Photoabsorption spectra of graphitic ribbons (GR) and triangular graphitic flakes (TGF) are investigated by time-dependent density-functional theory calculations within a real-time scheme. Major peaks in the low-energy region of the spectra are attributed to the π-π^* electronic transitions. The peak of the strength function appears at 3.0 eV owing to π-π^* transitions via edge states for a TGF with hydrogen (H) termination and at 6.0 eV owing to π-π^* transitions at the Γ point for GR with H termination. Small structures in the strength function emerge at 0 ∼ 2 eV for both graphitic structures after extraction of H atoms. The new structures are found to originate from the electronic transitions between dangling-bond states. Thus, the present study shows that the electronic states unique to nanoscale graphitic structures can be captured in the optical absorption spectra. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2005.439]