Low challenge entries - why are you not entering?
- Thread starter CSI_Kat
- Start date
Okay, many things I want to comment on here. First of all, Kat, thanks for bumping this up. I forgot it even existed :lol: I think it’s a great idea to get some discussion going on this, and see if we can come up with some new ideas.
Yes, entries have been low recently. I’ve also noticed, as Kat said, that beginner levels are a good size, whereas intermediate and advanced have been shrinking. Hopefully we can get some more interest with the new seasons starting. I’ve seen some good ideas/points made so far, so let’s see what we can do about this.
I’d like to avoid having the challenge runners making the full decision. However, they should definitely be able to point people in the right direction
Don’t be afraid to tell people if you think they need to move up a level.
Like I said above, challenge runners should be encouraging participants to move on to the next level when they’re ready. If you look in the Challenge Guide Thread, you’ll see that it’s part of the guidelines to move to another level after a few wins/places.
I understand where you’re coming from, blackflag. Yes, the program you use can influence the level of your work. However, if you’re constantly winning in beginners, then it doesn’t matter what program you’re using, it’s time to move to intermediate.
I’d also just like to say that there are some amazing programs out there that you can download for free. GIMP, for example is a great program that can easily compete with some of the more expensive programs (and yes, they are expensive ☹)
Generally, I’d say it means in the top 3 places. That may not be clear in the challenge guide, but maybe after a bit more discussion, I can change that.
Icon size has been debated before, and I doubt we’re ever going to get everyone to agree on it. So, at this point, I’d like to make a suggestion. Keep in mind that for now, this is ultimately up to each individual challenge runner, but why not allow any size icon to be entered in the challenge, all together in each (beginner, intermediate, advanced) level. With a maximum size of 140x140. That way, everyone can work with the size they prefer. Maybe we could have a trial run of this in the near future, to see how it works out.
Well, I don’t have much to add here other than what I said above.
Which is why intermediate was introduced in the first place It is unfortunate that often the intermediate category has to be dropped.
That thread is a wonderful tool, in my opinion, but it just doesn’t get enough attention. We’re done several rounds, but fewer and fewer people send things in. If anyone has a suggestion as to how to get more people involved, I’d love to hear it ☺
I mentioned GIMP above. I know there are more, but offhand, I don’t know what they are. I’m sure it’s been disscused in the Fan Art Forum Guide, but it’ll probably take quite a bit of digging to find it. Hopefully there’s someone else out there who can make a few more suggestions.
I hope I’ve covered everything here. I also see a few more people have posted while I was typing this up, so some of this has already been said.
Yes, entries have been low recently. I’ve also noticed, as Kat said, that beginner levels are a good size, whereas intermediate and advanced have been shrinking. Hopefully we can get some more interest with the new seasons starting. I’ve seen some good ideas/points made so far, so let’s see what we can do about this.
I’d like to avoid having the challenge runners making the full decision. However, they should definitely be able to point people in the right direction
Don’t be afraid to tell people if you think they need to move up a level.I'm not complaining in any way, but alot of those beginner icons look like Intermediate. I've also noticed that alot of winners seem to keep entering in beginners after they've won banners. *Runs from evil looks*:lol::lol:
So another idea to increase icons, might be to change the rules.
Maybe after winning two beginners, we have to move up to intermediate. Then after two intermediate wins, move up to advanced.
Just a couple ideas that might help
Like I said above, challenge runners should be encouraging participants to move on to the next level when they’re ready. If you look in the Challenge Guide Thread, you’ll see that it’s part of the guidelines to move to another level after a few wins/places.
Some of us (like me) don't feel we have the equipment to compete in advanced. I make my icons and banners on picnik.com or a program called PictureIt Express 2000 (which is on a Windows '98 computer) and my wallpapers on a program called PrintMaster. I can't afford a fancier program and there's only so much these can do. I look at the stuff in advanced and say there's no way I can compete with that.
I understand where you’re coming from, blackflag. Yes, the program you use can influence the level of your work. However, if you’re constantly winning in beginners, then it doesn’t matter what program you’re using, it’s time to move to intermediate.
I’d also just like to say that there are some amazing programs out there that you can download for free. GIMP, for example is a great program that can easily compete with some of the more expensive programs (and yes, they are expensive ☹)
Generally, I’d say it means in the top 3 places. That may not be clear in the challenge guide, but maybe after a bit more discussion, I can change that.
Icon size has been debated before, and I doubt we’re ever going to get everyone to agree on it. So, at this point, I’d like to make a suggestion. Keep in mind that for now, this is ultimately up to each individual challenge runner, but why not allow any size icon to be entered in the challenge, all together in each (beginner, intermediate, advanced) level. With a maximum size of 140x140. That way, everyone can work with the size they prefer. Maybe we could have a trial run of this in the near future, to see how it works out.
Well, I don’t have much to add here other than what I said above.
