The comparison of the web showcase platforms for illustrators between the Western and Taiwan

[[abstract]]Abstract This research emphasizes on the keyword “Illustration” that was searched from the illustration related web showcase platforms on Internet. Recent years, the way to promote and showcase illustration has changed. By the development of new technology, it also has changed readers’ tastes, preferences, and purchase behaviors. It shows the signs of structural transformation in the publishing industry. For illustrators, because of lacking of the stages and opportunities to publish their works, the Internet platform since then becomes a newly formed media for illustrators to market and self-promote themselves. The purpose of this study is to encourage Taiwan’s illustrators to learn how to enhance their ability of showcase, self-promotion and marketing in the “without boundaries” Internet world. The subjects of this research are divided as follows: 1. To examine the types and formats of web showcase platforms for illustrators in the Western. 2. To examine the types and formats of web showcase platforms for illustrators in Taiwan. 3. To compare the difference of the types and formats of web showcase platforms between illustrators from the Western and Taiwan. 4. The change of illustrators in the digital era. Based on the result of this research, there are eight categories have been formed by appearing on the Internet websites from the Western and Taiwan. The eight categories are: Company websites, personal websites, information sharing websites, knowledge sharing websites, on-line purchase websites, gallery websites, search engine/index websites, and other websites. The quantities of company websites in the Western are 7.7% higher than in Taiwan; the quantities of personal websites in the Western are 20.5% higher than in Taiwan; the quantities of information sharing websites in the Western are 1.5% higher than in Taiwan; the quantities of knowledge sharing websites in the Western are 4.8% higher than in Taiwan; the quantities of search engine/index websites in Taiwan are 0.7% higher than in the Western; the quantities of gallery websites in the Western are 0.8% higher than in Taiwan; the quantities of on-line purchase websites in the Western are 3.1% higher than in Taiwan; the quantities of other websites in Taiwan are 1.1% higher than in the Western. The result of this study shows the platform of a personal website is extremely important to an illustrator in the Western. Illustrators in the Western often take the “without boundaries’ advantage on the Internet platform to showcase his/her own artworks; however, there are few illustrators in Taiwan to build their own personal websites for showcase purpose. In order to improve the disadvantage and to synchronize with the international community, and to increase personal reputation and exposure to display artworks in the Internet world, Taiwan’s illustrators should start to adopt the Internet platform and showcase their artworks. By this way, there can be more people to view and appreciate the works of Taiwan’s illustrators. The environment of Internet spreads out faster and faster nowadays, and there are more and more people form each household to surf on Internet at daily basis. For people who are interested in illustration can study from it while viewing on web, and a step forward, people can join the field to become an illustration agent who works in an agency to introduce artworks to the public, or simply to become a professional illustrator. Based on this, it can transform people’s behavior of web browsing from viewing experiences into a movement of participation. Internet will be an important media in the future, and illustrators should use the web showcase platforms to expand their chances of displaying illustration works as well.