Thumbnail Critique-a-thon

[Yulek]

My aim:Convey that the plot revolves around angry old dude with a hint of magic. Also suits and ties. Give some kind of idea of the general complexity of the art. Here's my real question: I want people to know that the comic is in full color, does this show that? Is there any way to show that from a thumbnail?

I also think that the "magic" might get lost when it's thumb size ... so I think you can go bolger ... other than that I think I'S a very nice representation of your skills!

this is what i have currently:

I really like the colors!!

but it's hard to see much from a distance. the colors could make up for it tho bc it'S really striking

but for the figure In the schadow e.g. is reasier recognisable what it's supposed to show

I mainly was torn between this cover or changing this to an alternate? What do you think and which is better in a way more appealing? This is the alternate cover:

I am strongly for the second on e... the writing in the first one would be unreadable ... but maybe the first one witout any text might be good?

[Yulek]

omg I love you for this thread bc thumbnails are hell for me

my first:

my second:

my current one

my series is about a grumpy boy/loner that is totally fed up with people in general.
His family runs a spirit counselling bussiness which he thinks is just a scam..... he soon is about to be proven wrong :))

it's more of a slice of life/drama with one super natural element for now...
plus a pinch of romance and lgtbq+ friendly :3

I wan't the thumbnail to hint at that without spoinling too much

this is how the ghost actually looks

that's the series

Drop in the Ocean | Tapas

[paperwren]

I think the more dramatic stuff you were going for was more eye catching tbh. If you had a thumb with both the ghost in real form and the main character I don't think that's so much a spoiler as a hook, people will stick around because they want to know who the ghost is. Also if there is any romance between LGBTQ characters in this comic for the love of all that is good indicate it in your thumbnail people specifically look for that and want to know haha!! I totally get not wanting to give stuff away but I think it feels more like a give away to you because you know the characters, for the readers it just makes it a more intriguing mystery.

[Yulek]

more like

ohhh that makes sense! mext chap yurei will make his appearance, so I might as well use that as an opportunity to try my hand at a new thumbnail owo

and I wasn't sure about marking it as boys love bc that's not the point of the story but maybe you're right ^^

[imiogri]

Hey friends, you made me test out making a new thumbnail, just thought I should show haha

[paperwren]

FLIPPIN LOVE IT. You nailed it.

[Yulek]

so you could say they .... thumb-nailed it?

[JeanGuillet]

@paperwren and @Lia and @punkarsenic thanks for the advice! when three people say the same thing, can't argue with that! I think you're right, maybe if I want to show more magic I'll emphasize it more. ...I've been considering trying that site banner as a thumbnail, maybe I should!

[Buurd]

@Lia
Personally I like the colors of the first two thumbnails you shared more. I think there's just a bit too much/many baby blues in the current one. Between the ghost, the area of glow around the ghost, Collin's hair, and the general background - it's a lot of different shades at once in a small area.
Your first thumbnail uses a lot of blues as well, but I think it works well since they're less saturated and more uniform/monochromatic?
The different variations of blue might not be as noticeable on the site/app on smaller display though But blown up like this, that's just my 2 cents on what I noticed.
Overall though I like the thumbnail, I'm just being nit picky on colors haha ^^; I like the cute ghost, but as Paperwren mentioned, having the ghosts real design might help draw more readers in out of their curiosity. I like the lil' ghosty in the current thumbnail though, its cute and provides contrast for Collin being grumpy. So either work well.

---

Aim: Be obvious this is a red string of fate/soulmate based comic. Show that the MC's are close, but somethings holding the girl back.

Ketchup | Tapas

[paperwren]

@buurd Honestly pretty strong, in concept and execution and compostion. Triple whammy! My only critique would be that anatomy-wise the guy characters forehead looks kind of big and his earlobe meets his face at an odd spot; just feeling on my own face right now I think it should meet at the jawline. Maybe take this same concept and find a reference photo to nail the anatomy stuff? I have a terrible time with profile views and make the forehead/head to big mistake a lot haha

[DasIstWunderblyat]

@paperwren @Lia @punkarsenic

Thank you very much! I think I'll be using the second cover from now on

[Buurd]

Thank you for the feedback, I see what you mean
I've done a reboot of the comic with slightly different art, so if I end up taking time to redo this cover, I'll be taking your advice and working on that ear and head of his ^^

I struggle with profiles a lot too lmao, when I came up with the idea for the cover i was like ;o; why do i hate myself ??? (But hey, better to tackle things than avoid them, so i kept with it haha)

[JeanGuillet]

I really like your icon, it's spectacular, it does the job... but here's the thing....the art in your comic is even BETTER! I think the main thing that gave the wow factor for the comic was your great sense of atmospheric lighting. so maybe, including something like your backgrounds in the thumbnail might improve it? aside from that the previous anatomy critiques are correct and go for the comic as well, aren't people hard to draw? It's great though, subbed and look forward to what you do next!

[Yulek]

madea new one going by the feedback .. better or worse?

shoulo dI try to do something different? maybe pick up the water theme after all?

[Yulek]

second version idkkkkkk .... I need help

[paperwren]

Second version is better, I like the contrast! This is great actually, much more dynamic and interesting

If you want the lgbtq+ in there you could do it in white, I might make the font a little cleaner so it's easier to read scaled down though

[gh0stcr33p]

here's my thumbnail. it's supposed to showcase the two main characters, but with more emphasis on the protagonist. (the hand belonging to the antagonist) and the main object, the mirror.

I feel like this picture is outdated and I was thinking of replacing it with my new cover, but I don't know if I should do that or just make a new picture. (the image below if what I mean)

@monotone_ink I get that you want it to be known that your comic is done in a sketchy style, but when looking at it from far away (which is usually the only way someone will see it) it's kind of hard to tell what's in the picture. I think you should maybe cut down on the details such as the black sketchy lines (but not all of them) and maybe make the canvas smaller..

EDIT: since nobody responded to this I'll just use the new cover. I was really waiting just to see if it would be a good idea or not to use that but I haven't gotten any answers.

[Yulek]

thank you!!

Idk about the tag in the thumb ^^" I have mixed feelings but it got recommended so maybe I should

[JeanGuillet]

second version! great improvement by the way. much better contrast

[paperwren]

Do what feels right! No obligation to take advice if it doesn't feel like it fits