How to make a good thumbnail -- For non designers?

JojoMasterofDojo 2018-08-17 09:39:06 UTC #1

I cannot graphic design or draw.

At all.

(that is the extent of my image editing skills)

My thumbnails take awhile to get because I ask for permission of the artists to use it, and sometimes there is a really good picture that I want for my thumbnail but can't get it because I cannot find the artist. For writers/comic writers out there who have a similar problem, what do you do to circumvent this? Use a specific software? Get someone else to do it? Please let me know!

VibrantFox 2018-08-17 10:06:11 UTC #2

I've known some people who take steps to commission an artist for one and in other cases resort to sites like Unsplash or similar photo sites which allow you to use images for free. I think it depends on what a person is looking for in terms of style or appearance. There's another site too that I've heard of people using to edit images but I can't recall what it was.

Also in terms of looking up the original creator of an image I know that TinEye can be fairly effective, it's just a matter of checking and double checking.

Wumbl 2018-08-17 10:27:39 UTC #3

I'd recommend finding a site that hosts free stock! That way you don't have to search for permission because the site themselves have sorted it out for you. I can't think of any off the top of my head but there's a whole range of image services that will handle all of it for you - some are paid services and some are free. Then you can use something like photoshop, SAI, medibang etc. to edit them into something you can work with.

Photoshop and SAI can cost money - you can find free versions of SAI though if you do some looking. Medibang is completely free as far as I know and it's a fine program for drawing and editing from what people have said about it.

eulie 2018-08-18 00:20:26 UTC #4

I just signed up for Tapas and made my first project - Tapas recommends Canva. Some of the images on it are paid, but there are plenty of free ones and I figured out the interface everything went quickly. I really like the website. Thanks, Tapas!