Tapas icon for comic

[snackbagstudios]

Hello fellow creators!

I have a question for all of you
For our thumbnail we have a more abstract thumbnail, but I see that almost everyone have a picture of their characters in some way.

I want to hear, what would make you more likely to click on our comic:
The icon we have now:

Or something more like this:

This would of course be colored, in the style that match the comic.

I already know the pros and cons with both:
The first stand more out, but does not tell a lot about the comic
The second you get a feel of what the style of the comic is, and can see the characters and if you like them.

Thank you so much for your help!

Best regards Heidi from the Snackbag team

(you can check out the comic here: https://tapas.io/series/WayfindersOffCourse)

[darthmongoose]

I really like the boat one... but I think more people would click on the face one. People always focus on faces, it's a scientifically provable thing, hence so many mobile game icons have faces on, even if the game has little to do with characters, and youtube thumbnails often feature a person's face with an extreme expression.

That said. as a warning, within the next few weeks/month or two, the whole site will be switching from square thumbnails to full covers, even non-premium comics. So I wouldn't recommend putting too much work into a thumnail right now. It might be better to use the one you have completed as a stop-gap and making a full cover.

[snackbagstudios]

Thanks!
We always have the big with the boat for the switch to big covers!
Thanks for your reply! We might shift to the one with the faces, at least for a while just to try it out!

[silverraven0]

I actually really like the boat cover! It looks more polished and pretty in aesthetic. It is different For each person, but I would more likely go with the first cover, assuming the theme for the comic is the same with what I see from the cover.

[Kaylim]

I think people in general like faces but I really like thumbnails that imply some moody aesthetic so I really like the boat one. I like to know as much as possible about what a comic or book is about (but I'm also the type of person to read the endings of books before starting them so lol).

[snackbagstudios]

Thank you so much for your thoughts!
It is nice, and we also like it a lot, but it is just seeing everyone else haveing the pretty covers of their cast!

[snackbagstudios]

Makes sense! I am the same!

[unknown_user]

Second. It's nice to see how the characters of comics look like. It gives more information.

[vothnthorvaldson]

I think it's likely that the one with the faces will bring more traffic BUT the boat one is really, really good, so if you don't use it as an icon, use it in another way. It really should not be put aside, that's a great illustration. If Tapas was not so difficult with inserting pages afterwards, I would even advise it as the first page/cover (could still be added in the first update just before the chapter 1 title page, though). I think clicking on the icon with the character's faces and getting directed to that great boat illustration would the the best way to keep potential readers interested (in my opinion).

[jensrichard77]

Well. I will say it like this:
I like to look at the boat. But I will click on the face

[jimena]

The icon it's the first impression of potencial new readers, you want your icon to POP out. When I was drawing my icon I got the advice to screenshot the main page, I don't know, the trending chart section, and photoshop your icon in one of the titles there and see:
is it atractive? does you eyes are driven to it? is it clear? you can "guess" what is it about? is it comedy drama or fantasy?
Faces are more atractive to the human eye BUT the boat is really artistic and beautiful! I love the colors and the texture! I would click it ahhh

[jimena]

the whole site will be switching from square thumbnails to full covers, even non-premium comics.

wha? really?

[darthmongoose]

Yeah, it was in an email but a lot of us seemed to miss it. They're due to be implemented "mid march" so... err... I guess.. they're a bit late, but probably soon? And then the square ones will be phased out after a couple of months or so?