Pictsquare is a great site for hosting and attending doujin events digitally. All you need is a Pictsquare account! It's easy to do, and if you're only visiting events, all you need is to wait for the event to open and the links to enter on the day.

If you're exhibiting, there's a bit more to it.

NOTE: Direct links to Pictsquare assumes you've already logged in, as they'll bring up errors if logged out.

For starters, you can only change the language at the top page. And if you're an English speaker, you'll notice after making an account the translation is very sparse even for the site's menus. I think using a browser's auto-translation could be helpful, but some of the Japanese menu options aren't meant for outside Japan anyway.

Your profile menu is in the upper top right by clicking your name.

Different events require different information, so I can't write a specific guide there. But the first and sometimes only question asked is what is your "circle name?" Think of it as your publisher name. It's different from your own personal name. My online personal name is "tre" and I use "trecomics" as my circle name.

The second is the "circle description." I think these are meant for the organizer, as I never see this in profiles. I think it's safe to leave it be until you have a good idea what you plan to do for the event. Feel free to write in your own language!

After you've signed up to your event, you'll do most of your changes strictly for the event by the side menu > MY Event > Event box > and clicking the first light menu box with a 🖋️pen, "Participation application details."

The first tab is the サークル circle information you provided. It can be changed at any time.

You can download or buy what others created here, or browse to get inspired for your own design.

My feeble attempt.

Next is whether to Set up a message board (visitors can leave messages!) by choosing to "install" or "Do not install."

Circle cut is a small advertisement of yourself and work that's seen in the circle participation list and on the map.
There's no downloadable template, so you can make an image file with 500 x 500 pixel dimension.

For the circle cut, it being a circle cut, means the only requirement is has your circle name somewhere. Art, words, just your circle name, a mini advertisement like my examples below. You'll also want to leave the upper top left corner blank (marked in red) because your ID will be covering it on the event's participation list and map.

Should I write these in Japanese? Most events welcome every language, so do what's comfortable!

Event provided template


Homemade menu. Graphic design is my passion.

Both circle cuts and menus are fun to post on social media as the event draws near using the twitter tag provided at the event account! I usually make these in a panic days or hours before the event starts, ha ha. I often see these blank from others as well, so no pressure. It's just fun stuff and helps to advertise your works.

The third tab is 展示 (Distribution/Exhibition) It's what the visitor's will click to go to your webpage or online shop. Ignore the blue buttons and hit the gray option intead. (Marked in red) Pick the last option in the pop up and fill in your link to your works will be. (Be it at Ao3, poipiku, pixiv, booth, your own website. The only rule is for NSFW works to have a jump page first so visitors aren't opening straight to it.)

And that's it for the event tab options!

If you change your avatar, your store front, circle cut, and menu, there's an "Test Exhibit" on the main site side bar to test them out and make sure they look right to you.

This is completely separate from any event, they won't be saved for an event here, it's strictly for testing.

You can edit at the bottom, and then test it out in the second option, "Check out the test exhibition venue." It takes a few moments to load, so don't fret if nothing happens at first.

Seems fine!

Lastly, I'll mention the Avatar settings. They have a handy template in the upper right corner to make your own. Events will often offer their own avatars on their twitter accounts, and there's lots of free or paid options to look through!

This is a first draft of my messy Pictsquare FAQ. If you have any more questions feel free to contact me at tre AT trecomics.com or any of my socials. Let's have fun with our fandoms!