This is why most Japanese Manga are not colored
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Most manga books are not colored like Western comics for a few reasons:
- Tradition: The tradition of black-and-white manga dates back to the early days of manga when color printing was not yet available or was too expensive to be used for mass-market publications. Even after color printing became available, many manga artists and publishers chose to stick with the traditional black-and-white format because it was what readers were accustomed to, and it suited the style of the manga.
- Cost: Coloring a manga can be a time-consuming and expensive process, as it requires specialized software and equipment. Additionally, the cost of printing color comics is higher than that of printing black-and-white comics, which can be a significant factor for manga publishers and artists.
- Aesthetics: Some manga artists prefer the aesthetics of black-and-white art, as it allows them to focus on line work, shading, and other details that can be lost in color. They believe that the absence of color allows the readers to focus on the story and the art, and it gives them a lot of freedom to experiment with different styles and techniques.
- Cultural differences: In Japan, black-and-white comics are considered a legitimate art form and are widely accepted by the public, whereas in the West, color comics are more common. Therefore, most manga books are not colored like Western comics due to cultural differences and the way it is perceived in Japan.
There are some manga that are colored, especially in recent years, as the technology and costs have become more accessible and affordable. Additionally, some manga are published in color on digital platforms, such as webtoons and graphic novels.
