swipe file

plural swipe files

1. A collection of documents or templates (e.g. successful designs or marketing materials) used for future inspiration by creative professionals (cartoonists, graphic designers, copywriters, etc.).

   It’s well known among artists, art historians and just us plain ol’ comic fans that good ideas get borrowed from time to time. Most comic book artists keep a “swipe file,” clippings of people or fashions, cars, animals… whatever figure or thing a story might call for.

   2010, Mike Howlett, “The Sincerest Form of Flattery”, in The Weird World of Eerie Publications: Comic Gore That Warped Millions of Young Minds, Port Townsend, WA: Feral House, →ISBN, page 14