Flipbook Size and Guideline

Flipbooks, which are a type of booklet that you can use to display simplistic animations by quickly flicking through the pages, have been around for several decades now. It was first invented in 1868 that regular people could use to come up with primitive animation, and today, the hobby has grown to become even more complex than originally imagined.

There is no single size when it comes to flipbooks. However, the size that you can purchase is that of the standard index card, which is 3 × 5 inches. In fact, the smaller the flipbook, the easier it will be to rapidly flip through the pages to produce simplistic animations.

If you’d like to learn more about flipbooks, you’ve come to the right place. In this brief guide, I’ll discuss flipbooks in greater detail and how you can go about creating your own flipbook.

What Is a Flipbook?

A flipbook is a type of booklet that usually comes with 20 pages. The purpose of a flipbook is for the user to draw single images on every sheet before rapidly flipping through the pages. Consider each page to be a “frame” in the overall animation, which you can see when quickly flipping from the front of the booklet to the very end.

Flipbooks have become increasingly more complex over time. In the beginning, they would be a simple source of entertainment for children to come up with primitive drawings, but today, there are entire communities dedicated to the hobby.

So, if you’re interested in trying your hand out in animation, you should give flipbooks a try.

How to Create a Flipbook

The single most important thing about flipbooks is that they don’t use regular letter-size or A4 paper, though it is a possibility. The flipbook should have several thick sheets—ideally cardstock—which will make it easier to flip through.

Knowing this, you can construct a flipbook by following the steps detailed below.

1. Get a small stack of paper that measure around 3 × 5 inches. The more sheets you have, the more complex your animation will turn out. On average, flipbooks will contain a minimum of 20 pages.
2. Draw a single image on every sheet of paper, making sure there are slight differences from one page to the next. The purpose is to give the final product a smooth animation-like appearance as you rapidly flick through the pages.
3. Repeat the previous step until you’ve filled all of the cardstock in your flipbook. You can add more cardstock before adding a binder to the back page of the flipbook to hold the pages in place.
4. Add color to your images. This is optional but will add a level of realism to the final animation.
5. Bind the sheets of paper together. You can use a simple binder clip or even a staple.
6. Finally, quickly flip through the pages.

Can You Make a Digital Flipbook?

Yes, you can. You can use Google Slides to create a digital flipbook if you’re unfamiliar with more conventional forms of animation.

The digital flipbook can be as simplistic or as complex as you’d like. You might also want to take advantage of the various animations features available in PowerPoint, Google Slides, or similar apps.