Which is why intermediate was introduced in the first place
It is unfortunate that often the intermediate category has to be dropped.That thread is a wonderful tool, in my opinion, but it just doesn’t get enough attention. We’re done several rounds, but fewer and fewer people send things in. If anyone has a suggestion as to how to get more people involved, I’d love to hear it ☺
I like Blackflag, don't have photoshop. I just use what is available on Photobucket Editor.
Which isn't to bad. But it doesn't have brushes and things like that. Just Distort, tint, color, effects, and decorates.
So for us who don't photoshop, is there any free programs that are available?
Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask this question
I mentioned GIMP above. I know there are more, but offhand, I don’t know what they are. I’m sure it’s been disscused in the Fan Art Forum Guide, but it’ll probably take quite a bit of digging to find it. Hopefully there’s someone else out there who can make a few more suggestions.
I hope I’ve covered everything here. I also see a few more people have posted while I was typing this up, so some of this has already been said.
I, too, feel like I should stay in the beginners because I don't do a lot of fancy stuff. I use simple caps and text. I've won several times, but I think it has more to do with composition, choice of pic, and creativity of the theme.
Should that place me in a higher category or is the higher category for those with more skills with the tools, etc?
BTW, I didn't place at all in the most recent challenge even with three entries.
Should that place me in a higher category or is the higher category for those with more skills with the tools, etc?
BTW, I didn't place at all in the most recent challenge even with three entries.
MacsLovlyAngl
Head of the Graveyard Shift
DD, Kat, Yoshi, Thanks for the tip. I'll check into it. This is helping alot.
thanks for all your help everyone.
thanks for all your help everyone.
MarineGirl#1
CSI Level Three
I feel sad for the low entries in the intermediates / advanced. There are a lot of artists that are good enough to move up, but somehow i taste a lack of confidence. The 'Where do I belong' thread was a great help for me and made me move up. That thread should definetely have more attention. I know it's not easy when people grade your work, but it certainly helps to get tips how to improve. Maybe we can work more from there. I dunno, but waiting for 2 weeks to close a challenge makes me itchie :lol: I'm not sure if we already have this but maybe we can make a thread of where to find good, cheap / free software and tutorials
Hey Guys!
There lots of important point being raised here so I decided to jump in and add my 2 per cent.
Okay well sometimes, like in my situation, I've already moved on to intermediate but because sometimes there a lack of enteries in that catergory I've had to put intermediate or beginners, since I've really don't think I'm good enough to place myself in advanced.
It is! I use it and could really recommend it!
I feel exactly the same way! and couldn't have said it better myself! On your last point - I know alot of said they can't afford to buy photoshop and other programs similar to that. I really recommend GIMP, and if anyone downloads it, feel free to ask me if you have any queries and I could make some beginners tutorials and share resources with you, since I've been using it for a couple of months! - I know there are not alot of tutorials specifically for beginners made in GIMP so thats why I made that suggestion!
There lots of important point being raised here so I decided to jump in and add my 2 per cent.
Okay well sometimes, like in my situation, I've already moved on to intermediate but because sometimes there a lack of enteries in that catergory I've had to put intermediate or beginners, since I've really don't think I'm good enough to place myself in advanced.
It is! I use it and could really recommend it
!I feel sad for the low entries in the intermediates / advanced. There are a lot of artists that are good enough to move up, but somehow i taste a lack of confidence. The 'Where do I belong' thread was a great help for me and made me move up. That thread should definetely have more attention. I know it's not easy when people grade your work, but it certainly helps to get tips how to improve. Maybe we can work more from there. I dunno, but waiting for 2 weeks to close a challenge makes me itchie :lol: I'm not sure if we already have this but maybe we can make a thread of where to find good, cheap / free software and tutorials
I feel exactly the same way! and couldn't have said it better myself! On your last point - I know alot of said they can't afford to buy photoshop and other programs similar to that. I really recommend GIMP, and if anyone downloads it, feel free to ask me if you have any queries and I could make some beginners tutorials and share resources with you, since I've been using it for a couple of months!
- I know there are not alot of tutorials specifically for beginners made in GIMP so thats why I made that suggestion!
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nattybatty55
Nadalaholic
I know that there are tuts in The Fan Art Forum Guide - Rules/Tuts./Questions where there are also font, brushes, textures and cap links
If a challenge is able to offer intermediate maybe the number of wins to move should be different, maybe just 3 places at 1st or 2nd. This way someone has had a chance to practice making challenge icons but doesnt have to move up to start using a lot more advanced techniques but again I think the participents current program, GIMP, Photobucket and Photoshop etc should be taken into context.
MacsLovlyAngl
Head of the Graveyard Shift
That's understandable if there aren't enough enteries. I've also started moving myself up to Intermediate for icons and banners in a few challanges. But as second choice if not enough enteries for Inter, is begginers too, cause Adv is scary:lol:
That would be great if you could. As I downloaded it last night, and haven't tried it yet.I feel exactly the same way! and couldn't have said it better myself! On your last point - I know alot of said they can't afford to buy photoshop and other programs similar to that. I really recommend GIMP, and if anyone downloads it, feel free to ask me if you have any queries and I could make some beginners tutorials and share resources with you, since I've been using it for a couple of months!
