Hi, this is Showkaku Sano. I recently played a DJ set at CLUB METRO in Kyoto. I don't often get invited to outside events, so I was a bit nervous going in, but it was interesting and fun to perform at a venue I'd been to as an audience member before.

Here are the updates for October. Similar to last month, I've continued focusing on how thumbnails appear on the homepage. To update your theme, please refer to the help guide, “Update the Theme.”

I’m on X and Instagram!

I’ve also been steadily posting on social media:

• On X, I share portfolio tips once or twice a week (down from 2-3 times)

• On Instagram, I post weekly photos that capture everyday moments with Lumina

If you haven’t followed yet, now’s a great time to check them out:

• X (Tips): https://x.com/sanographix

• Instagram (Photos): https://www.instagram.com/illustfolio_lumina/

Display Post Text on Thumbnails

When you hover over thumbnails on the homepage, the post text now appears at the bottom of the thumbnail.

When you post illustrations on Tumblr, you might add captions or notes. Until now, you couldn't read them without opening each post individually, but now you can see the beginning of the post text just by placing your cursor on the thumbnail.

For posts without text, only the image will display as before.

No special settings are needed—this feature will automatically activate when you update your theme to the latest version.

With this update, there's a much better chance that visitors will read your captions. Please take this opportunity to add a quick comment to your illustrations!

For the full update history, please check the release notes.

Short Story: Why a Well-Organized Portfolio Leads to Work

Today, I'd like to talk about the connection between "having a well-organized portfolio" and "getting work opportunities."

Many people might wonder, "Isn't organizing your portfolio just self-satisfaction? Does it really lead to work?"

However, through conversations with dozens of illustrators, I've learned something important: a well-organized portfolio actually increases your chances of getting work.

When clients visit a portfolio site, besides looking at your work, they're also evaluating something else: "Can I really trust this person with a job?"

This is where having a well-organized portfolio site helps convince them that "this person seems reliable."

"Well-organized" doesn't just mean design—it also includes having a clear "About" section that explains who you are, a "Contact" section showing how to reach you, and a "How to Commission" section explaining how the work process flows.

When this information is well-organized, it gives the impression that "this person will probably handle work professionally too."

If you've been unsure about the value of organizing your portfolio, don't worry. Please feel confident in building your site.

That’s it for this month’s newsletter! If you haven’t purchased the theme yet, you can get it here!

See you next time!