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September 5, 2025 12 min read

Publishing on Webtoon: Complete Guide to Webtoon Canvas

Learn how to publish your webtoon on Webtoon Canvas. Covers account setup, formatting requirements, uploading process, and tips for success.

Webtoon is the largest platform for vertical scroll comics, with millions of readers worldwide. Webtoon Canvas is their self-publishing tier where creators can upload original work, build audiences, and potentially get discovered for paid Originals status. This guide covers everything you need to successfully publish your webtoon.

Understanding Webtoon’s Structure

Webtoon Originals vs Canvas

Originals: Paid, professionally produced webtoons. Creators receive payment and editorial support. You can’t directly submit to Originals—discovery happens through Canvas success or specific calls for submissions.

Canvas: Self-publishing platform open to all creators. Free to publish, free to read. Your path to building an audience and potentially getting noticed for Originals.

Why Canvas?

Massive audience: Webtoon has 89+ million monthly active users
Discovery features: Genre browsing, recommendations, search
Monetization options: Ad revenue sharing, tipping
Originals pathway: Successful Canvas creators get approached for paid deals
Analytics: Track readers, subscribers, likes, and engagement

Account Setup

Creating Your Account

Go to Webtoon.com or download the app
Click “Log In” then “Sign Up”
Choose sign-up method (email, Google, Facebook, Apple, Twitter)
Verify your account through email
Complete your profile with username and profile image

Setting Up Your Creator Profile

Your creator profile matters—readers check it before subscribing:

Profile image: Use a memorable avatar or logo
Bio: Brief, engaging description of you and your work
Social links: Connect your other platforms
Creator name: Choose carefully—it’s hard to change later

Creating Your Series

Go to “Publish” in the menu (desktop) or tap “Publish” (app)
Click “Create New Series”
Fill in required information:
- Title: Clear, memorable, searchable
- Genre: Choose primary genre carefully (affects discoverability)
- Summary: 2-3 sentences hooking potential readers
- Thumbnail: The most important visual for attracting readers

Format Requirements

Image Specifications

Dimensions:

Width: 800 pixels (required)
Height: No hard limit, but episodes typically run 8,000-15,000 pixels
Maximum file size: 20MB per episode

Format: JPG or PNG

JPG for most content (smaller file size)
PNG for text-heavy panels or where compression artifacts would be noticeable

Resolution: Work at higher resolution (1600-2400px wide) and scale down. This gives cleaner final images.

Episode Length Guidelines

While there’s no strict limit, consider:

Minimum for meaningful story: 30-40 panels
Typical episode: 50-70 panels
Reader preference: Most readers expect 3-5 minute reads
Too short: Feels incomplete, frustrates readers
Too long: Can feel dragged out, harder to maintain quality

Thumbnail Requirements

Your thumbnail is crucial for clicks:

Dimensions: 436×436 pixels minimum (square)
Format: JPG or PNG
Best practices:
- Show your protagonist clearly
- Use eye-catching colors
- Include readable title text
- Avoid small details that won’t read at thumbnail size
- Match the tone of your series

Creating Episode Files

Preparing Your Episode

Create at working resolution (1600-2400px wide)
Export as single continuous image or multiple images that stack
Save at 800px width for upload
Check file size (under 20MB total per episode)

Export Settings

For JPG:

Quality: 85-95%
Color space: RGB
Resolution: 72 DPI (for web)

For PNG:

Use when JPG compression causes issues
Larger file sizes, so use selectively

Multiple Image Uploads

You can upload an episode as multiple images that stack vertically:

Maximum 100 images per episode
Images appear in upload order
Useful for very long episodes
Some creators prefer managing smaller files

Uploading Your Episode

Step-by-Step Upload

Go to your series page in the creator portal
Click “Create Episode”
Fill in episode details:
- Episode title: Clear and engaging
- Episode thumbnail: Can differ from series thumbnail
- Author’s note: Optional message to readers
Upload your images
Preview to check everything displays correctly
Choose to save as draft or publish

Scheduling

You can schedule episodes for future release:

Build a buffer of completed episodes
Maintain consistent publishing schedule
Schedule around peak reading times (varies by audience)

Save as Draft

Always have the option to save without publishing:

Review before going live
Build multiple episodes before starting series
Get feedback on drafts

Optimizing for Discovery

Choosing the Right Genre

Genre determines where your series appears in browsing:

Popular genres (high competition, large audience):

Romance
Fantasy
Action
Drama

Growing genres (less competition):

Thriller
Horror
Sci-Fi
Slice of Life

Pick the genre that honestly fits your story—misclassifying frustrates readers who expected something different.