That would be great if you could. As I downloaded it last night, and haven't tried it yet.
Alright PM me and I'll give you links to recources etc. and I'll make a tutorial for you tonight!
What might help in icon and banner challenges is if more of the challenges provided caps. I started doing the Miami icon challenge because Kat provides caps to use or allows you to go out and search for your own (she also begged me to! :lol. The NY icon challenge has started giving caps or a direct link to the ones they want you to use. This makes it easier for those of us with real life problems be able to get icons done in time for the challenge. Sometimes I go out and look for my own and sometimes I just use what's there.
I have to admit that when Kat did the poll in the Miami icon challenge I was all for the icons staying at 100 x 100 but I've changed my mind. It is so much easier to have the text readable (legable?) on the bigger size icons than it is on the 100 x 100 icons. The bigger ones give you more freedom on what you're doing.
Susan
. The NY icon challenge has started giving caps or a direct link to the ones they want you to use. This makes it easier for those of us with real life problems be able to get icons done in time for the challenge. Sometimes I go out and look for my own and sometimes I just use what's there.I have to admit that when Kat did the poll in the Miami icon challenge I was all for the icons staying at 100 x 100 but I've changed my mind. It is so much easier to have the text readable (legable?) on the bigger size icons than it is on the 100 x 100 icons. The bigger ones give you more freedom on what you're doing.
Susan
Again, it's great to see some good discussion in here. I just want to take a minute, though, to ask for some in-put from our 'advanced' participants. More than anything, this is the category that's been lacking recently. So, where are you? How can we entice you to enter more?
blackflag said:
Agreed here, even though I prefer 100x100. I like the idea as mentioned above where one could pick their own size from 100x100 - 140x140. Maybe if a challenge were to offer that, some folks would choose to do three of a different size each--it would definitely spice things up. Although one problem is that come voting time, it may all look cluttered...unless maybe the sizes were grouped together.
blackflag said:
For some reason, I tend to join challenges that have a small amount of pictures as opposed to 10-20 pictures to choose from. I don't know exactly why, maybe it's because it really sets the challenge for me and it's fun to see how people interpreted the same picture. I'm not opposed to those providing a multitude of screencaps, not all of us have all the resources available, but just thought I'd add my 0.02 on the matter.
Dragonflydreamer said:
My Photoshop has been giving me fits and so has Real Life, not to mention it's before fall season and without new episodes of shows/screencaps, I haven't been much interested in entering anything lately. I'll probably be much more active when all three CSI shows air.
And despite the fact that most seem to enjoy the category system (beginners/intermediate/advanced), intermediate seems to be the purgatory between beginners and advanced and sometimes I'm not even sure where to put myself, depending on how I feel that day/how the icon turned out so I just don't bother because I don't want to be unfair to anyone. I guess I'm just not a fan in general of the category system, though I understand why it was put in place. (believe me, I was frustrated for a loooong time with being clobbered by everyone when I first started out.)
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Florry86
CSI Level Three
Great discussion here:thumbsup:
Maybe I've got something interesting for you, although you may have already talked about it.
I noticed a generation change...now I'm gonna explain it.
There were a lot of users here who were known by almost everyone....then every now & then new people arrived w/ a continuous interaction w/ the "old" posters.
Well, I noticed that a lot of "old"posters have just disappeared (aka I saw one post in the fanart from an user I didn't see for almost a year).
I don't know but I think this could explain the lack of icons/banner for the challenges from the advanced people
Personally I'm just getting started w/ icons & PS so I'm keeping a low profile plus RL is always there for you :lol:
I don't have problems W/ sizes or other things like that, the only thing I can't understand are the levels especially the intermediate one ( I mean I saw a lot intermediate stuff which was far better than the advanced one or far worse than the beginne one ), I think that's one possible reason why intermediate is a little bit difficult.
Maybe I've got something interesting for you, although you may have already talked about it
.I noticed a generation change...now I'm gonna explain it.
There were a lot of users here who were known by almost everyone....then every now & then new people arrived w/ a continuous interaction w/ the "old" posters.
Well, I noticed that a lot of "old"posters have just disappeared (aka I saw one post in the fanart from an user I didn't see for almost a year
).I don't know but I think this could explain the lack of icons/banner for the challenges from the advanced people
Personally I'm just getting started w/ icons & PS so I'm keeping a low profile plus RL is always there for you :lol:
I don't have problems W/ sizes or other things like that, the only thing I can't understand are the levels especially the intermediate one ( I mean I saw a lot intermediate stuff which was far better than the advanced one or far worse than the beginne one
), I think that's one possible reason why intermediate is a little bit difficult.