Template guide
Panel-by-panel breakdown
This is a single photo-plus-doodle image with no printed text: a real person stands beside a hand-drawn sketch of their inner self on the wall. Both halves are described below.
Photo
A young woman with a hair bun, a beige overshirt, white tee and loose blue jeans stands in a sunlit doorway. She holds one hand to her mouth, biting a fingertip, and leans back slightly as she looks into the room. An olive canvas bag hangs from her shoulder.
Doodle
On the plain white wall to her right, a life-size black pencil sketch of the same girl, same bun, overshirt, bag and sneakers, stands with feet planted wide. She holds a large shield at her side, smiles with her chin raised, and a sparkle and little motion strokes mark her confidence.
What you get
- Canvas
- 2:3
- Cast
- 1 character, replaceable with your own
- Type
- Doodle Shadow
- Common remixes
- Change the threshold / Change the armour / Make a series
Who this template suits
This template suits single characters facing a small brave moment: a first day, a job interview, a new class or a party where they know no one. The photo-and-doodle split shows the gap between how they feel and how they want to act in one frame, so it reads instantly. It fits motivation, self-growth and creative mixed-media accounts.
When it is not a good fit
It is not built for multi-panel plots or dialogue. It is one image and one feeling.
How to remix My Courage Goes In First
- 1Keep a plain white wall next to your character so the ink double stands out.
- 2Pose your character hesitating and draw the doodle in the brave pose, same outfit.
- 3Give the doodle one prop that stands for courage, such as a shield.
Ways to make it your own
Change the threshold
Put your character at an exam hall, a stage curtain or a hospital door instead of a room.
Change the armour
Give the doodle a sword, a cape or a megaphone instead of a shield.
Make a series
Pair it with the other doodle-shadow templates so the same character has a whole set of inner selves.
Questions about My Courage Goes In First
How do the two halves relate?
The photo is how the character feels; the doodle is the version of them that is ready. Keep the doodle wearing the same clothes so readers see it is the same person.
Is there text in the image?
No. The pose, the bitten finger and the shield say everything.
Does it need a white wall?
A plain, light wall is what makes the ink doodle readable, so keep the background simple.
