home).

: A special comic book sequence created for the book guides readers through do's and don'ts of background design. Critical Reception