Writing an Effective Summary

Your summary sells your series in 2-3 sentences:

Include:

Protagonist introduction
Central conflict or hook
Genre/tone indicators

Avoid:

Vague descriptions
Excessive worldbuilding detail
Spoilers
“Please read!” pleas

Example: “When a failing barista accidentally summons a demon bound to grant wishes, she discovers her coffee shop’s real problem isn’t just bad reviews—it’s the supernatural debt she’s inherited. Now she’s making lattes by day and dodging collectors from hell by night.”

Building Your Audience

Consistency Matters

Nothing kills a webtoon faster than irregular updates:

Set a realistic schedule you can maintain
Communicate delays in author’s notes
Build a buffer of completed episodes before launching
Weekly updates are expected for competitive genres

First Episode Hook

Your first episode determines whether readers subscribe:

Immediate engagement: Something interesting happens quickly
Protagonist introduction: Who are we following?
Promise of story: What kind of experience will readers get?
End on intrigue: Give reason to read next episode

Don’t spend the whole first episode on worldbuilding or backstory.

Author’s Notes

The note section at episode end lets you connect with readers:

Thank readers for support
Share behind-the-scenes content
Announce schedule changes
Ask for likes/subscribes (readers need reminders)
Keep it brief and genuine

Engaging with Comments

Readers comment—engage with them:

Reply to thoughtful comments
Thank readers for support
Avoid getting into arguments
Pin particularly good comments

Community building creates loyal readers who promote your work.

Monetization Options

Ad Revenue Program

Webtoon shares ad revenue with qualifying creators:

Requirements: 1,000 subscribers minimum
Payment: Based on page views and engagement
Payout: Monthly, with payment threshold

Creator Rewards (Tipping)

Readers can “tip” creators with coins:

Must opt into the program
Webtoon takes a percentage
Encourages direct reader support

Originals Discovery

Successful Canvas creators get approached for Originals:

Payment for episodes
Editorial support
Promotional resources
No guaranteed path—focus on making great content first

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting Without Buffer

Launching with one episode and no backlog means you’re creating under pressure from day one. Have at least 4-6 episodes ready before starting.

Inconsistent Updates

Readers expect reliability. A month of weekly updates followed by three weeks of silence loses subscribers.

Poor Thumbnail

Your thumbnail is your advertisement. If it’s unclear, ugly, or doesn’t represent your series, you’re losing readers before they start.

First Episode Overload

Don’t dump all your worldbuilding, every character, and complete backstory into episode one. Hook readers, then develop.

Ignoring Mobile Experience

Most Webtoon reading happens on phones. Test your work on mobile—text readability, panel pacing, image loading all matter.

Generic Art Style

Standing out among thousands of series requires visual distinctiveness. Develop your style; don’t just imitate popular creators.

Analytics and Improvement

Understanding Your Stats

Canvas provides analytics:

Views: Total episode opens
Subscribers: People following your series
Likes: Episode engagement
Comments: Reader interaction

Watch for patterns:

Which episodes perform best?
Where do readers drop off?
What triggers subscription increases?

Iterating Based on Data

Use analytics to improve:

If engagement drops, examine that episode critically
If subscribers spike after certain episodes, identify what worked
Comment themes reveal what readers want more (or less) of

Alternative Platforms

While Webtoon is dominant, consider cross-posting:

Tapas: Similar format, different audience
Lezhin: Premium/mature content focus
GlobalComix: Manga-friendly formatting
Webtoon Canvas + your own site: Maintain ownership

Cross-posting expands reach but requires managing multiple platforms.

Getting Started Checklist

Before launching on Canvas:

At least 4-6 episodes completed (buffer)
Series thumbnail (436×436, eye-catching)
Episode files at correct specifications (800px wide)
Compelling series summary written
Genre selected (researched competition)
Relevant tags identified
Publishing schedule determined
Mobile preview tested
First episode hooks readers effectively

The Long Game

Success on Webtoon takes time:

Most successful series built audiences over 50-100+ episodes
Consistency trumps viral moments
Community engagement compounds
Quality improvement is visible and appreciated

Focus on making your best work, engaging your readers, and showing up consistently. The audience builds from there.

Want to create webtoons with collaborative tools and AI assistance? Multic helps creators build visual stories with node-based storytelling and built-in generation tools.