How to make a
webtoon.

1. 01

   Plan the story and characters

   Webtoon episodes typically run 40-80 panels each and live in a vertical scroll. That format changes storytelling — you have more room to pace a single moment (a character turning around can span 4 panels), and readers scroll rather than turn pages. Write a rough script or scene-by-scene outline before drawing anything. For a first episode, aim for one clear story beat: a meeting, a conflict, a decision. Cast up to 5-6 named characters at most; more than that and readers struggle to keep them straight in a mobile-scroll experience.

2. 02

   Set up the canvas

   The standard webtoon canvas is 800 pixels wide by 1280 pixels tall per section. Episodes are longer than a single section — you'll stack multiple 800×1280 sections vertically into one long file, or work on one very tall canvas (4,000-15,000 pixels tall is normal for a full episode). RGB color mode, 72 DPI for web. WEBTOON Canvas accepts PNG, JPG, and animated GIF for episodes; individual episode files max around 20 MB. Draw at 2× the target size (1600px wide) if you want future-proof resolution.

3. 03

   Choose your tool path

   Three options: draw it yourself in a comic tool, use AI to generate panels, or combine both. Traditional drawing gives full artistic control but takes weeks per episode. AI generation gives speed at the cost of some fine-grained control. Hybrid workflows are common — many creators draw characters manually then use AI for backgrounds or vice versa. Skilled artists should choose Clip Studio Paint or Procreate. Creators who can't or don't want to draw should choose an AI comic tool. Neither is wrong.

4. 04

   Create your episode

   Traditional workflow: script → thumbnails → linework → color → letters → export. AI-assisted workflow: prompt the story beat → generate character-consistent panels → refine specific panels → compose vertical layout → add speech bubbles → export. Common beginner mistakes to avoid: text too small to read on phones (aim for at least 30px font size), panels too tall to read in one scroll, character faces drifting between panels, and forgetting to add narrative gutters (empty space) between story beats. Read your finished episode on your phone before publishing.

5. 05

   Publish and promote

   The largest English-language platform is WEBTOON Canvas — free to sign up, self-publish, upload episodes directly. Tapas is the strong indie alternative with better creator support. Your own site works if you already have an audience. Whichever you pick, publish consistently: weekly episodes build subscriber momentum in a way that irregular uploads don't. Promote outside the platform: TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit's r/webtoons and r/comics. Ad revenue on Canvas requires reaching subscriber and view thresholds — see the publishing section below for details.

1. 1

   Create your creator account

   Canvas: sign up at webtoons.com and enable creator mode. Tapas: sign up at tapas.io and click “Publish”. Both are free and instant. Both let you self-publish without editorial review.

2. 2

   Set up your series page

   Upload a cover thumbnail (Canvas: 300×300px minimum; higher is better). Write a 1-2 sentence series description that works as an elevator pitch. Choose a genre. Pick 3-5 tags that a reader searching your genre would use.

3. 3

   Format your episode file

   Canvas needs 800px width, PNG or JPG, under ~20MB per episode. If your episode file is one long image, that's fine — Canvas will slice it into scrollable sections automatically. If it exceeds 20MB, split into multiple images and upload in order.

4. 4

   Upload the episode

   Click “Add Episode”, drag the file(s) in. Add an episode title, an author's note if you want, and either publish now or schedule for later. Scheduled release matters more than most beginners realize — training readers to expect your update at the same time each week builds subscribers.

5. 5

   Promote outside the platform

   Discovery inside Canvas is competitive — new series get buried fast. Real growth comes from posting on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and r/webtoons or r/comics on Reddit. A single 30-second promo clip on TikTok can drive more first subscribers than a month of algorithmic Canvas discovery.

Hybrid workflows are common and legitimate. Many creators draw characters manually and use AI for backgrounds, or vice versa. Some script and layout manually then generate panels. The tools are not mutually exclusive — pick what fits per project.

Do I need to know how to draw to make a webtoon?

Traditionally, yes — most webtoons are hand-drawn by artists using tools like Clip Studio Paint or Procreate. Since 2024, AI-assisted tools like TaleAtelier let you generate multi-panel comics with consistent characters from text prompts. If you can't or don't want to draw, AI-assisted is a legitimate path. The output is different from a skilled human artist's work but publishable.

What canvas size should I use for a webtoon?

800 pixels wide by 1280 pixels tall per section, RGB color mode, 72 DPI. Episodes are longer than one section — you stack multiple 800×1280 sections into one long vertical file, typically 4,000-15,000 pixels tall total. Draw at 1600px width if you want to future-proof for higher-resolution displays. WEBTOON Canvas accepts PNG, JPG, or animated GIF, up to about 20 MB per episode file.

How long is a webtoon episode?

Typically 40-80 panels, which works out to 4,000-15,000 pixels tall when stacked vertically. Reader expectations: 5-10 minutes of scrolling per episode. Shorter episodes (30-40 panels) are fine for slice-of-life or gag comics. Longer episodes (60-80 panels) fit narrative arcs with more character development. Consistency matters more than exact length — pick your pace and hold it across your run.

Where can I publish a webtoon for free?

WEBTOON Canvas (Naver-owned, largest English audience) and Tapas (Kakao-owned, indie-friendly) both let you self-publish for free with no editorial gate. Uploading is instant. Both platforms have ad-revenue sharing programs you can opt into once you meet subscriber thresholds. You can also publish on your own site or on Patreon, though those require building an audience yourself.

Can AI make a full webtoon episode?

Yes. AI comic tools like TaleAtelier generate multi-panel sequences with character consistency across every panel — meaning the same character keeps the same face, outfit, and identity from panel 1 to panel 80. You still make creative decisions (story, panel choices, dialogue), but the drawing labor is generated. Expect 1-3 hours per episode with AI, versus 40-100 hours traditionally.

Do webtoons make money?

Top-tier Canvas and Tapas creators earn substantial income from ad revenue, tipping, and Patreon. Median earnings are much lower — most independent creators earn under $100/month unless they hit sustained audience growth. WEBTOON Canvas reduced its payout minimum to $25 in 2026, easier to reach. Realistic expectation: treat first-year webtoon work as building an audience, not a paycheck.

What's the difference between a webtoon and a manhwa?

Webtoon is a format — vertical-scroll comics designed for mobile reading, originated in Korea. Manhwa is the Korean word for comic, used for any Korean-origin comic in any format (print or digital). Many manhwa ARE webtoons, but not all webtoons are manhwa (a French creator publishing on Canvas is making a webtoon, not manhwa). The terms often get used interchangeably in English, but strictly, manhwa refers to origin and webtoon refers to format.

How long does it take to make a webtoon episode?

Traditional drawing: 40-100 hours per episode for a first-time creator. Experienced webtoon artists often work in a team (writer, penciller, colorist, letterer) to hit weekly deadlines. AI-assisted: 1-3 hours per episode after character setup, though the setup itself takes an hour or two the first time. Weekly publishing is the industry standard; monthly is manageable for solo creators.